Beschreibung:

The history of the Lotus Cortina began in 1961 after Colin Chapman decided he wanted to build his own engines for Lotus. The engine's first appearance was in 1962 at the Nürburgring in a Lotus 23 driven by Jim Clark. Immediately after and almost as soon as the engine appeared in the Lotus Elan, it was recalled and replaced with a larger capacity unit to get the car closer to the 1.6 litre capacity class in motorsport./ Whilst the engine was being developed, Walter Hayes from Ford asked Colin Chapman if he would fit the engine to 1,000 Ford saloons for Group 2 homologation. Chapman quickly accepted and the Type 28 or Lotus-Cortina was duly launched. Ford supplied the two-door Cortina body shells and took care of all the marketing and selling of the cars whilst Lotus did all the mechanical and cosmetic changes. The major changes involved installing the 1,558cc engine together with the same close-ratio gearbox as the Elan. The cars also received front quarter bumpers and round Lotus badges were fitted to rear wings and to the left side of the radiator panel. Interior modifications were limited to a centre console designed to accommodate the new gear lever position, different seats and the later style dashboard featuring tachometer, speedometer, oil pressure, water temperature and fuel level gauges as well as a wood-rimmed steering wheel. A well known and admired example by the Lotus Cortina Register, PBF 489D is in beautiful condition both mechanically and cosmetically. A later air flow model on leaf springs, this example shows an odometer reading of 88,700 miles which is believed to be genuine and is supplied with many older MoT test certificates, invoices and a copy of 'The Quarter Bumper' Club Magazine in a very good history file. The interior is all original and un-restored and all panels are straight and present extremely well. The vendor-who is a Lotus Cortina Register member, has recently undertaken a light re-commissioning on the engine bay which, for any prospective new owner, is reassuring. Having never been raced or rallied, accompanied by a new MoT test certificate and in such fine condition, this genuine Mk. I Lotus Cortina is certainly attractive to both collector and investor. With prices of fast Fords rising rapidly this is sure to be a hit.