[Closed] One of my recent acquisitions, a '65 Lotus Cortina

Very nice, Leon. I always liked those cars. Didn't both Jim Clark and Graham Hill drive them at one time or another?

I saw a model like this on some site I was cruising last week, but it wasn't an
Aussie model. Perhaps Spark or something?

You probably saw the Minichamps version Rick although, the Minichamps is of an earlier '63 car - the CC '65 car is the facelifted version - the main difference being the full width grill on the later car.

Top pic has the Minichamps on the left & the bottom pic the CC is on the left.

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You're quite right, both Jimmy & Graham, amongst others, campaigned the Lotus Cortina in touring car races.

Thanks, Stephen! I've just spent some time looking for them, and hadn't gotten to Minichamps yet. I appreciate the post and the photos.

Can you believe that a 1:1 version was in Indy (USA of all places) last year? ...pics

Is this a 1966?
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Click pictures twice for full-size.

Further, can anyone suggest a source for one? I've visited the sites of the usual suspects and can't find one in 1:43rd. I've found a few AutoArt
1:18ths, but that's it.

Thanks.

Rick, are you looking for the Cortina? If so:

modelstore.co.uk About $31. USD + shipping. A very good dealer, Lots of Corgi, Vanguards etc.

Thanks, Leon. I appreciate the lead.

Rick, I bought mine from Designs In Motion about eight months ago.

You might try them at DesignsInM.com or 1 800 250 8848 and ask for Greg.

Mk2 Type 28 - Lotus Cortina

Ford wanted to change a few things for the Mk2, the Mk1 had done all and more than they could expect in competition, but the public linked its competition wins with Lotus and its bad points with Ford. Ford still wanted to build a Mk2 Lotus and compete with it, but Lotus were moving from Cheshunt to Hethel so it was a bad time for them to build another model. Ford was also concerned with the unreliability of the Lotus built cars. So a decision was made at Ford that to continue with its competition drive and make the car more cost effective they would make the car at Dagenham themselves, alongside the other Cortinas. So the Mk2 had to be much easier to build than the Mk1 so it could be done alongside Mk2 GT production, just with a different engine and suspension. The Mk2 took a while to appear, 1st appearing in 1967. The main difference being the choice of colours and the lack of a stripe, although most had them fitted at Ford dealers at extra cost. The only cosmetic changes made were a black front grille, 5.5J x 13 steel wheels and lotus badges on rear wings and by the rear number plate. The badge on the front grille was an option at first. Unlike the Mk1 the Mk2 was also made in left hand drive from the start of production. The Mk2 Lotus Cortina also gained an improved and more powerful (109 bhp) engine, which used to be supplied as the special equipment engine optional on Lotus Elan and the Lotus Cortina Mk1. The gearbox ratios remained 2000E ones but the car now used the Mk2 GT remote-control gear change. The car also had a different final drive of 3.77:1 rather than 3.9:1. The Mk2 was a wider car than the Mk1 so although they look the same the steel wheels had a different offset so as not to upset the tracking, radial tires were now standard. Another difference was the larger fuel tank used in the Mk2. The spare wheel could now be mounted in its wheel well, but the battery remained in the boot to aid weight distribution.

The only real difference to the engine bay was the air cleaner mounted on top of the engine. The interior was almost identical to a GT. The Mk2 did exactly what Ford wanted, it was far more reliable whilst still quick enough to be used in competition, until it handed over to the twin cam escorts. The car did have a few updates but none as urgent as the Mk1's. Only a few months after production started the lotus badge on the rear panel was canceled and a new TWIN-CAM badge was fitted under the Cortina script on the boot lid. The new combined clock and center console was fitted. In late 1968 the entire Mk2 range had some cosmetic changes, for the Lotus this meant that the 4 dials on top of the dash were brought down and made part of the dash. An internal bonnet release and a more conventional mounting for the handbrake were also phased in. A new single-rail gearshift mechanism was used. The car stayed in production until 1970.

The Cortina is my first, one and only Classic

Carlectables 1/43. I have a static 1/18 collection of about 300 cars, Most all in their original boxes, haven't seen them for years. Have not bought one for years, will never buy another. Anyway, I have a few 1/18 CC cars, they are about as close to perfection as car models get. I regret my foray into 1/18, anybody interested in some trades?

Excellent history Paul, thanks for posting!

I had a Corgi Lotus Cortina, and intended to get the Minichamps some years ago, but got sidetracked along the way....

Harvey, Minichamps made Clark's car that won the saloon car race at Crystal Palace in 1964.

If you can find it, I think its the one to have.