Original Mk ll, Series 2 car in overall superb condition. The body plate confirms she was built as a right hand drive manual car in a Lotus specification factory build shell and painted Blue Mink with black trim - as presented today. She was painted white with green stripe over the late 80's and early 90's, but returned to Blue Mink as part of a comprehensive (documented) restoration in 1997. Unusually she is fitted with export spec opening front quarterlights (though the car has never been exported).
The car was built in December 1969 and first registered 7th January 1970 with the Milk Marketing Board in Thames Ditton. She has 8 subsequent registered owners. Mine since Sept 2021 - before that she had spent the last 38 years with just 3 previous owners, two of whom were Lotus Cortina Register committee members. The ownership history is fully documented.
An older body restoration from 1997-8 which still looks in eye-catching great condition. No rust or decay. In 2019 the Lotus powerplant was subject to an extensive rebuild by Vulcan Engineering at Brands Hatch using a 711M block, and now produces a peak power output of 126bhp at 5760rpm. Fitted with a stainless steel Edwards Motorsport exhaust system. The carburettors were overhauled, rebuilt and balanced by Northampton Motorsport in 2022. The wheels are professionally refurbished genuine Lotus 51/ 2 steel rims fitted with Dunlop Aquajet tyres. Has also received new front brakes, clutch, suspension struts and track control arms. Glass is original all round apart from a new laminated front screen. The speedometer was overhauled and recalibrated in 2012 showing a mileage of 105769; currently displays 7933. Protected by a "Toad" immobiliser.
Supplied with the V5C registration document, 2 sets of keys, and a sizeable history file. Currently out of MoT, but will be sold complete with a new ticket.
The second incarnation of the Ford Cortina was designed by Roy Haynes and was launched on 18th October 1966. Following on from the enormous success of the original Lotus Cortina Mk l, Ford introduced the Cortina - Lotus Mk ll in March 1967 with the famous Lotus twin-cam engine now giving 109bhp. The Mk ll was developed in--house by Ford's competition department at Boreham, and named the Cortina - Lotus. It was manufactured at Ford's main Dagenham plant in Essex using Lotus supplied engines, alongside Mk ll Cortina GTs . The new car was more straightforward and cost effective to build on the standard production line. The move of Lotus from Cheshunt to Hethel in 1966 also contributed to this change of manufacturing approach.
The Mk ll continued in production to September 1970. Although there are some discrepancies between sources of records, it is believed that there were a total of 4093 built. Of these, 1230 were the later Series 2 cars which were badged as the Cortina Twin Cam. This compares to 3306 for the preceding Mk l Lotus Cortina.
Unlike the Mk l, fewer than half of Mk ll's were finished in white, and even the green stripes were a dealer painted option that not all white cars received. The slightly greater majority were finished in one of the standard shades available from the Cortina GT colour chart.
