MkI Cortina Woody
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Scrump

Original Poster:

23,930 posts

187 months

Saturday 6th July 2019
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Over the years I have mentioned a few times the old Cortina I owned when I was about 21. That was a long time ago.

A few PHers (not many though) have asked if I had any pictures of the car but I thought that I had lost all the pictures of it. I am pleased because I have just found a few photos.

The car was originally an estate but it had suffered a huge dent in the roof so the previous owner had taken off the registration number and was going to scrap it.

I bought it for scrap value and as I couldn't fix the roof I decided to take it off with an angle grinder. The car was pale blue originally (I think) but the paint was in an awful state so I sprayed it green to match the interior.

The car had bench seats front and rear with no seatbelts. Engine was a 1500cc with a floor change 4 speed box from a later Cortina. The rear boot lid was made from a car bonnet I picked up from a scrapyard and I made a mount to hang the spare wheel on the back. I welded the doors shut so getting in and out was a bit Dukes of Hazzard.

There was no roof and to stop it filling with rain I drilled some holes in the floor. Thankfully the seats were vinyl.

A few friends came with me on some epic road trips. The one in the photo is the West coast of Scotland.

My Xr3i can be seen in the corner of one of the pictures.






crankedup

25,764 posts

272 months

Saturday 6th July 2019
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Certainly outshone those pesky beach buggies smile
Must have been unique.

Bill

58,536 posts

284 months

Saturday 6th July 2019
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I'm loving the jaunty roll bar. biggrin

Scrump

Original Poster:

23,930 posts

187 months

Saturday 6th July 2019
quotequote all
The roll bar was added late in the build as the sides of the car were a bit too flexible with the roof missing.
The bar was inserted down into the hollow pillars between the doors and was there to hold the sides together!
The jaunty angle was to allow space between it and the windscreen for entry and exit.
With hindsight I should have made it run across the car behind the front bench seat, but that wouldn't have been as stylish wink

mk1coopers

1,450 posts

181 months

Sunday 7th July 2019
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Still on the DVLA system but untaxed since 1992, looks like it was a lot of fun

Scrump

Original Poster:

23,930 posts

187 months

Monday 8th July 2019
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Untaxed since 1992. That is a shame.
After those few weeks of effort I put into it I would have expected it to last longer. laugh