1968 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk1

Our vendor, a circuit racer of some repute and a long-term Lotus enthusiast, purchased this car in 2011 with just 800 miles on the odometer, having been reset after a 'nut and bolt' restoration completed in 2004. It has been part of his large Collection since that time and has been little used, with the odometer now reading just over 900 miles. It has been prepared for the sale, including a 20-mile shakedown with any niggles resolved, and now comes to auction pretty much the way it was when he bought it back in 2011.

The restoration of the Lotus is extensively documented in the accompanying history file with a full photographic record of the bare-shell rebuild. This work was undertaken by marque specialist, Eddie Ganderton, and the history file details considerable expenditure on new and N/OS parts. Of note is that, in-keeping with the works rally cars, this car is fitted with a Lotus rear leaf spring set up mated to a one-piece propshaft preparation although the mountings for the alternative 'A' frame suspension are in situ. The balanced and gas-flowed engine is fed by twin 40DCOE Webers and period Magard throttle linkages, and the car benefits from a limited-slip differential, uprated transmission, and Bilstein dampers etc. The full specification of the mechanical build is in the history file. As is often the case with restored 60-year old cars, it's possible that all, or part of, a donor shell may have been used to restore this car at sometime, however, and critically, the register confirms that this Lotus Cortina’s chassis number is not registered to any other vehicle.

The final touches to this fast road/rally car are the addition of a working period Halda, Waltham eight-day mechanical clock, Avanti Flexilight, Lucas Continental driving lamps, Britax inertia seat belts, fixed-back front seats, period cut-off switch and that number, KPU103C, all documented in the history file.

Cars carrying registration numbers beginning KPU became synonymous with competition Fords and the restoration of this car celebrates and replicates one of the most famous competition Lotus Cortinas ever, KPU 380C, being the 1966 RAC and Alpine Rally Lotus Cortina driven by the legendary Vic Elford and his co-driver, David Stone.

Very attractively guided to offer the car's new owner the chance to don the string-back gloves, just as Vic Elford did back in 1966!