Description

1967 Ford Cortina GT

To Lotus specs; regular class 1 (pre-68) winner; seven times Goodwood Rally Stage competitor at FOS; last used 2018; incredible spec; available for a fraction of the build cost; very competitive

Originally registered in Birmingham in 1966, this two-door Cortina was subsequently exported to the Isle of Man during the early 1970's where it was used as an everyday road car.

During the early 1990's it went to a new owner in Northern Ireland who prepared it for Historic Rallying which has becoming so popular. The car competed in tarmac rallies including the famous Ulster Rally on more than one occasion.

Purchased by our vendor in 2009, the car received major upgrades to bring it up to 'Lotus Specification' since when it has been used in the British Historic Rally Championship where it won the Category 1 (pre-1968) outright on numerous events as well as many Class awards.

Invitations to compete at Goodwood Festival of Speed were received on no fewer than seven occasions, the car still wearing the individual competition numbers for those events. It has also made competitive appearances at Chateau Impney Hill Climb.

The vendor has committed to a major Capri race/rally project and so the car has not competed since the 2018 Goodwood FOS. He feels he cannot cope with maintaining and developing two competitive rally cars at the same time hence this superbly prepared car is up for grabs.

In very well-presented condition and painted in period ‘Alan Mann’ racing colours, it is on offer with a superb specification which would cost at least three times the estimate to replicate. If you fancy trying your hand at some historic competition, at any level, this Cortina makes all the sense.

The engine is a dry-sumped all-steel Lotus Twin Cam with an ultra big-valve head, twin Weber 45 DCOE's, a DA19 inlet, Phase 4 exhaust camshafts and a geared starter motor. Fully balanced, it also has an alloy radiator and oil cooler.

It was taken to an Aldon Rolling Road which showed max power was 164.5 bhp @7425 rpm and max torque 125.9ft lbs @4435 rpm.

The gearbox has a straight-cut close-ratio TranX gearkit in a lightweight magnesium casing and alloy bellhousing operated through a quickshift gearlever. The lightened flywheel mates with a 7 1/4 inch paddle clutch and the back axle houses a 5.1:1 crown wheel and pinion with limited slip diff, 18 spline side gears and heavy duty halfshafts.

The suspension features Bilstein front struts with 260/60 inserts and 145lb springs and Bilstein rear shock absorbers. The wheels are Compomotive ML 6x13 which are well shod.

The car itself has a full Safety Devices Roll Cage, Sparco Pro 2000 seats (in date until Dec 2022) and a set of Full Stack instruments and Coralba trip computer. The handbrake is hydraulic and it has a balance-bar pedal box, 55 litre alloy fuel tank and twin Facet pumps.

It carries the necessary documents which include a MSA Rally Logbook, Historic Rally Vehicle Identity Form, both of which are now in need of updating and the rolling road printout.

Years of experience have gone into the build and development of this car, which has proven itself time and time again. Why do the hard graft when you could acquire this exciting and well-known car for a fraction of the cost of staring your own project from scratch. There is no reason why its new owner won’t be out competing this year….


For more information – contact matthew.parkin@brightwells.com