Witness the power of a Lotus Cortina: the VIN has been swapped; accident damage is extensive; the motor and transmission are gone. Yet it’s still above $1,500 on eBay and the seller is confident enough in a sale that there’s a reserve listed. While its handling prowess and vintage appeal are both well-documented, this is a car that raises questions about the value in restoring a vehicle of questionable history. Find the Cortina here on eBay and located in Connecticut.
With Cortinas, cloning a standard-spec model to create a backyard Lotus was not an uncommon practice. Many enthusiasts even resorted to simply copying the iconic green stripe down the sides of the body as a means of fooling fellow drivers into believing a Lotus-blessed Cortina was next to them. Establishing the true history of this example will prove challenging, unless there are locations on the body where the original VIN was etched in but hasn’t been confirmed by the seller.
According to him, the Cortina was stripped of its motor and transmission and left for dead. Prior accident damage along the passenger side fender has been repaired poorly and since damaged again. There are rust perforations in the trunk and floorboards and the seller calls the gas tank “junk.” Other rust issues include the shock towers, roof and lower sills behind the rear wheels. Obviously, the dashboard is a lost cause but the wood-rimmed steering wheel still looks good here. Seats look usable still.
With significant rust and questionable authenticity, I’m curious what bidders are hoping to find if they win the auction. If there’s a simple way of proving it’s the real-deal, that will help immensely in asserting value. But even if bidders simply want a shot at a Cortina, the amount of cash this one will suck up makes even a track-day conversion a questionable investment. Still, Cortina – especially the one from Lotus – are a relatively sure bet when preserved or at least equipped with the correct VIN number; it will be interesting to see where this one lands.
At the end of the day, I would not feel right trying to sell this car. Any excuse you give for the vin is going to feel like a lie.
I would pass on this one at the beginning of the day. The I would have the rest of the day to ponder things and make a decision at the end of the day.
Cortinas are neat…kind of a mash up of Valiant, Rambler and Falcon.
Even if the original VIN can be found someplace on the car, you’re going to end up with two cars having the same number, a lawsuit, and a court battle to determine the “real” one. Possibly even charges of fraud or theft. Not cool.
Ford of UK normally had the vin no. stamped around the shock tower, either on the right or left side. The numbers follow the curvature of the orifice.
true Ken, but I too have a 66 Cortina GT that the body shell is a 64 (or maybe 63). There are NO numbers stamped anywhere. I have been told that cars bound for Lotus had no numbers on them and that on occasion Chapman would “return” a car for what ever reason (damaged it, etc) and it would get repaired then completed on the regular production line and sold just like any other new car. Given my car has Lotus suspension I’m guessing it might not be too far off the truth.
Mk 1 Lotus Cortina is worth a lot of money in the UK regardless of condition.
And selling a car with a known swapped vin is legal, how??
See the rising dust? That’s me, running like hell.
If it can be verified that this is the real deal and it can get a title, then this could be a great little project. It would never be worth the sort of money that a numbers-matching car would command, but it would still be worth a pretty penny. I believe that replacement parts for the worst of the rust damage can be sourced from the UK. Sourcing a Lotus engine and gearbox may be the hardest part.
As an aside, these little Fords are commanding ridiculous prices here in Australia, regardless of whether or not they are Lotus cars. I’d take this on myself in a heart-beat….but don’t tell my wife I said that!
And what would you use for a VIN number??? Your phone number maybe?
Since I’m in Australia I don’t know exactly how the system works in the US. All I was saying was that if it was possible to get a VIN, then it has potential.
There was no need for a comment so dripping in sarcasm. Or would you prefer me to keep my opinion to myself?
@AdamT45.
In South Africa it is possible to get a Vin no. for any vehicle provided that it is done through the SA Police. The vehicle has to be produced at the local Pound so that the officer can check either the number that is present, or for the lack of any number. using all of the information on the history of the vehicle that you can produce, the more the better. Once the details are put through the computer system, and nothing comes up to show that it is a stolen vehicle, then a number is assigned to it, which is then stamped on by the police officer, and the vehicle can then be registered with a new title. The only downside is that the title will show that is a “Built Up” and the year of registration will show the actual date of the police clearance. It’s a hell of a mission to accomplish and can take several day trips to the pound but at the end of the day at least you have the vehicle legally on the road. It won’t help the flippers who are only in it for the money but that’s not what we are enthusiasts for, is it?
Thanks for that info Ken. Australia is a funny one for a country with a relatively small population base. For example, in some states here you can buy a car that has been deemed as a “repairable write-off” by an insurance company, fix it and register it with no problems. Other states (for example, New South Wales) not only forbid the practice, but will actually point-blank refuse to register a car if its history shows that it was a repaired write-off, even if the car has been successfully registered in another state following repairs. You have to love bureaucracy!
Hi Ken.
I just put a 1970 Winnebago through the SA system. It took me 10 months.
The new VIN was necessary because the LHD to RHD conversion, mounted the stearing box over a portion of the original VIN number.
I had to collect as much info on the vehicle as possible to substantiate my application.
A new number was supplied by the SA Police.
It’s not unusual for cars that are raced– and wrecked to be REBODIED where all the bits are swopped to another body. I have the Bornham catalogue that offers EVERYTHING including new bodies (back in the 60’s) and everything between. There ARE some minor body differences that probably only a hard core Lotus corty DIYer would know of.
Didn’t Ford make a Cortina in Europe?
Correct. Then Ford asked Lotus to build 1,000 Fords for Group 2 homologation. Chapman and his team did their thing, mechnical and cosmical changes, and Ford took care of marketing and sales. Some Lotus badges were added to the car. Et voila, the (Ford) Lotus Cortina!
The story behind the Lotus Cortina is interesting. Not just about the car, but also about the collaboration between Ford and Lotus (Chapman) or the build quality.
Didn’t Lotus Cortinas have twin fuel filler caps both sides between the boot and the rear window?
Wayne, I don’t think that the Lotus did, but Ford Australia produced an homologation special called the Cortina GT500. It was a limited run specifically designed to compete in the 500 mile race held at Bathurst (hence the 500 tag.). It was fitted with twin fillers as pictured. It was homologated for the 1965 Bathurst 500, which it won.
Make a vintage touring car racer. Paint it red and gold like the Alan Mann cars or white and green like the works cars of Jim Clark, Sir John Whitmore and Jack Sears. When racing was racing!
Great concept!
VIN is not generally needed for racing/track use, just for street driving.
This certainly was my idea for this car. No VIN needed!