1965 Ford Cortina GT MK1 Historic Rally Car

First registered on the last day of September in 1965, this lovely four-door, Cortina GT was restored about 16 years ago and developed into an Historic Rally Car.

In 2000, the car was fully stripped and treated to a bare metal respray in Ermine White with a side flash in Grey rather than Lotus Green.

It was then carefully built with Historic (Regularity) Rallies in mind, noting the requirements of the appropriate regulations, and currently, possesses both FIA and FIVA papers.

The detailed list of modifications is too long to list here but include a Rocket (2000E) gear box, low rear axle ratio with Trans-X Salisbury English LSD 22T, Lotus Cortina front anti-roll bar, Twin Facet fuel pumps and fuel regulator, and 2 'GTS' Recliner front seats.

The engine was rebuilt in 2007 at 8,200 miles.(14,000 miles now indicated) and has recently had new front brake calipers, pads, and new rear wheel cylinders. Minilite Wheels really suit a Cortina and CTH 969C has six with decent tyres and in addition, has four reconditioned original steel wheels with tyres. Also included in the sale from the car's past life are 2 front original Rally style seats and the standard serviceable rear diff. Motoscope of Northallerton have done a lot of work on this car and there are a number of bills in the history file along with a full history since 2000.

Our vendor has known the car for 16 years and owned it for six and he tells us that “Everything works”.

It's unusual to find a four-door rally car but they weren't uncommon back in the sixties, and indeed, were often preferred by crews as “They are easier to climb out of when you are upside down”.

This is a very tidy and nicely prepared car and somehow just “looks right”. We can't think of a better way to get involved in Historic Rallying.