Lotus Cortina Values
Discussion
I think I've only ever seen red or white but it looks like you could have any of these colours on a mk2.....
http://www.lotus-cortina.com/library/colour.htm
http://www.lotus-cortina.com/library/colour.htm
Yup, I can remember a Amber Gold Mk2 LC that used to turn up at Ford shows back in the very early 1980's, and a light met green one. I think red and silver fox were probably the two most common non-white colours for the Mk2 LC. I nearly bought a mint Silver Fox Mk2 in about 1985, but ummed and arrrgh'd too long and it sold. One of the 'one that got away' regrets from my youth, along with a ultra rare, very late, custom pack RS1600 
GialloEvoII said:
So,no further forward with values...
Depends on the condition/history etc.,etc.I've seen a complete wreck that was the rustiest thing I've ever seen from the photos, and was effectively a minor parts and identity donor car up for sale very recently for several thousand...!
However, the average, been restored Mk2, usually goes for between £20-30k these days, which is a world away from the £1-1.5k for a minter back when I nearly bought one almost 30 years ago....!!!!
Edited by aeropilot on Tuesday 6th August 22:43
In answer to your 'where are all the others' question - I believe Mk2 values dropped so low for so long compared to the Mk1 that many were broken up as engine donors for Mk1s and Escorts, Lotus models using the same engine etc.
From my own experience of owning half a dozen Mk2 Cortinas over many years, body panel availability and cost made many cars unviable restorations in the 90s and many were simply stripped for spares.
I knew of a few that had long term engine issues and were simply parked up minus the motor for decades - most eventually crumbling to nothing.
The Mk2 Lotus was popular enough when new but more of a mainstream model than the Mk1 - in value terms I'd expect values to be significantly less, but then Mk1 values went entirely mental years ago! I suspect any good car with provonance that it is actually a genuine Lotus rather than another 2 door shell with a Lotus donor engine will still command a hefty wedge of cash as there's so many that have been refreshed but have significant structural issues hidden underneath at middling money.
From my own experience of owning half a dozen Mk2 Cortinas over many years, body panel availability and cost made many cars unviable restorations in the 90s and many were simply stripped for spares.
I knew of a few that had long term engine issues and were simply parked up minus the motor for decades - most eventually crumbling to nothing.
The Mk2 Lotus was popular enough when new but more of a mainstream model than the Mk1 - in value terms I'd expect values to be significantly less, but then Mk1 values went entirely mental years ago! I suspect any good car with provonance that it is actually a genuine Lotus rather than another 2 door shell with a Lotus donor engine will still command a hefty wedge of cash as there's so many that have been refreshed but have significant structural issues hidden underneath at middling money.
Mk1's are popular in historic racing, and that has pushed the values up. Mk2's are too late for pre-65 racing, so are worth less. Also less iconic.
You'd do well to buy any genuine MK1 with a log book & bulletproof ID for under £20K. Good ones, well, 30-50K ish.
Race cars can fetch 80K for a good one, 200K plus for something that won races with a famous driver in period.
Mk2's are worth much, much less, but will surely rise as Mk1's do. They will be unlikely to reach MK1 values, ever, for the above reasons.
You'd do well to buy any genuine MK1 with a log book & bulletproof ID for under £20K. Good ones, well, 30-50K ish.
Race cars can fetch 80K for a good one, 200K plus for something that won races with a famous driver in period.
Mk2's are worth much, much less, but will surely rise as Mk1's do. They will be unlikely to reach MK1 values, ever, for the above reasons.
Slightly off thread but would be interested to hear replies.
Around 1986 a mate bought a Mk2 1970 S2 Cortina Twin-Cam, BPH 54H, originally ermine white but brush-painted in a Hammerite-type white at the time, black vinyl roof with Webasto-type folding roof, Dunlop alloys, 1970's tyres (195/70??).
Anyway, all the details looked correct for a Lotus but the log-book was registered as 1599cc rather than 1558cc. Car since long gone to someone else but we always wondered if it was a gen TC or a T-Cammed 1600GT. Car was BPH 54H in standard condition. Have no chassis-number info. Last saw it around 1989 in north east Scotland then it was transported to Midlands area. Has it been seen since 1989?? Was an extremely solid bodyshell at the time.
Thx.
Around 1986 a mate bought a Mk2 1970 S2 Cortina Twin-Cam, BPH 54H, originally ermine white but brush-painted in a Hammerite-type white at the time, black vinyl roof with Webasto-type folding roof, Dunlop alloys, 1970's tyres (195/70??).
Anyway, all the details looked correct for a Lotus but the log-book was registered as 1599cc rather than 1558cc. Car since long gone to someone else but we always wondered if it was a gen TC or a T-Cammed 1600GT. Car was BPH 54H in standard condition. Have no chassis-number info. Last saw it around 1989 in north east Scotland then it was transported to Midlands area. Has it been seen since 1989?? Was an extremely solid bodyshell at the time.
Thx.
It would appear not:
The vehicle details for BPH 54H are:
Date of Liability 01 12 1987
Date of First Registration 17 03 1970
Year of Manufacture Not Available
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1598cc
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type PETROL
Export Marker N
Vehicle Status Unlicensed
Vehicle Colour WHITE
Vehicle Type Approval Not Available
Vehicle Excise Duty rate for vehicle
6 Months Rate £123.75
12 Months Rate £225.00
Since it's not showing as SORN it's undoubtedly been off the road and the ownership details aren't known to DVLA or it's been stripped for spares and nobody bothered to send the paperwork back.
I'd say it wasn't a genuine shell based on that engine size - most likely a GT
The vehicle details for BPH 54H are:
Date of Liability 01 12 1987
Date of First Registration 17 03 1970
Year of Manufacture Not Available
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1598cc
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type PETROL
Export Marker N
Vehicle Status Unlicensed
Vehicle Colour WHITE
Vehicle Type Approval Not Available
Vehicle Excise Duty rate for vehicle
6 Months Rate £123.75
12 Months Rate £225.00
Since it's not showing as SORN it's undoubtedly been off the road and the ownership details aren't known to DVLA or it's been stripped for spares and nobody bothered to send the paperwork back.
I'd say it wasn't a genuine shell based on that engine size - most likely a GT
True story:
About ten years ago my father in law told me of bumping into his old pal Dennis in Southampton. They has worked together at Vospers building minesweepers. Dennis was known for his Lotus Cortina Mark1 that he had bought when it was a year old. He had kept it immaculate, I believe the plastic wrapping was still on the back seats, it truly was his pride and joy. It had been off the road but garaged for a few years at this point. Any way, he had just sold it to a bloke from Bournemouth and he was chuffed as 'nanas to have gotten back what he paid for it (in the sixties) - £350.00. I couldn't believe my ears…… book value then was circa 12k for one in good but not concours condition.
I bet the buyer couldn't believe his luck, is it anyone here?
About ten years ago my father in law told me of bumping into his old pal Dennis in Southampton. They has worked together at Vospers building minesweepers. Dennis was known for his Lotus Cortina Mark1 that he had bought when it was a year old. He had kept it immaculate, I believe the plastic wrapping was still on the back seats, it truly was his pride and joy. It had been off the road but garaged for a few years at this point. Any way, he had just sold it to a bloke from Bournemouth and he was chuffed as 'nanas to have gotten back what he paid for it (in the sixties) - £350.00. I couldn't believe my ears…… book value then was circa 12k for one in good but not concours condition.
I bet the buyer couldn't believe his luck, is it anyone here?
T70RPM said:
Mk1's are popular in historic racing, and that has pushed the values up. Mk2's are too late for pre-65 racing, so are worth less. Also less iconic.
You'd do well to buy any genuine MK1 with a log book & bulletproof ID for under £20K. Good ones, well, 30-50K ish.
Race cars can fetch 80K for a good one, 200K plus for something that won races with a famous driver in period.
Mk2's are worth much, much less, but will surely rise as Mk1's do. They will be unlikely to reach MK1 values, ever, for the above reasons.
WHAT - up to £50,000 for an ordinary Cortina Lotus Mk1 and up to £200,000 or more for one that raced ?????????????You'd do well to buy any genuine MK1 with a log book & bulletproof ID for under £20K. Good ones, well, 30-50K ish.
Race cars can fetch 80K for a good one, 200K plus for something that won races with a famous driver in period.
Mk2's are worth much, much less, but will surely rise as Mk1's do. They will be unlikely to reach MK1 values, ever, for the above reasons.
If anyone pays that for a pile of 1960s porridge they must surely be mad!
Hi all,
I was talking at work to one of the apprentices who has a V4 corsair and I was telling him about my lotus Corrina that I had when I was 18 blah blah. I put the reg number into Google and it lead me here to my amazement.
I can confirm that BPH 54H was an original mk2 Cortina lotus as they were called, all with original paperwork that I had when I bought it from Ian collie car sales in aberlour. The previous owner to me who lived in buckie traded it in for a 3.0 Capri but shortly after wanted it back because the Capri was not as fast as the cortina. It had the correct black crackle finish/ vinyl dash with the 4 dials and an 8k rev counter and a 140mph speedo and not a gt ones. When I was doing some work under the dash a wiring loom tag had numbers on it which were 3020E which was the ford designation for a mk2 lotus and also when I was rebuilding the engine the crank casting numbers were 3020E. I moved from Elgin to the Midlands in 1989 and trailered it down with me but stupidly sold it to fund our first house, the guy that bought it from me lived in Tamworth and bought it on behalf of somebody in Holland I believe that wanted to use it for classic rallies
I was talking at work to one of the apprentices who has a V4 corsair and I was telling him about my lotus Corrina that I had when I was 18 blah blah. I put the reg number into Google and it lead me here to my amazement.
I can confirm that BPH 54H was an original mk2 Cortina lotus as they were called, all with original paperwork that I had when I bought it from Ian collie car sales in aberlour. The previous owner to me who lived in buckie traded it in for a 3.0 Capri but shortly after wanted it back because the Capri was not as fast as the cortina. It had the correct black crackle finish/ vinyl dash with the 4 dials and an 8k rev counter and a 140mph speedo and not a gt ones. When I was doing some work under the dash a wiring loom tag had numbers on it which were 3020E which was the ford designation for a mk2 lotus and also when I was rebuilding the engine the crank casting numbers were 3020E. I moved from Elgin to the Midlands in 1989 and trailered it down with me but stupidly sold it to fund our first house, the guy that bought it from me lived in Tamworth and bought it on behalf of somebody in Holland I believe that wanted to use it for classic rallies
Adrian E said:
It would appear not:
The vehicle details for BPH 54H are:
Date of Liability 01 12 1987
Date of First Registration 17 03 1970
Year of Manufacture Not Available
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1598cc
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type PETROL
Export Marker N
Vehicle Status Unlicensed
Vehicle Colour WHITE
Vehicle Type Approval Not Available
Vehicle Excise Duty rate for vehicle
6 Months Rate £123.75
12 Months Rate £225.00
Since it's not showing as SORN it's undoubtedly been off the road and the ownership details aren't known to DVLA or it's been stripped for spares and nobody bothered to send the paperwork back.
I'd say it wasn't a genuine shell based on that engine size - most likely a GT
See my post ref this one confirming that BPH54H is an original lotusThe vehicle details for BPH 54H are:
Date of Liability 01 12 1987
Date of First Registration 17 03 1970
Year of Manufacture Not Available
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1598cc
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type PETROL
Export Marker N
Vehicle Status Unlicensed
Vehicle Colour WHITE
Vehicle Type Approval Not Available
Vehicle Excise Duty rate for vehicle
6 Months Rate £123.75
12 Months Rate £225.00
Since it's not showing as SORN it's undoubtedly been off the road and the ownership details aren't known to DVLA or it's been stripped for spares and nobody bothered to send the paperwork back.
I'd say it wasn't a genuine shell based on that engine size - most likely a GT
Great thread resurrection and story 
I wonder if the cc was just incorrectly filled out when first registered? Always the risk of human error when they'd probably register 1 Lotus for every 100 other models from the range! Only other possibility I can think of is if someone reported an engine rebuild related increased capacity? Can't remember what the available TC pistons would've been for the available overbores back in the day.
Wonder if yours survived its historic rallying 2nd life?!
My last Mk2 was a 2 door with a 711M block and 90 thou overbore and a wild Emerald cam - owner after me swapped it out for a V6, but last I heard it was stolen from his garage while he was on holiday and never seen again
there's a thread on here somewhere about it.....
I wonder if the cc was just incorrectly filled out when first registered? Always the risk of human error when they'd probably register 1 Lotus for every 100 other models from the range! Only other possibility I can think of is if someone reported an engine rebuild related increased capacity? Can't remember what the available TC pistons would've been for the available overbores back in the day.
Wonder if yours survived its historic rallying 2nd life?!
My last Mk2 was a 2 door with a 711M block and 90 thou overbore and a wild Emerald cam - owner after me swapped it out for a V6, but last I heard it was stolen from his garage while he was on holiday and never seen again
there's a thread on here somewhere about it.....grumpy52 said:
Can anybody put me right ?
I seem to think that Mk 1s were not built at normal Ford assembly lines and Mk2s were .
Also the difference between Lotus Cortina and Cortina Lotus.
Mk1's were built as a rolling shell at Fords, then transported to Lotus factory at Cheshunt where they were finally assembled in the loft I seem to think that Mk 1s were not built at normal Ford assembly lines and Mk2s were .
Also the difference between Lotus Cortina and Cortina Lotus.
with engine/box, modified rear end (A-frame on early cars etc) green stripe added etc.,Mk2's were fully built on the Ford production line.
Cortina-Lotus was the name given for the Mk2, and was later changed again to the Cortina Twin-Cam for the last year of so of production.
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