1965 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk.I

For sale by auction on Saturday 30 August 2014 with Historics at Brooklands. Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit. Weybridge. Surrey. Call 01753 639170
The history of the Lotus Cortina begins around 1961 when the
best of Ford and Lotus got together. Colin Chapman had been looking
to build his own engines for Lotus for quite some time (mainly
because the Coventry Climax unit was so expensive). Chapman's
chance came when he commissioned Harry Mundy (close friend and
designer of the Coventry Climax engine and technical editor for The
Autocar) to design a twin-cam version of the Ford Kent
engine. Most of the development of the engine was done on the
997cc and 1. 40 cc bottom end but in 1962 Ford released the 116E. br/>five bearing 1. 99cc engine and work centered on this. Keith
Duckworth. from Cosworth. played an important part in tuning of the
engine. The engine's first appearance was in 1962 at the
Nürburgring in a Lotus 23 driven by the legend. Jim Clark.
Almost as soon as the engine was used in production cars it was
recalled and replaced with a larger capacity unit to give
1. 58cc. This was done to get the car closer to the 1. 6 litre
capacity class in motorsport.

This stunning. lefthand drive 1965. Ford Lotus Cortina Mk. I to
period F race specification. is completely correct being fitted
with aluminium doors. bonnet. boot lid and Perspex side windows. It
was prepared and raced in Italy during the 1990's and early 2000's
and then Imported by Ted Ely to the UK in 2010 where he raced it
until the end of 2012. It was purchased by the vendor and then
prepared for the 2013 season at a cost of £15. 00. This included
repainting the car and having the engine rebuilt by Chris Gilbert. br/>the gearbox overhaul by Hardy Engineering Ltd. as well as fitting
new tyres etc. it was used twice last year at the Silverstone
Classic and the Lotus meeting at Brands Hatch and is ready to use
for next years season. Finished in dark blue with a silver strip. br/>this Lotus Cortina is supplied with a V5C registration document. br/>the MSA HTP certificates. an Italian FIA passport. a file
containing photographs. one showing the correct markings to the
rear parcel shelf before being painted and invoices for its recent
work carried out by the present owner. Also supplied is spare front
and rear wheels fitted with matching tyres to the car. This is a
rare opportunity to purchase a racing icon which is race ready and
registered to use on the road.



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