Track Toy Titans – Auction Car of the Week

What better way to see in 2025 than with a new track toy? Winter may not seem like the best time to be buying race cars but it actually makes perfect sense. Buying a track car now gives you ample opportunity for fettling and plenty of time to test before hitting the circuit when the weather becomes a tad more clement, because let’s face it, driving fast in circles is way more fun in the warm sunshine of late spring than it is in the cold and dingy dampness of winter. And you’re in luck, too, because we have the perfect pair of potential postulants available via our auctions platform: a 1966 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk1 and 1965 TVR Grantura 1800S. Nice.

Both of these ’60s stunners are fully prepared and highly competitive, meaning your quest for silverware, impressive lap times and basic, honest to goodness kudos points is assured, whichever you decide to campaign. So, without further ado, let’s take a closer look at each of them, shall we?

Ford Lotus Cortina

Rightly revered, Ford’s Lotus Cortina achieved God-like status at the hands of drivers like Jim Clarke and Alan Mann in the ’60s and has gone on to become one of the most famous racing cars of all time thanks to its impressive speed and deft handling, characteristics that ensured it was one of the best sports saloons of its day and it remains a popular track toy today.

The Lotus twin-cam engine, developed by Colin Chapman with help from Harry Mundy (designer of the Coventry Climax engine) and Cosworth’s Keith Duckworth, was lightweight and incredibly capable and it was the perfect beating heart to transplant into Ford’s fledgling saloon. Combine that with lightweight aluminium panels and a heavily revised suspension setup and you have a winner, both metaphorically and literally, as the Lotus Cortinas began immediately racking up wins at race tracks across the country. So good were they that they soon began dominating saloon car racing and today Mk1 Lotus Cortinas are a consistent class winners in historic racing the world over.

And you too could have a slice of that particularly palatable pie with this 1966 example, professionally converted to an FIA-specification race car by TWJ Motorsport in 2008 at a cost of over £41,000. Add another £59K spend to that figure over the subsequent five seasons and you’ll begin to get an idea of just how well sorted this car is. With numerous chassis refinements and engine and drivetrain improvements under its belt (alongside many, many competition wins) this particular Lotus Cortina can lay claim to being one of the quickest cars on the European circuit.

More recent work includes a full engine rebuild by renowned classic engine specialists Oselli Classic and Sports Cars, renewed front and rear adjustable suspension and a brake overhaul, with the car not having been driven in anger since, which is where you come in, dear reader. Complete with a substantial history file and retaining its road registration, this storied and well-sorted Ford Lotus Cortina is ready to get back on track where it belongs.

TVR Grantura

We’ve spoken before about TVR’s production car origin story but not only was the Grantura fit for the road, the car’s tubular chassis and lightweight body made it a perfect candidate for the race track too. This particular track toy is a later model 1800S, identifiable by its “Manx tail” rear end and if you’ve been paying attention you’ll no doubt recognise those rear light clusters…

With impressive performance thanks to its low curb weight, as well as impeccable handling characteristics, the Grantura was a popular David vs Goliath choice for those looking for an adept racer that could embarrass many larger-engined cars on track and many found their way into competition, including this ’65 example.

Prepared and run by Worcestershire-based TTP Performance, who would be more than happy to continue running the car for you should you wish, this Grantura benefits from substantial chassis, suspension and bodywork upgrades. Not only that but it has also just been fitted with a fresh, zero miles engine alongside a complete rewire, ensuring that this racer is a true ‘turn key’ example that’s ready to rock and roll.

Campaigned by Lee Atkins, the car may not yet be FIA registered but it is registered with Equipe GTS whilst also being suitable for Historic Sports Car Club and Classic Sports Car Club events. It’s a well-known car in historic racing circles, not least for its immense success in numerous competitions and it presents as a superb opportunity for anyone who’s after a ready-made racer with a proven track record.

We’re firm advocates of classic and historic competition and we can think of no better way to spend our free time than belting around a track in an old race car. Either of these track toy examples would be the perfect steed to do just that and whichever one you pick you’ll be in for a treat so whether it be the iconic Cortina or the tried and tested TVR, we guarantee you won’t be disappointed.