Ford Cortina MkI - 1962
Using the project name of 'Archbishop', management at Ford of Britain in Dagenham created a family-sized car which they could sell in large numbers. The chief designer was Roy Brown Jr., the designer of the Edsel, who had been banished to Dagenham following the failure of that car. The car was designed to be economical, cheap to run and easy and inexpensive to produce in Britain.
The Cortina was available with 1200 and (from early 1963) 1500 four-cylinder engines with all synchromesh gearbox, in two-door and four-door saloon, as well as in five-door estate (from March 1963) forms. Standard, Deluxe, Super, and GT trims were offered but not across all body styles. Early Standard models featured a simple body coloured front grille, earning it the nickname 'Ironbar', and large, round, ‘Ban the Bomb’ tail-light clusters.
A Ford Cortina Lotus was offered only as a two-door saloon all in white with a contrasting green side flash down each flank. It had a unique 1558 cc twin-cam engine by Lotus, but based on the Cortina's Kent OHV engine. Aluminium was used for some body panels. For a certain time, it also had a unique A-frame rear suspension, but this proved fragile and the model soon reverted to the standard Cortina semi-elliptic rear end.
The MkI Cortina was replaced by the MkII in 1966.
Being October, which had always been the LUGNuts anniversary month, this Ford Cortina MkI Sedan has been built to the 43rd challenge theme 'Plus or Minus Ten' - a challenge to build a vehicle that is ten year before or after the year of the builder's birth (1972).
Ford Cortina MkI - 1962
Using the project name of 'Archbishop', management at Ford of Britain in Dagenham created a family-sized car which they could sell in large numbers. The chief designer was Roy Brown Jr., the designer of the Edsel, who had been banished to Dagenham following the failure of that car. The car was designed to be economical, cheap to run and easy and inexpensive to produce in Britain.
The Cortina was available with 1200 and (from early 1963) 1500 four-cylinder engines with all synchromesh gearbox, in two-door and four-door saloon, as well as in five-door estate (from March 1963) forms. Standard, Deluxe, Super, and GT trims were offered but not across all body styles. Early Standard models featured a simple body coloured front grille, earning it the nickname 'Ironbar', and large, round, ‘Ban the Bomb’ tail-light clusters.
A Ford Cortina Lotus was offered only as a two-door saloon all in white with a contrasting green side flash down each flank. It had a unique 1558 cc twin-cam engine by Lotus, but based on the Cortina's Kent OHV engine. Aluminium was used for some body panels. For a certain time, it also had a unique A-frame rear suspension, but this proved fragile and the model soon reverted to the standard Cortina semi-elliptic rear end.
The MkI Cortina was replaced by the MkII in 1966.
Being October, which had always been the LUGNuts anniversary month, this Ford Cortina MkI Sedan has been built to the 43rd challenge theme 'Plus or Minus Ten' - a challenge to build a vehicle that is ten year before or after the year of the builder's birth (1972).