Service Guide

Get your Cortina in perfect fettle with a few hours of spannering

How to care for your Cortina MKI.

The Cortina MKI is brilliantly not clever. Ford was keen to build on the success of the Anglia 105E and applied many of its virtues to a larger family car – the ‘Consul Cortina’ as it was initially named – which arrived in 1962. Rather than experimenting with front-wheel drive, rearengines, independent rear suspension or overhead camshafts, Ford stuck to well refined tried-and-tested engineering. The Cortina was more profitable to produce than its competitors, and, arguably, was in no way inferior as a means of transport.

Ford’s approach was good news for owners and modifiers at the time – and it still is half a century later. The Cortina is wonderfully straightforward to maintain. Parts are cheap, access is excellent and no mechanical aspects should cause undue mental or physical strain. All were powered by 1.2-litre or 1.5-litre variants of Ford’s OHV Kent engine. It’s a pleasure to work on, with easily-adjustable valve clearances and generous under-bonnet space. No specialist tools are required for servicing operations.

Various mechanical updates were made before the Cortina MKII took over in 1966. Track down a manual or handbook with data specific to your model. Bear in mind that many examples have strayed from their original specification over the years, too.

This also applies to…

Many mechanical aspects are is similar to the Anglia 105E/123E and the Cortina MKII.

Thanks to Ian Buckingham, owner of the fine 1500 featured in our photographs.