This should go down quite well. Quick estates are always popular PH story fodder, as are fast Fords. Ally that to a bit of retro cool aftermarket tuning and there's a hero in the making, surely?
Yep, just an old Cortina estate...
This is a Ford Cortina Savage, perhaps the most intimidating name given to a modified car. Ironic too, given the car was devised as a refined cruiser. The idea of a faster Cortina was the brainchild of Ford works driver Jeff Uren, who saw some potential in the Mk2 as a long distance express. One 3.0-litre V6, a bigger tank and a some uprated suspension later and, voila, a British muscle car and a brilliant cool Q estate in the process.
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.