Retroford Magazine Present Old Skool Fords’ 6th Display Car at NEC 2024

According to the Mk1 Cortina Owners Club, the Cortina MK1 was introduced in September 1962 in a standard and deluxe form. Originally to be called "The Archbishop", Ford decided to stick to the tried and tested formula from the very popular Anglia 105E. Available in 2 or 4 door saloons the Consul Cortina was to be one of Ford's most successful models. (Ford later dropped the 'Consul' nametag). The monocoque body shell was rigid for the time but very light for its size.

The Cortina name was inspired by the Italian ski resort Cortina d'Ampezzo, which hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics.

Up to January 1963 all models were fitted with an 1198cc 3 bearing crankshaft engine and for an extra £84 you could have had a 1498cc 5 bearing crankshaft engine.

The body style for the Cortina had an angular look with tapering flutes along the sides and the immediately recognizable rear 'Y' light clusters. This very fashionable design was a benefit and a curse as it quickly went out of fashion quickly leading to the Mk2 Cortina in 1966.

In January 1963, the 1500 Super with the chrome tapered strips along the side flutes and the GT were launched. The 1500 engine under the bonnet of this sports Cortina was fitted with twin choke Weber carburettor, disc brakes on the front wheels, remote gearchange and modified suspension.

In March 1963, the Estate car added to the range, the 1200 deluxe and the 1500 super, the latter being identified by the American style mock wood paneling on the sides and tailgate. 'Woody' paneling was available only as an optional extra on the 1200 models. The 'Lotus modified Cortina' completed the range and during the 1960s and 1970s, the Ford Cortina Lotus was a successful rally and racing car in a wide variety of competitions across Europe and North America with the likes of Jim Clarke at the wheel.

December 1963 saw the introduction of the Borg-Warner supplied automatic gearbox. A price of £82 was added to the 1500 for this optional extra.

October 1964 saw the most significant changes in the Cortina specification. Front disc brakes were added to all models as standard, the front grille was redesigned from the two standard slats and deluxe chrome into a single chrome to incorporate a widened bottom to surround the side lights and indicators. The Ford 'aeroflow' ventilation system was introduced thus ensuring fresh air entered the car and was then expelled. In its final year of production, the Cortina GT was given even larger front wheel disks and self-adjusting rear brakes.

Finally in October 1966, after 1,010,000 Mark1's being made Ford introduced the Cortina MK2.

OldSkoolFords sixth display car, on stand 8-090 at the NEC Classic Car Show 2024, is Ian’s 1964 South African import Mk1 Cortina.

DSA 663B is known to the Cortina club and is at the NEC as an ongoing project.

Ian wanted a classic ford that he could put his mark on. The car had already been heavily modified, but this was stripped out and the cars hard previous life was quickly apparent. It was in a bad way, with no end of body filler covering everything from corrosion to big holes, and even the dash conversion was crude with gaping holes.

It took 3 different body shops to sort the shell out to Ian’s specification. It has some major modifications over standard that will surprise everyone at NEC 2024 including a bored-out crossflow engine, fuel injected, with a belt driven Rotrex turbo, all mated to a Mazda MX5 gearbox. The wheels are totally bespoke 13” alloys made to Ian’s design and the new paint is Candy Brandy Wine.

This ongoing project has so far taken 5 years and is evidence of an OSF club members hard work and dedication to the blue oval.

Retroford Magazine can see this car being a real attraction to all Ford Modified Fans at NEC 2024.