1968 Lotus Cortina MK11 2dr Saloon

Following on from the enormous success of the Lotus Cortina MK1, Ford introduced the Lotus Cortina Mk2 in 1967, with the famous Lotus 1558cc twin cam engine now giving 109bhp. Externally, all the cars had a black front grill, 5.5J x 13 steel wheels and Lotus badges on both rear wings and by the rear number plate. The gearbox ratios remained to 2000E spec, but the final drive was lengthened to 3.77 to 1 from 3.9 to 1 and comfort and handling improvements were made with a larger cockpit, fuel tank and radial tyres.

Put simply, 'WGO 884G' drives how a Lotus Cortina MK2 should. The engine crackles and rasps with an engagingly happy note, it's fun and fast and very easy to drive. The steering is excellent and is loaded with feedback at all speeds. Push the brake pedal and the car stops as it should with no grabbing or pulling, while the gear change is easy with a solid mechanical feel through the gate.

We are informed by the vendor that this particular MK 2 Lotus has a 'CW' paint code, which makes it one of only five that was originally painted blue from the factory. The car underwent a complete restoration in the early '80s which was photographically evidenced. A subsequent refresh then took place in early 2000. Interestingly, the last 2 of the 4 previous owners were a father and son duo - both serving Royal Engineers - who, we are told, extensively maintained the car throughout their long-term ownership. Therefore, this Mk2 Lotus is in excellent overall mechanical condition and ironically, included in the sale, is a green silk parachute that was used to cover the car during storage, together with a superb history file going back to the 1970s demonstrating the cars originality.

The Recaro front seats currently fitted were a preference of the father and son team, however, the original genuine Lotus seats are in good condition and included in the sale. The provenance includes almost every MOT going back to 1971, various old tax discs back to 1982 and a bundle of receipts and invoices demonstrating continuous upkeep and maintenance of this car, plus a photographic album of the restoration works.

Offered with a mileometer reading of just under 5000 miles and an MOT until October 2015, this represents a rare opportunity to enter the ever-appreciating Lotus Cortina market for a very realistic price. A genuine Lotus with detailed provenance and nothing to do, apart from to drive and enjoy!