1966 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk.I

For sale by auction on Saturday 12 March 2016 with Historics at Brooklands. Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit. Weybridge. Surrey. Call 01753 639170
The history of the Lotus Cortina began in 1961 after Colin
Chapman decided he wanted to build his own engines for Lotus. The
engine's first appearance was in 1962 at the Nürburgring in a Lotus
23 driven by Jim Clark. Immediately after and almost as soon as the
engine appeared in the Lotus Elan. it was recalled and replaced
with a larger capacity unit to get the car closer to the 1. 6 litre
capacity class in motorsport. /

Whilst the engine was being developed. Walter Hayes from Ford
asked Colin Chapman if he would fit the engine to 1. 00 Ford
saloons for Group 2 homologation. Chapman quickly accepted and the
Type 28 or Lotus-Cortina was duly launched. Ford supplied the
two-door Cortina body shells and took care of all the marketing and
selling of the cars whilst Lotus did all the mechanical and
cosmetic changes. The major changes involved installing the 1. 58cc
engine together with the same close-ratio gearbox as the Elan. The
cars also received front quarter bumpers and round Lotus badges
were fitted to rear wings and to the left side of the radiator
panel. Interior modifications were limited to a centre console
designed to accommodate the new gear lever position. different
seats and the later style dashboard featuring tachometer. br/>speedometer. oil pressure. water temperature and fuel level gauges
as well as a wood-rimmed steering wheel.

A well known and admired example by the Lotus Cortina Register. br/>PBF 489D is in beautiful condition both mechanically and
cosmetically. A later air flow model on leaf springs. this example
shows an odometer reading of 88. 00 miles which is believed to be
genuine and is supplied with many older MoT test certificates. br/>invoices and a copy of 'The Quarter Bumper' Club Magazine in a very
good history file. The interior is all original and un-restored and
all panels are straight and present extremely well. The vendor-who
is a Lotus Cortina Register member. has recently undertaken a light
re-commissioning on the engine bay which. for any prospective new
owner. is reassuring. Having never been raced or rallied. br/>accompanied by a new MoT test certificate and in such fine
condition. this genuine Mk. I Lotus Cortina is certainly attractive
to both collector and investor. With prices of fast Fords rising
rapidly this is sure to be a hit.

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