FORD CORTINA RECALLS

In the October 2022 issue, my Editorial asked readers for their Ford Cortina experiences, here are just a few:

▶ I learnt to drive in a MKII, while my mother had a MKI (in ‘lime green’ – was actually a light yellow) in which I practised, and passed my test in. Later, I bought a MKIII estate (very roomy), and eventually bought a MKIV, as an ex-company car, direct from the company I worked for. It was a 2.0 S model, which did me well. I eventually traded it for a 2.3 Granada estate.

My uncle had a MKI Lotus Cortina, but I never got to ride in that. My father-in-law had a MKII 1600E, which he eventually passed on to his son (my brother-in-law).

I bought the Haynes book on the ‘Ford Cortina – The complete history’ some time back – and still have it. Phil Baker

▶ I bought a D-reg 1966 MKI 1200 4-door as my first car at the age of 17. My soon to be brother-in-law helped me find the car, although I had seen a 1500 GT on a forecourt I wanted but he told me not to due to the higher insurance!

In 1973, with the help of Car Mechanics I learnt to maintain and repair it – apart from an engine rebuild soon after purchase due to knocking bearings – a weakness on the 1200.

50 years later I’m still buying Car Mechanics and still tinkering with the family cars.

T Clark

▶ Brief history of the Cortinas in my life.

▶ Mk1 1.6 1962. Fitted with Westinghouse Hobbs autobox. Owned by my friend Robert.

▶ MKII 1.6 1968. Standard BW auto. Silver Fox – paint peeled on roof.

▶ MKIII 1.6 auto. 1973 Donor for Eagle RV kit car. M-reg.

▶ MKIII 2.0 Estate 1973. British Gypsum company car – followed by two others (new every 3 years).

Then Sierra estates and the infamous Rover Montego! Then redundancy!

We also built two Granada-based kit cars – Pilgrim Cobra and NCF Diamond.

John Simon

▶ Read your Editorial on Cortinas; I’ve owned every generation including the obligatory 1600E, although (back in 1978) in the end I was glad to be shot of mine after all the vandalism, attempted thefts (wheels, spot lights, etc.) and Police pulls, which was pretty much par for the course back then. Everybody, including myself, reckoned the MKIII wasn’t a patch, yet I still rate my 1972 2000 GT (with uprated suspension) one of the best cars I’ve ever owned. Alan Anderson