Ford Cortina 80

[killingjoker]

"Coke bottle" mk3 was a fine looking machine. My favourite out of them all, especially in 2 door form and with quad headlamps. Had it not been for my love of Capri's then i would have had one.

[iSore]

These guys are heroes imo.

Before folk rush out bro restore another Mark 2 Jag, more of these need to be saved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqlJLl7D9wA

[e21Mark]

I had several MK3's throughout my teens. My Dad loved Cortinas and his last ever car was a dark blue MK5 Crusader I think? I'd like one for the nostalgia.

[mcford]

Had a trip out in mine last week and ended up parking next to another one - what are the chances of that?

[Gunk]

e21Mark said:

I had several MK3's throughout my teens. My Dad loved Cortinas and his last ever car was a dark blue MK5 Crusader I think? I'd like one for the nostalgia.

The Crusader limited edition was a strange tie up with the Daily Express.

[Mr Tidy]

[quote=MikeT66]My father was a Ford buyer - and had one of the MKIVs before 'upgrading' to a Capri. Back then I thought the Cortina was boxy and unlovely. It's clean lines have certainly appreciated with age, though.

The one I rarely see (and still love the look of) is the MKIII two-door, though.



Loved them, even as a kid. I always thought they looked like mini-Yank cars. Mind you, I loved the old Celica, too, for the same reason.

Oops - a MK III GT 2 door was the first car I helped a mate of mine build for banger racing.

Possibly why you rarely see them?

[stuttgartmetal]

stuttgartmetal said:

Aaaaaah

Tinilites.

Is that Harrow ?


The two door Cortina Gt always held its money well
The GXL MK3 also
I never saw many 3litre conversions, which was much more popular for mk1 and mk2's

It was real Mad Men 70's
The yanks cleverly marketed a range that fleets loved as a hierarchical strategy could be employed.
There was little between the 2litre L and the Ghia other than trim.
Mechanically almost identical.
Ford designed them to be worked on easily so they made plenty of dough when they went through their workshops. Ford dealers were everywhere.
Vauxhall Cavaliers were no Cortina
Awful image, and rubbish second hand values.
You were either a Ford man, or Vauxhalll
Streetwise Vauxhall were naff until they brought out the mk1 Astra GTE
Fords were modded for the street
Mk 1 and 2 Cortinas had Weber conversions exhaust and wheels.
Easy to add springs and lowering, and amps added for sounds
Breakersyards were everywhere, and parts were cheap.
Mk3's never got the treatment because Escorts could be tuned, or threelitre capris picked up for peanuts. As could P6 3500 rovers.

The crack was well and truly had.

[e21Mark]

I seem to recall more MK3's had the rear jacked up than lowered.

Not forgetting an old rear fog light mounted to illuminate that rusty old diff.