Ford Cortina Savage: You Know You Want To
A rather special fast Ford estate lurking in the classifieds
Yep, just an old Cortina estate...
According to the Cortina Owners Club, the majority of the Jeff Uren converted Cortinas were saloons so the rarity of this estate makes it all the more desirable. Furthermore, this isn't your plain old Cortina Savage either. Oh no. As part of an extensive (and costly) restoration in 2005, the engine was rebuilt and is now a 3.1 with Swaymar manifolds and a bespoke exhaust. Power is now rated at over 190hp, transferred to the road through a Capri 'box and LSD. The tyres don't look too wide either, do they?
Put simply it looks absolutely ruddy hilarious, given the Savage could easily be passed off as a humdrum Cortina estate. Furthermore, when you consider a Mk2 Lotus is £35K (a whole lot less coveted than the Mk1 remember), the £27K being asked for this estate doesn't look unreasonable.
Of course it will take a committed fan to spend this much on a Cortina. But they will get a salute from these quarters for doing so.
FORD CORTINA SAVAGE
Price: £27,500
Why you shoud: It's a V6 Cortina estate!
Why you shouldn't: It's a near-£30K Cortina estate!
See the original advert here.
 |
 |
in any case it's been for sale a fair while - although I suspect there's a limited number of buyers the price doesn't seem all that unreasonable given the rarity and the restoration. Even standard Mk2s are fetching good money compared to when I owned them (sold my last one in about 2001)
Shame about the sunroof - they destroy the torsional rigidity, which isn't exactly in great supply on the estate unless there's addiditional underside bracing, but as a summer toy to enjoy and show it would be very amusing to tool about in.
This has been for sale that long I'm surprised it's not at Ron Hodgkinsons aren't selling it (they of the RS200 that has been for sale since God was a lad, and started at £99k and is now £POA £195k!)
Pity about the panel fit and shut lines on this Savage, very poor considering the price, although I guess that's why it's still for sale....
In '72, my old fella had to sell his MkII Lotus Cortina as it wasn't practical enough for the kids so when I came along and expanded the clan he had to replace it with something more in keeping with his family responsibilities....a Viva estate. Epic fail.
Anyhow, thankfully he saw sense and replaced that swiftly afterwards with a bright yellow Ford Corsair Savage. Not sure which one I'd prefer to have now (possibly the Lotus), but I just wish I was old enough back then to appreciate his fast Ford love.
My father had a Mk II Cortina 1500GT saloon and loved it - very boy racer at the time.
I tried to capture that love when I bought a Cortina Mk II 1300 and a 1600E but frankly, they were over-rated and neither lasted long in my ownership, the 1300 giving way to a Viva 1800 and the 1600E paling next to my Alfetta 2000.
Ford did multiple gauges and sporty steering wheels very well.
So I'm all for nostalgia but these old Fords never did it for me, dynamically (apart from the styling, which was great in Mk I, II and III form)
It was used every day and never failed us including a very memorable trip into Kafue. A little later in life I remember coming across a Savage Cortina and thinking it wasn't so great inside but I want one all the same.
I seem to recall another company offering a hot 302cu V8 Cortina around London way - was it Freud or Freid. Some of the old timers on here may rememebr.
The name Savage was also carried onto MkIII and MkIV Cortinas as well. Now they're very rare!!
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff