Ford’s 1960s profile-raising competition programme included recruiting Lotus boss Colin Chapman to give the new Cortina a sporting makeover. Chapman’s brief was to develop a Group 2 competition version; Lotus would then build the 1,000 cars required for homologation. Launched in 1963, the Lotus Cortina - Cortina Lotus in Ford parlance - featured the Elan’s Ford-based, twin-overhead-camshaft, 1.6-litre engine in the two-door bodyshell. McPherson strut independent front suspension was retained, with revised spring and damper rates, while the rear leaf springs were replaced by coil-spring/damper units, axle location being achieved by trailing arms and an ‘A’ bracket. The adoption of an alloy differential casing proved a mixed blessing, the lightweight component proving far less oil-tight than the original. Reversion to Ford's standard leaf-sprung axle cured the problem. Lotus Cortinas dominated saloon racing’s 2-litre class, often challenging for outright honours. Works cars were driven by Jim Clarke, Graham Hill, Peter Arundell and Jackie Ickx, while Sir John Whitmore, driving an Alan Mann-entered Lotus Cortina, was European Touring Car Champion in 1965. After the axle change, the hitherto fragile Lotus Cortina proved a highly capable rally car, works driver Bengt Soderstrom winning the Acropolis and RAC rallies in 1966. In present ownership since 1996, this well known historic rally car was built by David Sutton’s Historic Motorsport Company. Its specification includes a seam-welded bodyshell with side jacking points, Terry Hoyle-built ‘steel’ twin-cam engine with Weber 45 induction producing around 170bhp, competition suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers, dual-circuit brakes, adjustable pedal box, 60-litre foam-filled fuel tank, Halda Twinmaster, Recaro seats and much more besides. Results in 2002 included three 1sts, two 2nds and a class win in the Monte Carlo Historique. The engine was rebuilt in 2003 and the car has done just one event since. This Mk1 Lotus Cortina is a front-running historic rally car that could easily be converted for circuit racing and is surely a potential winner in the right hands. Presented in very good condition, the car comes with FIA papers, competition logbook, current MoT and Swansea V5.
Ford’s 1960s profile-raising competition programme included recruiting Lotus boss Colin Chapman to give the new Cortina a sporting makeover. Chapman’s brief was to develop a Group 2 competition version; Lotus would then build the 1,000 cars required for homologation. Launched in 1963, the Lotus Cortina - Cortina Lotus in Ford parlance - featured the Elan’s Ford-based, twin-overhead-camshaft, 1.6-litre engine in the two-door bodyshell. McPherson strut independent front suspension was retained, with revised spring and damper rates, while the rear leaf springs were replaced by coil-spring/damper units, axle location being achieved by trailing arms and an ‘A’ bracket. The adoption of an alloy differential casing proved a mixed blessing, the lightweight component proving far less oil-tight than the original. Reversion to Ford's standard leaf-sprung axle cured the problem. Lotus Cortinas dominated saloon racing’s 2-litre class, often challenging for outright honours. Works cars were driven by Jim Clarke, Graham Hill, Peter Arundell and Jackie Ickx, while Sir John Whitmore, driving an Alan Mann-entered Lotus Cortina, was European Touring Car Champion in 1965. After the axle change, the hitherto fragile Lotus Cortina proved a highly capable rally car, works driver Bengt Soderstrom winning the Acropolis and RAC rallies in 1966. In present ownership since 1996, this well known historic rally car was built by David Sutton’s Historic Motorsport Company. Its specification includes a seam-welded bodyshell with side jacking points, Terry Hoyle-built ‘steel’ twin-cam engine with Weber 45 induction producing around 170bhp, competition suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers, dual-circuit brakes, adjustable pedal box, 60-litre foam-filled fuel tank, Halda Twinmaster, Recaro seats and much more besides. Results in 2002 included three 1sts, two 2nds and a class win in the Monte Carlo Historique. The engine was rebuilt in 2003 and the car has done just one event since. This Mk1 Lotus Cortina is a front-running historic rally car that could easily be converted for circuit racing and is surely a potential winner in the right hands. Presented in very good condition, the car comes with FIA papers, competition logbook, current MoT and Swansea V5.
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.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
