Happy 50th Birthday Ford Cortina - Page 2

RASER · 18-05-2012, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

AAhh... gee ... You do realise the cars raced in those days were barely modified off the shelf?

This is why the falcon GT series appeared, in order to race them.

Win on Sunday, sell on Monday.... was the catch phrase.

"Race cars" ???? hardly.. they werent race cars at all. Most drivers drove those TO AND FROM bathurst and drove those cars wearing suits and a Helmut and a lap sash seat belt.

Ahh yes another nonsense folklaw

Well the privates maybe, and thats *just* a maybe!

Ford Motorsport was run out of Lot6 Mahoneys Rd. [nothing like hearing a Clevo reving its tits off @ 7000RPM late into the night, during development!] Moffats and other factory raced vehicles where hand built with unlimited budget at that location, the factory Holdens and Chryslers of the same era where also hand built with unlimited budget, most times a arms length away from the factory operation, or by fully funded "private" teams ie read brock.

Moby Vic · 18-05-2012, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RASER

Just because "a" cortina won Bathurst does not mean a thing.

The difference between a race car and what you and i buy is a ocean apart

Looks like i am not the only one, stop living in denial, its total junk, always was, always will be, if they where anygood, like say a LandRover, 911 or even Falcon the name would be living on!

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/new...4013046?page=5 [cute girls!]

ETC ETC, just google "worst cars" and cortina WINS everytime

It NEVER fails to make the list of WORST cars of ALL TIME....lol

I don't suppose you took the time to read the text in the link you provided:

Quote:

Ford Cortina ... The English Ford Cortina was a great little four cylinder car that was made available in a GT version the gun thing for lads in the sixties. However anything with the letters GT attached to it was virtually uninsurable in Australia. It didnt matter that the Datsun 1600 could probably outperform the Cortina Datsun didnt stick GT on the boot. The Cortina handled well, looked good and was a built made car that was until the 1970s when car factories were hijacked by union officials who turfed out everyone who knew how to make cars. The locally built Cortina became synonymous with lemon even with the introduction of a six-cylinder version, damaging the name to an extent where no-one would ever consider resuscitating it. Ever wonder why you never see one?

Yes, it says the Australian-built Cortinas weren't as good, but that doesn't mean the marque was horrible. It was one of England's best-selling cars ever. Its Kent engine was in production for 44 years, and was the basis for open-wheel racing engines.

MAGPIE · 18-05-2012, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RASER

ETC ETC, just google "worst cars" and cortina WINS everytime

It NEVER fails to make the list of WORST cars of ALL TIME....lol

I have just goggled "Worst cars" and the first two that I looked at (one was 50, the other 100 worst cars) neither mentioned the Cortina.

Your a troll, if your not interested in discussing the Cortina why don't you bugger off to a thread you have an interest in.

Now where is that ignore button.

barra240t · 18-05-2012, 10:35 AM

My first car was a 1981 Cortina Wagon auto 6cyl in metallic red. I loved it dearly and it was great to sleep in! I learnt about rear wheel drives in the wet however! I had to sell it because my casual school pay at BigW didn't help with the fuel bill.

wrongwaynorris · 18-05-2012, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RASER

Just because "a" cortina won Bathurst does not mean a thing.

The difference between a race car and what you and i buy is a ocean apart

Looks like i am not the only one, stop living in denial, its total junk, always was, always will be, if they where anygood, like say a LandRover, 911 or even Falcon the name would be living on!

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/new...4013046?page=5 [cute girls!]

ETC ETC, just google "worst cars" and cortina WINS everytime

It NEVER fails to make the list of WORST cars of ALL TIME....lol

Back in those days the car that won Bathurst was the car you could buy .

GTP534 · 18-05-2012, 12:29 PM

Can't believe someone comes in and slags off the mighty Mark 1 Cortina! I had a 440 as my first car, paid $400 for it of my own money. It was a 1966 model with bench seat and 4 on the column, all in British Racing Green. I put a nice thin gold pinstripe on it and used fishing line to put about 5 steering wheel covers to thicken up the steering wheel! EBJ-190 was the rego.

I remember buying a auto-reverse stereo cassette unit for it and 2 big speakers from Tandy; it was -ve earth but the Cortina was +ve earth. My dad was an electrical engineer and he got it working, just isolated the unit to avoid metal-to-metal contact with the car.

I learned about oversteer with it, they were very light in the back! A good, honest, reliable little car. I traded it on a TC Cortina 2000 station wagon; I wished I hadn't as the TC had not been looked after.

I've just written this and it has brought back a flood of memories from those times, not just of the car.

Thanks to the OP, and Happy 50th to the Cortina!

XA GS Ute · 18-05-2012, 12:36 PM

My first car was a TE cortina. I swear it was plagued. The POS would have something go wrong with it every week without fail but I suppose that's what you get going bush bashing all weekend. On the other hand my wifes Escort from back in the day never missed a beat. Only snapped the engine mounts half a dozen times also from going bush.

te250 · 18-05-2012, 01:06 PM

I had a 4.1 te cortina ghia before i had the xb ute on the road. 300,000+ kms, served as a family car for many years, towed trailers all over the place, went under in the floods last year and its still one of the nicest cars to drive. Go the cortina's!

mik · 18-05-2012, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RASER

Just because "a" cortina won Bathurst does not mean a thing.

The difference between a race car and what you and i buy is a ocean apart

Looks like i am not the only one, stop living in denial, its total junk, always was, always will be, if they where anygood, like say a LandRover, 911 or even Falcon the name would be living on!

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/new...4013046?page=5 [cute girls!]

ETC ETC, just google "worst cars" and cortina WINS everytime

It NEVER fails to make the list of WORST cars of ALL TIME....lol

i disagree mate, i`ve had plenty of cars over the years and the corty was an ok car, not perfect but not the car you make them out to be, if you think porche and landrover have made all good models it`s you who are in denial.

FOMOCO 1 · 18-05-2012, 06:04 PM

Corty's just like most cars back in those days were not perfect. Handling was average at best and brakes felt lifeless but hey do work fine. Quality control was average too.
BUT if I had a dollar every time someone stops and tells me they had owned or simply had fun in a Cortina 6 blowing off cars at traffic light sprints, well, I probably wouldnt be still driving a Cortina!!
Good Value, much better interiors than Toranas, and a 6 would slay 253 Toranas at the time while scaring 308's.
Mines had the suspension lowered and stiffened and it handles a treat. Although in the wet with a worked crossflow is fun fun fun. Cheap Thrills.
Happy Birthday Cortina....

Crazy Dazz · 18-05-2012, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GT0132

Only in Australia...Everywhere else in the world they were MK3, 4 and so on,

4stanger · 18-05-2012, 06:47 PM

I had 2 te cortinas sedans back in the 80s, one auto, one manual with ac and gs pack, both 4.1. I liked the fact that some interior bits and mechanical bits were the same as XC & XD falcons so parts were easy to access at the local wreckers. I wanted to go to a TE or TF 4.1 wagon after those 2 but decided to get a EA auto sedan instead! Happy birthday Cortina.

**DJM83** · 18-05-2012, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RASER

Ahh yes another nonsense folklaw

Well the privates maybe, and thats *just* a maybe!

Ford Motorsport was run out of Lot6 Mahoneys Rd. [nothing like hearing a Clevo reving its tits off @ 7000RPM late into the night, during development!] Moffats and other factory raced vehicles where hand built with unlimited budget at that location, the factory Holdens and Chryslers of the same era where also hand built with unlimited budget, most times a arms length away from the factory operation, or by fully funded "private" teams ie read brock.

Enough with the argumentativeness thanks. you have said your piece, you dont like the car thats all thats needed.

Marquis · 18-05-2012, 07:21 PM

I have owned 1 Te cortina and about 5 or 6 Tf cortinas. My first was a faided cream Te. I bought of my brother for 5 or 6 hundred when I was in grade 11 in 94. He bought it when he was tarting up his work Ute. It would fry the tyres towing his trailer full of work gear. It.had a rebuilt Repco Gem 4.1 with a Supra turbo 5 speed (closer ratio than a celica) I bought a immaculate Tf (3.3 4sp) from a preist 6 mths after finishing grade 12. Dinged it pretty decent a few years later. I was gutted. I still have not seen a cleaner stocko. Replaced it with a canary yellow Tf 4.1 manual. Later put in a almost 350 hp 4.1. I fully rebuilt another because chassis twist was ripping it apart. I sold it to a mate for way more than it owed me. I could not resist his offer. I miss that engine so damn much. That's when I bought my Zh Marquis. I soon after bought a Corty ute (engineerd from a Te ghia wagon)I did not have a Corty for years and I was not the same without one. I came across a very clean Tf Ghia wagon (4.1 auto) 4 or so years ago. I had to get it. I just got a new engine and Manual the other week. I will be putting it in within the next few weeks.Low Kay engine,auto and my spare manual conversion is on eBay now. Can't wait to have a manual again. This is the only wagon and auto I have owned. I like sedan but hell, it is different and they did not make many Tf ghia wagons. I will probably have it for ever to pass to my 3 boys. Will be dramas when they sort out who is getting The Marquis,the corty and the El2 xr8 I want soon.
I have never experienced early corties. Luv the look of Td just not as keen from the look from the driver seat.
Sorry for the essay. I could go on all day about Corties
Happy birthday thanks for all the Holden v8 kicking while frying memories

Bossxr8 · 19-05-2012, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RASER

Ahh yes another nonsense folklaw

Well the privates maybe, and thats *just* a maybe!

Ford Motorsport was run out of Lot6 Mahoneys Rd. [nothing like hearing a Clevo reving its tits off @ 7000RPM late into the night, during development!] Moffats and other factory raced vehicles where hand built with unlimited budget at that location, the factory Holdens and Chryslers of the same era where also hand built with unlimited budget, most times a arms length away from the factory operation, or by fully funded "private" teams ie read brock.

All they could do was blueprint them to factory specs, so while they were a little bit better than one straight from the showroom floor, it wouldn't have been much of a difference, and it was legal under the rules.

So much for handbuilt racecars, all they were were blueprinted to factory specs road cars.

gtxb67 · 19-05-2012, 12:15 AM

one of the first cars i remember was my pa's mk 1 consul cortina he bought from new - great car
was still going strong and rust free in 94 at the age of 31. it is probably still going strong now

Neale · 19-05-2012, 01:49 AM

Love this, Ford seamed to do elaborate stunts to promote the cortina, Like this.

The mk1 cortina being driven down the Bobsleigh run from the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo. The town the car was named after.

It was celebrating more than 200 wins in in 26 countries & also being named the international car of the year in 1964

Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_XyqpD1_O4

The one millionth cortina was flown from england to Belgium, yes Belgium, flying the one millionth Ford Cortina car where its new owner awaited its arrival with keys in hand. They sold 4,279,079 between 1962 &1982

And a few newspaper clippings bragging about some of their race wins

With all of this promotion & success in racing turned into sales.

From 1972 to 1981, the Cortina enjoyed an unbroken run as Britain best selling car every year.

As recently as the early 1990s, Cortinas were still a common sight on British roads, and in May 1992 The Times newspaper revealed that the Mark IV and Mark V models were still among the 10 most common cars on Britain's roads

A total of nearly 2,600,000 Cortinas were sold in Britain, and in March 2009 it was revealed that the Cortina was still the third most popular car ever sold there, despite having been out of production for nearly three decades.

Neale · 19-05-2012, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RASER

Just because "a" cortina won Bathurst does not mean a thing.

The difference between a race car and what you and i buy is a ocean apart

Looks like i am not the only one, stop living in denial, its total junk, always was, always will be, if they where anygood, like say a LandRover, 911 or even Falcon the name would be living on!

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/new...4013046?page=5 [cute girls!]

ETC ETC, just google "worst cars" and cortina WINS everytime

It NEVER fails to make the list of WORST cars of ALL TIME....lol

I just did a search & cant find it on these lists,
http://www.time.com/time/specials/pa...658545,00.html
http://www.latimes.com/business/mone...3.photogallery
http://www.insideline.com/features/1...-all-time.html
http://www.caradvice.com.au/107048/t...nline-edition/

Can you show me a list where it is even there, let alone at the top.

Also the cars racing around the mountain when the cortina won were porduction cars. That was the whole idea. go check them out at the Motor racing museum in bathurst. They were just as they came off the production line.

66GT · 19-05-2012, 02:38 AM

Allan Moffort did a lot of racing in a Mk1 Lotus cortina in his early days - winning most events. This led to him being noticed & picked up by Ford to campain in the GT Falcon.
My uncle used to proudly drive around in his Mk1 Consul Cortina from as early as I can remember. My brother & I freshened up & trashed for some years as our joint daily - as our other cars were often broken.
My current Mk1 GT - currently owned for approx 13 yrs. hopefully back on the road again soon.

jpd80 · 19-05-2012, 09:02 AM

By the time the early 1980s rolled around, FoA was glad to move onto Laser and Telstar,
the quality on Euro Escort and Cortina was terrible, mostly because they were difficult to
build compared to equivalent Japanese designed vehicles and Ford workers and buyers
all breathed a collective sigh of relief when Ford adopted the Mazda designs.

As a past owner of several European Fords, I have kind memories intermingled
with bitter disappointments and frustrations with dealers getting lots of simple things fixed.

**ebxr8240** · 19-05-2012, 07:52 PM

The latter model MKlll onwards built here were no where as
well built as the Pommy versions as much as I hate to say it..
Putting a heavy Falcon 6 in them didn't help handling..
BUT we're talking about the MKl which was a top little car
way a head of cars in 60's.. The Datto 1600 came out latter..
The first engines in the Mkl was 1200 from the Anglia with 3 main
bearings. The 1500 was the engine most popular..
The difference between std Cortina and 1500 GT is light years different..
With there short stroke a 2 barrel Weber, mild cam, extractors, larger valve head really woke these engines up..Along with 4 on the floor with console made them real smart.. Things that's taken for granted these days...
The Lotus engine back then was built by lotus which changed when the Mk 2 came along..
The front guards were welded on .. NOT bolted like most new cars..

LG17 · 02-07-2012, 01:47 PM

To celebrate it's 50th, I've just purchased a '66 GT to play with.

the ford fan · 04-07-2014, 06:51 PM

I own a 67 mk2 GT Cortina and I will admit it is not the most powerful car of it's time and because it was built on a small budget it can be considered fairly cheap in more ways than one but it is a much loved peoples car because of it's great value for money and legendary racing pedigree.
Happy bday corty

**buggerlugs** · 04-07-2014, 07:23 PM

Old man bought a brand new TF Cortina. Bloody great car. Best mate had a TE 250 6 cylinder Ghia. Used to go like a shower of *****. I on the other hand purchased a TE Ghia 4 cylinder Auto. Didn't go quite so good.......

reds89 · 04-07-2014, 07:24 PM

Had a tc 250 with the top loader box,took the 250 out and put in a 221,had the head modified by lynx engineering in sydney and put triple 45mm dellortos with
38mm chokes,used run at caslereagh best i could get was 15.4,s with wheel spin in first and second,used to run 99-100mph top ends though,would top out at 125 mph,i put in a 3.5 lsd out of a xr [67] falcon ute in it,what a awesome bit of gear it was,real pain in the wet to drive tho.
Got the 221 from the wreckers,cleaned it up modified the sump to fit and away i went,dont ever let anybody ever say falcon sixes dont go,my brothers mate found out the hard way in his slr 5000 torana,to this day i still remind him just to have a dig,sold her in 1975 and it was totalled bout 6 months later.