1966 Ford Cortina Mk1 GT
Discussion
This is my 'toy' car. I had one when I lived in the UK and enjoyed it sufficiently that I felt the need for another.
I also had a couple of Lotus Cortinas, both Mk1s but I didn't enjoy them nearly as much as I spent too much of my time rebuilding the engines, clutches etc as I abused them on a regular basis.
I also had a couple of Lotus Cortinas, both Mk1s but I didn't enjoy them nearly as much as I spent too much of my time rebuilding the engines, clutches etc as I abused them on a regular basis.
...I've always wanted a MK1 Cortina. Closest I came was viewing one in Bideford, where I became suspicious of the seller. The car itself was really nice and priced far too cheaply but when the seller mysteriously couldn't find any paperwork (nothing! Not even an old tax disc, let alone V5 or MOT!) I decided to make my excuses, say I'd think about it and then phoned the BiB. Sure enough it was stolen and was back with its real owner a day or two later.
Anyway, yours looks really nice. Any more pics and detail?
Anyway, yours looks really nice. Any more pics and detail?
e21Mark said:
I've always wanted a MK1 Cortina. Closest I came was viewing one in Bideford, where I became suspicious of the seller. The car itself was really nice and priced far too cheaply but when the seller mysteriously couldn't find any paperwork (nothing! Not even an old tax disc, let alone V5 or MOT!) I decided to make my excuses, say I'd think about it and then phoned the BiB. Sure enough it was stolen and was back with its real owner a day or two later.
Anyway, yours looks really nice. Any more pics and detail?
Lots more pics and detail.Anyway, yours looks really nice. Any more pics and detail?
When I bought the car it came with a Fiat Twin Cam (the 1.8l version) which had replaced the Ford V6, which had replaced the original 1500 non crossflow it was born with.
|https://thumbsnap.com/wdRRtRZI[/url]The previous owner had stripped it down completely, welded in the new parts as needed - it was a hobby for him.
After buying the car, I tried a variety of engines for the car as I felt it needed a little more oomph, the 116 HP the Fiat had was a nice increase over the 78 HP the original had but it still wasn't enough.
Long story short and (literally) after trying five different engines...more later on that...I installed the drivetrain from an S2000 which gave it that oomph I was talking about - 240 HP or 3 times the original makes for spirited driving when needed but the car will still drive like a 'granny' car, happily burbling along at low RPM. The Cortina being about 1000lbs lighter than the S2000 helps.
Wheelspin at 80MPH when the Vtec kicks in is 'interesting' though once I finish sorting the suspension and putting wider rubber on, this should tame the beast a little.
It still looks 'stock' from the outside so it makes for interesting driving!
Edited by Frod Cortina on Thursday 6th April 18:23
[url]Edited by Frod Cortina on Thursday 6th April 18:26
TR4man said:
What is the green car in the background?
That was a 1951 Ford Prefect, had to let it go as I had too many toys and not enough space - this how I parked them.
I was going to take the Fiat engine from the Cortina and put it in the Prefect, which would have been interesting given the agricultural nature of the brakes, suspension and steering in the Prefect but fortunately I ran out of space and time!
e21Mark said:
I know it might not be very "Pistonheads" but in cars like these I prefer a high revving 16v four pot.
My thought process as well. Putting a V8 in a Cortina is a (relative) breeze but I always enjoyed a 4 cylinder for these cars and the S2000 fits the bill, it certainly gets to 9000rpm in a hurry in a car which weighs about 900lbs less than the S2000 and when the Vtec kicks in...Frod Cortina said:
That was a 1951 Ford Prefect, had to let it go as I had too many toys and not enough space - this how I parked them.
I was going to take the Fiat engine from the Cortina and put it in the Prefect, which would have been interesting given the agricultural nature of the brakes, suspension and steering in the Prefect but fortunately I ran out of space and time!
Surely that's the perfect amount of space?I was going to take the Fiat engine from the Cortina and put it in the Prefect, which would have been interesting given the agricultural nature of the brakes, suspension and steering in the Prefect but fortunately I ran out of space and time!
Mr Tidy]rod Cortina said:
It was until the blue thing came along, a little newer, a little faster, so the Prefect had to go.
[quote]
Well I can see why you might do that!
Looking forward to updates on the Tina, and the blue thing!
I sold the blue thing and replaced it with a same year coupe, european spec, ex japan and it is as tight as a drum, and looks like it has been sat in twice or three times only - the Cab was absolutely thrashed by me and previous owners and certainly looked like it, worn everywhere and generally abused - this one doesn't leak a drop of oil and generally behaves itself which encourages me to do the same.[quote]
Well I can see why you might do that!
Looking forward to updates on the Tina, and the blue thing!
More on the Hondatina as I go along...
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