Restoring Mark II Cortina a dream come true for Liam
LIAM WALSH TALKS TO FRANCIS CARROLL ABOUT ACHIEVING HIS GOAL TO BUY A MARK 2 FORD CORTINA AND THE PLANS TO RESTORE THE 1967 CLASSIC CAR
Former Taoiseach Jack Lynch had one, members of the England football squad each had one and now Liam Walsh has one.
Liam, a Cooley-based mechanic, is not that long a member of the North Louth & Border Vintage Club, but he achieved an ambition when getting his hands on a Mk2 1600E Ford Cortina.
The Cortina is an iconic vehicle, the classic Classic car. It has been described as the ‘greatest saloon car in the world’.
‘I always wanted a Mk2,’ said Liam and last summer he realised his dream when heading off to Cork with his father Kevin to buy a 1967 model.
The Mk2 was rolled out in October 1966 at the London Motor Show. It followed the Mk1 which sold more than 1 million over the years 1962 to 1966.
The Mk2 was to register sales of 1,024,869 between 1966 and 1970.
By the time they were succeeded by the Sierra in 1982, Cortinas clocked up nearly five million sales. Most of these cars were made in Dagenham, London, but some also at Ford’s Marina plant in Cork.
Jack Lynch was given a 1967 Mk2 when he visited the Cork factory that year to mark Ford’s 50th anniversary in the city and to open a £1.5 million extension.
And just before the 1970 World Cup Ford gifted England’s 1966 heroes with a Cortina 1600E for a year.
The cars were all registered GWC (Great World Cup) 1 to 30. Bobby Moore was handed GWC 1.
Now, before we get too excited, Lynch’s and the footballers’ cars were all white. The original colour of Liam’s was a metallic brown.
‘It was an English car which came to Cork in 1977,’ he explained.
It was fitting that Liam headed south with his father to get the vehicle.
‘I grew up with Classic cars. My Dad is a great fan of Ford too. He also has a Vauxhall Cresta.’
This interest extends to Liam’s brothers who own some old Minis.
The Cortina requires plenty of work but Liam is determined to have it ready for shows and runs next year as he looks forward to indulging in his pastime….. restriction-free.
‘I have the gearbox and the engine out. When panels come, I will leave that work to a professional because I want it done right. I’m a mechanic not a panel beater,’ he said.
Originally from Newry, Liam has worked with Hanlon Transport for 23 years, the last eight or nine spent living in the peninsula.
‘I wanted to get involved in the (North Louth & Border Vintage) club, as a pastime.
‘It’s a great way of getting people involved with each other. If you need a part, they will know somebody.’
In addition, he said you can be standing beside your car at a show and have a complete stranger come up and start chatting over a shared interest.
‘ They could be talking with you for an hour.’
Liam said that looking for various odds and ends was part of the enjoyment, though the lockdown had scuppered his plans to get those panels in Mayo.
‘ With the internet you can do a lot yourself. I’m in groups on Facebook where you can see the bits and pieces you might need.’
While it is a great hobby to have, the cost can be a factor.
‘It’s expensive and only getting more expensive. Cars and their parts are rare, and it is harder to get them in good condition.
‘It’s an investment at this stage, which could be worth a lot more in 15 or twenty years.’
IT’S EXPENSIVE AND GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE. CARS AND THEIR PARTS ARE RARE, AND IT IS HARDER TO GET THEM IN GOOD CONDITION
The Cortina is the first car Liam has purchased on his own.
‘I wanted to be able to do one up. It will be something you can say you have done, to buy a car and do it up and know you did it,’ he enthused.
And while Covid-19 has halted club activities, Liam is looking forward to getting the Cortina on the road in 2022 to some of his favourite destinations.
‘I’m looking to get this car done for shows next year. ‘I love Trim and Kilbroney. Knockbridge is a great show, though there are more tractors there.
‘I enjoyed all of them and did a couple of runs. A run is great craic and good to get the cars out.’
It can be an all-consuming passion too. ‘Between the cars and fixing lorries and trailers, there is not much time for anything else.’