FORD CORTINA TC-TF

ADAPTING OVERSEAS DESIGNS TO SUIT LOCAL CONDITIONS SAW SOME WORK A TREAT WHILE OTHERS MISSED THE MARK

Ford Australia built a lasting and successful business from adapting overseas designs to suit local conditions. Some worked a treat, others didn’t quite hit their mark and the six-cylinder Cortina ranks in the latter category. Since 1969 Holden’s six-cylinder Torana dominated medium-car sales. Ford’s response didn’t come until 1972 and was to modify its recently released TC Series Cortina so it could accept a six-cylinder engine lifted straight from the larger Falcon.

Six-cylinder Cortinas came in three levels of trim (L, XL and luxurious XLE spec) with 3.3-litre engines for base models and 4.1 litres further up the pricing structure. Most TC and the revised TD Cortinas sold with automatic transmission but three and four-speed manual gearboxes available. The 4.1 with a four-speed was a gutsy performer.

Top speed when given sufficient road to cope with a monster 2.76:1 final drive ratio was 183km/h. That put the Cortina 6 within striking distance of the 302 cubic inch, four-speed Falcon. It also offered similar mid-range acceleration but delivered fuel consumption at least 25 percent better than the V8’s.

What it didn’t do was handle. Well not sufficiently to satisfy the needs of people who were buying GTR Toranas. Ford did the best it could; redesigning the firewall so the engine sat well back in the bay, beefing up strut towers and suspension components. However that extra 60kg ahead of the passenger area made for heavier steering and lower levels of grip, especially on wet roads.

1977 brought the TE version with a more angular shape and a new model descriptions. Volume buyers went for the GL, usually with the less powerful 3.3-litre engine, while those wanting luxury, performance or both went for the top-spec Ghia. Velour seats, an uprated dash, alloy wheels and a standard radio (but no cassette player) helped separate the higher-priced Ghia from the vinyl-trimmed GL.

MARKET REVIEW

Six-cylinder Cortinas have crept up on other models in the market while their backs were turned and the money being sought for outstanding cars is now quite significant.