Description
Kelham Hall | Newark, Nottinghamshire
Viewing: Tues 16th June from 12pm
Auction: Wed 17th June from 9am
Location: Main Street, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG23 5QX
1965 Ford Lotus Cortina Rally Car
Previous competition winner
Estimate
£30, 000 - £35, 000
Registration No: EBA 888C
Chassis No: BA74EM59059
MOT: Exempt
A road legal competition car in current ownership since 1996
Fully stripped in 1995 and subsequently prepared for competition
A fierce competitor with many class and overall wins to its name
Last driven in anger in 2010 with our vendor at the wheel
Offered with history file, trophies, magazine articles and V5C
In 1963 Ford was looking to race the two-door MkI Cortina in Group 2, for which the obvious powerplant was the twin-cam version of the 'Kent' engine Colin Chapman had already developed for use in the Elan – thus the Lotus Cortina was born. In addition to the 105bhp 1558cc engine, the changes included: a close-ratio gearbox, shorter front suspension struts, and trailing arms and coil springs with 'A' bracket at the rear. Wider 5. 5J steel wheels were added, lightweight aluminium panels used for the doors, bonnet and boot and quarter bumpers added to the front. Interior amendments included: a new centre-console for the remote control gear lever, different seats and facia, and a wood-rim steering wheel. The MkI model was made until 1966, during which time the most significant upgrades included the adoption of Ford's new 'Airflow' ventilation system and the replacement of the troublesome 'A' bracket rear suspension with leaf springs and radius arms.
This road legal competition car has been in the current ownership since 1996. It was stripped to a bare shell and fully prepared for competition in 1995. Said to be a fierce competitor with many class and overall wins to it's name, it was last driven in anger in 2010 with the vendor at the wheel. Offered with history file, trophies, magazine articles and V5C.
Specification includes:
Bodyshell - Bare shell rebuild in 1995. Seam welded shell finished in Lotus colours. Full cage with international size main hoop quick jacking points, sides and rear. Side mounted axle stands. Minilight 6 x 13 alloys with Blockley tyres.
Engine, Gearbox & Clutch - J. Smirthwaite all steel 1598cc Lotus Twin Cam (dyno-165 BHP), Twin 45 Weber DCOE, Pipercross filter, baffled sump, oil cooler and Kenlowe fan. Tony Law manifold and exhaust system, 2000E 3 rail gearbox with Tranex close ratio G'kit with alloy bellhousing, twin triple paddle clutch, alloy sump and gearbox guard.
Axle - Single piece propshaft 4. 4 CWP with Tranex LSD forged steel halfshafts.
Auxiliaries - Foam filled alloy tank mounted in boot across the axle, electric fuel pump and battery mounted in the boot, as is the spare wheel. Motordrive seats, Brantz Twinmaster, Brantz Rally Timer, Sabelt 6 point harness, helmet net, Peltor intercom, lamp, brackets under over with 4 Hella 2000's. Professional wiring loom, fused and relayed, plumbed in fire extinguisher and hand held. Internal and external cut off switch, map light and air horns.
Suspension & Brakes - Front-Bilstein all round 260/ 60 inserts, front 190 lb springs, Lotus discs with M16 calipers, Mintex pads. Rear-9" drums, Mintex M20 linings, 5 leaf springs and Bilstein dampers.
Brake Master Cylinder - 60/ 40 Split
Competition history:
1995 Rally Brittania (RAC Historic) - 1st in class-7th O/ All
1996 Border Historic Rally - 3rd O/ All -1st O/ All Night section
1996 Welsh Rally Retrospective - 4th O/ All -1st class B3
1996 Ulster Historic Rally - 2nd class B4
1998 Coys Historic Rally Sprint (Silverstone) - 2nd O/ All
1999 Trackrod Historic Rally -The Trackrod Cup - 2nd O/ All
1996 & 1999 Ypres Historic (Belgium) - B4 class wins
1999 Robin Hood Historic Rally 2nd O/ All
2006 Somerset Historic Stages 1st O/ All
2007 Trackrod Historic 1st Class B4
2008 Mid Wales Stages 1st Class B4
2008 Tour of Flanders (Belgium) - 1st Class B4
2009 Chatsworth Rally Sprint Cat 1 - 1st O/ All
Rally Championships
1996 Safety Devices - Historic Rally Championship - 1st O/ All
1996 Demon Tweeks Classic Rally Championship - 3rd O/ All 1" B3 class
2006 BHRC - 3rd O/ AII - MSA Bronze Trophy
2007 HRCR Historic Championship - 1st O/ All
2007 BHRC Charles Goulding Trophy - 1st Private Entrant
2008 BHRC - 3rd O/ All MSA Bronze Trophy
2008 HRCR Tarmac Championship - 1st O/ All
2008 HRCR Gravel Championship - 1st O/ All
