LOT 25

1966 Ford Lotus Cortina MkI Sports Saloon Registration no. RVX 640D Chassis no. BA85 59910

Sold for £42,550 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve

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Lot 25

1966 Ford Lotus Cortina MkI Sports Saloon

Goodwood Members' Meeting|16 April 2023, 13:00 BST|Chichester, Goodwood

1966 Ford Lotus Cortina MkI Sports Saloon
Registration no. RVX 640D
Chassis no. BA85 59910

• First registered to the Ford Motor Company
• Ex-Ford press fleet
• Acquired for the Bishop Collection in 2006
• Requires re-commissioning

Ford's 1960s profile-raising competition programme included recruiting Lotus boss Colin Chapman to give the new Cortina a sporting makeover. Chapman's brief was to develop a Group 2 competition version; Lotus would then build the 1,000 cars required for homologation. Launched in 1963, the Lotus Cortina - Cortina Lotus in Ford parlance - featured the Elan's Ford-based, twin-overhead-camshaft, 1.6-litre engine in the two-door bodyshell. McPherson strut independent front suspension was retained, with revised spring and damper rates, while the rear leaf springs were replaced by coil-spring/damper units, axle location being achieved by trailing arms and an 'A' bracket. The adoption of an alloy differential casing proved a mixed blessing, the lightweight component proving far less oil-tight than the original. Reversion to Ford's standard leaf-sprung axle cured the problem. Lotus Cortinas dominated saloon racing's 2-litre class, often challenging for outright honours. Works cars were driven by Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Peter Arundell and Jackie Ickx, while Sir John Whitmore, driving an Alan Mann-entered Lotus Cortina, was European Touring Car Champion in 1965. After the axle change, the hitherto fragile Lotus Cortina proved a highly capable rally car, works driver Bengt Soderstrom winning the Acropolis and RAC rallies in 1966.
The Lotus Cortina offered here was first registered to the Ford Motor Co Ltd, Warley on 5th September 1966 and most likely was retained by the Ford Press fleet for demonstration and photographic purposes (see Ford email and other correspondence on file). Acquired for the Bishop Collection on 1st September 2006, the car also comes with sundry bills; copies of old registration documents; list of previous owners; a few MoTs (most recent expired 2017); and a current V5C Registration Certificate. Since acquisition the car has been maintained by the collection's in-house mechanic. Re-commissioning will be required before it returns to the road. Sold strictly as viewed.

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