Beschreibung
DESCRIPTION
The original Type 28 Lotus-Cortina was Ford’s first real homologation special, taking the newly launched Cortina GT – itself a high-performance version of the Mark 1 Cortina with a proven track record – and developing it into a world beating racing saloon. Under the direction of Ford Motorsport chief Walter Hayes, Colin Chapman added the classic Lotus twin-cam engine designed by engineer Harry Mundy and further developed by Cosworth Engineering, along with lightweight doors, boot and bonnet panels in alloy, heavily revised suspension and wider wheel rims. The clutch housing, remote gearshift extension for the close ratio gearbox and differential case were also made from aluminium, the interior came with front bucket seats, a pistol-grip handbrake and special alloy-spoked wood-rim steering wheel. Externally Lotus did away with the full-width front bumper, replaced by dainty quarter bumpers, and added special badges. Originally promoted as the “Consul Cortina developed by Lotus”, the Consul name was later dropped. Alongside the 3, 306 road cars built by Ford for enthusiastic customers, each finished in distinctive Ermine White with green flashes down the sides, Lotus produced a small batch of race prepared Cortinas at the Cheshunt plant, with 97 works cars understood to have been completed for circuit racing and rallying. Homologated for Group 2 racing by September 1963, Cortinas campaigned by Team Lotus and Alan Mann Racing became the dominant car in tintop racing in Europe, the United States and Australia, beaten only by the larger capacity Galaxies and Mustangs. Drivers like Sir John Whitmore, Jack Sears and the great Jim Clark proved largely unbeatable in 1965, with Whitmore taking out the European Touring Car Championship that year. The Lotus Cortina was never officially sold in Australia and Ford’s local arm had Harry Firth modify the GT into a low budget pushrod equivalent, badged the GT500 and these had a similar impact on the racing scene here. The Lotus Cortina did race here with the likes of Jim McKeown and the Geoghegan brothers enjoying some success.
HISTORY
- One of three works prepared Lotus Cortinas supplied to Australia
- Period race history with Team Total/ Geoghegan brothers
- Ground-up restoration by noted Lotus Cortina expert
- Outstanding cosmetic and mechanical condition
Lotus records have confirmed chassis Z74D 424165 is one of 97 works prepared Lotus Cortinas, delivered to the Ford Motor Company of Australia in 1964 with a 3. 9 limited-slip differential and standard con-rods. One of three cars prepared at Cheshunt for Australia, this example was pre-sold to the Geoghegan family in Sydney, the local Lotus agents who also ran a fleet of taxis, all painted black. After repainting the Cortina from the original Ermine White to their signature black, Ian “Pete” Geoghegan raced the car as a Total Team entry on a number of occasions alongside brother Leo’s Cortina GT. Winning on debut in the Craven Filter National Open Meeting at the Catalina Park circuit in December 1964, Geoghegan continued his winning streak in the Touring Car Scratch Race at the Hordern Trophy Gold Star Meeting at Warwick Farm later in the month. In 1965 the car raced at the Blue Mountains Trophy meeting in February, followed by the Tasman Championship round at Warwick Farm later that month but doesn’t feature amongst the major placings. Further appearances took place at Lakeside in March, Sandown Park in April (where Geoghegan finished second overall behind Norm Beechey’s Mustang) and at Bathurst in April, when he finished third behind Bob Jane’s Mustang and Brian Muir’s Holden EH S4 in the Invitation Scratch Race for Improved Production Touring Cars. The Cortina’s racing career with Total Team came to an abrupt end in April 1965 when Geoghegan rolled at Catalina Park in the NSW Blue Mountains.
Subsequently repaired and sold to Frank Melit of Queensland, the Lotus Cortina raced briefly in his hands before being traded to Blair Sheppard Cars of Brisbane. The Cortina was then road registered and used as road car for some time with Geoff Digby, who also had some success on the drag strip. The Lotus Cortina was sold by Digby to Graham Mein of Ballina, NSW on the 30th of July, 1988 and he spent the next 26 years slowly restoring it back to the form it raced in 1964. Completed in 2014, the ground up rebuild was done to the highest possible standards by Mein, a noted Ford collector and Lotus Cortina expert.
The current Sydney owner purchased the Lotus Cortina from Mein in 2014 and it has since formed part of a small private collection, carefully stored alongside his other cars. Started once a month, our vendor has changed the engine and gearbox oil annually, along with the brake fluid and engine coolant. With known history back to new, the Cortina presents in freshly restored condition and has only been driven on public roads once. A significant car with period race history and excellent provenance, the Lotus Cortina would be a fabulous addition to any serious collection and, having spent most of the last five decades off the radar, would be welcome at any car show or race meeting. Currently registered on non-transferable historic plates in NSW and therefore sold unregistered, the Lotus Cortina comes with the original limited-slip differential, front air ducts and bonnet.
Note: Shannons advise that all potential buyers research all vehicles before purchase to authenticate originality.
