1966 Ford Cortina Mk I – Classified of the Week
June 28, 2022
We just can’t help ourselves. When we see an estate car those myriad synapses in our brain start sparking that little bit more intensely. We can’t explain it, it’s science, and we’re not scientists. What we are, however, is classic car enthusiasts and what we have here is no ordinary estate car. Yes, it’s already eminently cool because it’s a Mk I Ford Cortina but the jewel in the crown, the icing on the cake, the cherry on top is the 2.0-litre Zetec engine under the bonnet. Yum.
The original Ford Cortina hit UK streets in 1962. Initially available as a two and four-door saloon to replace the Consul Classic an estate version, like the one we have here, was introduced a year later. Fitted with a 1.2 and from ’63 a 1.5-litre four cylinder engine the Cortina was aimed squarely at the family market. Buyers could choose from various different trim levels but it was Lotus that put the Mk I Cortina on the map when Colin Chapman dropped his tuned, twin cam version of Ford’s Kent engine into the car for Group 2 homologation purposes.
That ethos of shoehorning a more performance-oriented motor into a standard factory car has been embraced wholeheartedly with respect to the 1966 Mk I Ford Cortina estate we have available via the Car & Classic auctions platform. Gone is the original 1500cc in favour of a much more modern and indeed more powerful, 2.0-litre Zetec lump. This isn’t just a case of dropping a standard 2.0-litre into the car. Oh no. This particular engine has a host of goodies installed to take it to the next level. Modifications and upgrades include a BDA Rocker Cover, custom prop, custom exhaust, Weber carburettor and an after market ECU to ensure everything is tuned to perfection.
Not only has the engine been fettled with but the rest of the mechanicals have also been tickled. The car has been fitted with a Type 9 five-speed gearbox, anti tramp bars and an anti dive kit, a limited slip differential, Gaz rear shocks, front coil over suspension, RS2000 adjustable track control arms, and vented discs, among other things. All of which ensure that this Cortina is a much more drive-able proposition than a standard Mk I.
The car certainly has the show to match its go too. As you can see from the photos attached to the advert the Cortina looks splendid in its baby blue paintwork accented beautifully by all of the chrome trim. The dished Lotus steel wheels set everything off with their chrome hub caps and the overall aesthetic is pretty striking. The car was re-painted 15 years ago and as such there are a few minor blemishes as well as a couple of past repairs but we would expect some work to have been done on such an old car and the Cortina is purported to be “very solid”.
The interior is largely original save for some door cards by renowned British upholsterers Aldridge Trimming and some after market gauges. It remains tasteful and is in keeping with the overall vibe of the car.
With more power than that legendary Lotus version we mentioned earlier, along with the added draw of being an estate, this particular Cortina well and truly occupies a space in that super cool territory reserved for certain special cars that really get those neurons firing. With all of the modern upgrades this Mk I Ford Cortina could easily be used every day with the added bonus of being incredibly practical. Not only that but it’s also guaranteed to turn heads wherever it goes, whether that be down to Tesco for a loaf of bread or to a classic car show.
