BEHIND THE GARAGE DOOR

Mark Lewis purchased this 1968 Ford MKII Cortina three years ago as a project car to rebuild with his son Anthony. It was last registered in 2000, and was in need of a total restoration.

After stripping the car down to a bare shell, they found rust in all the usual places, along with some fairly shoddy repair work by previous owners — including rolled-up newspaper covered with body filler. The bodywork was repaired, including new rear inner wheel wells imported from the UK, along with front A pillars and headlight surrounds, which also required attention — thanks to Keith and the team at Berry Panelbeaters in Auckland.

The Ford 1600 Crossflow engine was fully stripped apart and rebuilt, including new pistons, valves, camshaft, and a Weber sidedraught carburettor, while Ford T9 five-speed gearbox completes the major drivetrain componentry.

Mark and Anthony have installed Cortina GT suspension and brakes for additional handling and performance. In keeping with the GT theme, a GTE Cortina dash will perfectly complement the interior, and the purple exterior paint scheme is sure to turn heads.

Assembly is now in progress, and we look forward to seeing this father and son project once it’s complete.