Friday 30th October 2009

SOTW: Cortina MkII

SOTW goes back to the Sixties, with a mid-Nineties treat thrown in for good measure

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I often reminisce about old Fords, they really were a cool brand a few years back weren't they? Let me clarify that further by saying that I like the way current Ford cars are built, and I enjoy the way they drive but I only lust after older Fords, they seemed to carry a certain kudos and charm that isn't found in today’s models.

Perhaps it was simply down to the fact that there were fewer cars on the roads twenty or thirty years ago, but a Ford was always special to me. I liked the Consul, the Granada, the early Escorts, the Zephyr and of course the Cortina. (OK, I liked all of them!) You couldn't turn on the TV without seeing a Ford, walk down your street without seeing a chap lovingly washing one, or walk past any office or football club and not see a Granada Ghia parked in the directors space.

It's with that thought in mind that I present this weeks SOTW - as soon as I saw it I knew it would be gracing the pages of PH this morning. This particular car is a 1969 1600 Deluxe MkII. Launched in the great year of 1966, the MkII had a lot to live up to after the successful original Cortina and the boxier new version didn't disappoint with more interior space and comfort. Based on the same floorplan as the MkI, the MkII retained the Macpherson strut front suspension but with a wider track front and rear to improve handling, and disc brakes were now offered as standard.

The range consisted of Standard, Deluxe, Super and GT so this car is quite low in the range rankings. As production ceased in September 1970, this is quite a late car in the MkII scheme of things, too. Fitted with what we assume to be the original Kent cross-flow, we can't imagine that you will win any speed records, but when you look this good who cares?

Advert says: 1969 FORD MK2 CORTINA 1600 DELUXE, 40,000 MILES ..... GOOD CONDITION FOR YEAR £££`S SPENT ON CLUTCH AND HEAD RELUCTANT SALE ....TAX EXEMPT SHORT MOT BRAND NEW EXHAUST AND BRAKES GET YOURSELF A RARE 60`s CLASSIC.....L@@K £950 ovno 

In a rare twist for SOTW I was torn between two cars, and while my old Ford loyalty is strong, my love of old Mercs equals it. So as an alternative SOTW, I offer you this slightly more modern 1994 W124 E320.

Fitted with the 24v 3.2 'six' this lovely blue saloon (named Beryl blue believe it or not) has air con, cruise, FSH and only three previous owners from new. The interior looks suspiciously like vinyl MB-Tex, and the seller doesn't mention the interior either, but as it would be rare to spec a 320 in anything less than leather let’s assume that it has hide for now. It even has some tax and test thrown in too. In my opinion this is the perfect E Class Benz.

Advert says: 1994 Mercedes Benz E320 4dr Auto. 87,000 miles, 4 Door Saloon, Petrol, Automatic, 8 Hole Alloys, AirCon, Cruise Control, Total History, Three Owners from New, Last Owner Since 2000, MOTd until May 2010, Road Fund Licence Expires Feb 2010, HPI Clear, Completely Outstanding Condition and Value £995

So this week SOTW offers something for everyone, old school cool or German power and waftiness, both for under £1000....why not buy them both?

See SOTW on facebook here

 

[BlueSei]

Ford yes, Merc No

[sleep envy]

that merc is cracking value - if it were the coupe it would be fetching close to £8k if not more

[Agent Orange]

Fords yes. Have always loved the them. First car was a MK1 Escort 1300E - wonderful car. Metallic gold, black vinyl roof, twin spots, wood dash and leather steering wheel. Cortinas? Liked the MK1, MK3, MK4 (death trap) and the MK5 a wonderful car. Had a MK5 2.0 Ghia at 18 and it drove beautifully. Lovely car.

But the MK2s?? Never done anything for me. Only thing right about that car for me is the colour.

The Merc. Good German barge!

[Woodstar]

Not taken with the colour of both, but i suppose it is period for age...

I like the Merc

[aarondrs]

Dad had a 1600E Mk2 Series 2 in Zambia and such was my fondness I can still remember the numberplate EW 1642. Lovely car. What looked like pine door cappings and fascia, real wood too as I remember chipping one capping with a tooth and Dad going mad. We used it on Safari a number of times and it never missed a beat.

I think I'd go with the Merc though for day to day, If it were a 1600E though I may have swung the other way (no not that way ) that is great value.

Edited by aarondrs on Friday 30th October 12:29

[Nickellarse]

Top SOTW. It would have to be the Merc though.

I think you've missed a trick though as there is a third one in the classifieds that I'm surprised didn't get a mention:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1242555.htm

[S3_Graham]

am i the only one suprised Garlick didnt buy the merc??

[Garlick]

Nickellarse said:

Top SOTW. It would have to be the Merc though.

I think you've missed a trick though as there is a third one in the classifieds that I'm surprised didn't get a mention:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1242555.htm

I did see this on a few classified sites, but after a bit of I decided against it.

Great car though.

[moskvich427]

Great Sheds - especially the Merc. The pessimistic side of me thinks that it's too cheap, and the interior is an unusual choice, but still worth a punt.
Not too sure about the Talbot though sorry!

Edited by moskvich427 on Friday 30th October 12:33

[shouldbworking]

Vinyl roof? check. Orange? check.

I'll take 2

[Garlick]

S3_Graham said:

am i the only one suprised Garlick didnt buy the merc??

I surprised myself to be honest.

[Steamer]

sleep envy said:

that merc is cracking value - if it were the coupe it would be fetching close to £8k if not more

True - But the same could almost be said about the 'tina (if it was an escort).

[EDLT]

Are those really vinyl seats in the Merc? They don't look like leather to me.

[mustard tab]

Dear Mr Garlic.
I may be at the end of a very long queue, but please put me forward as your replacement when you have had enough, I'd love your job.
I share your adulation of old Merc's wonderful cars, the E class would have it for me, even with a slightly off the wall interior/exterior colour combo, it just adds to the magic. if the car is a straight as it looks its a fantastic purchase. I have seen one of these with 320K on the clock, you could keep it forever.

[gshughes]

40,000 miles for the Cortina, if genuine that's 950 a year which isn't very many at all.

[don logan]

They are not sheds! : )

[2fster]

don logan said:

They are not sheds! : )

Oh god, haven't been on here for a while, does someone still miss the point of the name each week?!

[Jaz300CE]

The merc looks v.good. I have a slightly older coupe version and the seats in the Merc look suspiciously non-standard. Perhaps retrimmed? Of that age the seats were horizontal pannelled pattern rather than stripes lengthways. It all matches the dashboard however. V.unusual.

On the later E's of this time, there was a very common wiring loom fault that required the whole wireing bundle to be replaced due to the coating on the original breaking down and causing all sorts of random faults to occur with the electrics. The cost can be around £600-£800 to repair - worth considering but worth a punt!

[AH123]

Does anyone know if these Mercs were usually supplied with different colour schemes between the boot space and the cabin?

[markvh]

The merc looks huge, unbelievable that you can get so much car for so little money.

Love the Cortina though.