1974 Ford Cortina Mark 3 2000E

This is a rare opportunity to acquire one of Dr John Crosslé MBE"s earliest and most celebrated sports racing cars during the 60th anniversary year of the company he founded.

Developed from the earlier 5S sports racer, the 7S had revised suspension geometry, wider magnesium wheels and Girling aluminium brake calipers. As noted in Rosemary Crosslé"s hand-written order book, C7/S64/18 was completed in December 1964 with a Cosworth-Ford Twin Cam 1600 and Hewland 5-speed gearbox. Three more 7S' were built during 1965.

The exploits of this car and its first owner Mervyn Wingfield, 10th Viscount Powerscourt, are recounted in “Hidden Glory, The Story of the Crosslé Car Company” and several French books. Wingfield and teammate Jim Cooney were the first Crosslé drivers to compete in continental Europe against top drivers and constructors of the day. Cooney"s car, C7/S65/25, was driven by road and ferry from the factory in Northern Ireland to its first race at Solitude near Stuttgart, where the pair finished 6th and 9th on 18 July 1965.

At the Coupes de Paris on 19 September 1965 at the Autodrome de Linas-Monthléry, Wingfield set the fastest lap and finished second to Robert Huber in a field that included Lotus 23, Elva BMW, Porsche 904 and Ferrari GTO. Photographs in “Les Instantés de Monthléry, 1963-1970” include the Viscount in his road-taxed 7S pre-race, while wonderful race film appears at www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvyFJS5ChxE.

C7/S64/18 was restored in 2014 at the same factory where Crosslé built this chassis fifty years before. Bodywork and many parts were renewed, non-period modifications removed and a new FIA HTP obtained, valid from November 2014.

A new Twin-Cam 1600 was supplied by George Wadsworth of Racing Fabrications and used only for a handful of track days (under 4 running hours). Detailed invoices for the engine and full details of the Crosslé restoration work are part of a comprehensive documentation package, which includes "carte grise" road registration and other documents from recent decades in French ownership.

Currently fitted with 'Mag 8' split rim alloy wheels and Dunlop historic tyres, the car will be sold along with the cast alloy wheels pictured here and additional bodywork. The Crosslé factory can supply every part for the 7S to original specifications, often from stock, along with technical and historical support from unique factory archives.

Smartly finished in a distinctive 'Smalt Blue', C7/S64/18 is in excellent condition and ready to race. The Guards Trophy with HSCC is an obvious option, where younger sister C7/S65/25 has taken class wins at the Oulton Park Gold Cup and other events.

In 1966, five Crosslé 7S and 9S sports cars entered the Lavant Cup at Goodwood, and C7/S65/25 raced in the Madgwick Cup at the 2016 Goodwood Revival.

This car has a rich and colourful history, unassailable provenance, and an ongoing association with the Crosslé factory since 1964. It is a rare and distinctive alternative to ubiquitous English products, with period results that underline its potential in historic racing today.