Ford Cortina Mk1 1962-66 Number sold 1,013,391 Ford-Britain realised that there was a gap in the market between small and large family cars. The plug to fill it was its top-secret 'Archbishop' project, launched on 21 September 1962 and named Cortina after the venue for the 1960 Winter Olympics. The car was to be called 'Caprino', until it was discovered that it meant 'goat's dung' in Italian. The Cortina was a big hit, being larger and cheaper than its main rivals, such as the Austin/Morris 1100. In the first year, Ford shifted more than 250,000 - a record for a British-built car. Initially the Cortina was available only as a two-door, but it was joined by a four-door and, most exciting of all, by the Lotus Cortina in 1963. Bodyshells were sent to the Lotus factory where a twin-cam engine, revised suspension and light aluminium doors, bonnet and boot-lid were fitted. For those who couldn't afford a Lotus-Cortina, the Cortina GT was the next best thing. Estate models meant even more practicality and, in the DeLuxe version, even more plastic, as huge fake-wood Di-Noc panels were fixed to the sides. The Mk1 Cortina was a crucial car for Ford: not only was it the company's best seller, but it also got it heavily into motorsport. There are few survivors, however, on account of rust and neglect.
 |
Ford Cortina Mk2 1966-70 Number sold 1,027,869 The Mk2 shared the same floorpan as the old model but, according to the advertising blurb, buyers got 'More Cortina' for their money. A wider wheeltrack meant the car had more room inside and better handling. The range was comprised of base model, De Luxe, Super and GT. The Lotus version didn't arrive until 1967 and was much more conventional than the previous one. There were no lightweight panels, but the specially tuned engine - previously a costly option - was standard. Also, while the original Lotus model had been available in any colour you liked provided it was white with a green stripe, this time round a full range of colours were available - which actually made it look a bit boring. Probably the most significant Mk2 was the 1600E in 1968. The E stood for 'Executive' and is probably the car responsible for the company-car-park snobbery that remains rampant to this day. That all-important E badge on the boot-lid meant it had a GT engine, Lotus suspension, sports wheels, painted coachline and a wooden dashboard. The Mk2 was the first Cortina to top the UK sales charts.
 |
Ford Cortina Mk3 1970-76 Number sold 1,126,559 The Cortina was a home-grown success: in eight years, more than two million were sold. With the Mk3, however, the Americans got involved, and it wasn't hard to see their influence: the rounded bodywork with kicked-up rear end was classic 'Coke-bottle' styling. The Mk3 was an all-new model - much more technically advanced and featuring a new range of overhead-camshaft engines. Spacious, plasticky and much more glitzy than before, the Cortina also had a whole new alphabet soup of boot-lid inscriptions. Base, X, XL, GT and GXL were the trim levels, plus there were engine options of 1300, 1600 and 2000. In all, there were 35 basic versions. Obviously it got very confusing, so Ford actually reduced the number of combinations over the following years. Unfortunately there was no Lotus version of the Mk3, so the 2000GT had to do. Luxury came in the shape of the 2000E, which replaced the GXL and harked back to the Mk2 1600E. Wooden door cappings on the doors and dashboard, deep-pile carpets, sports wheels, vinyl roof and a standard radio were all included to tempt customers. By now the Cortina was well and truly a British institution, even though it was looking more Detroit than Dagenham Dustbin.
 |
Ford Cortina Mk4 1976-80 Number sold 1,131,850 (inc Mk5) After the Coke-bottle interlude, it was back to the origami school of car design, with a seriously-squared '70s look. Underneath the right angles was a Mk3 Cortina, with revised front suspension, a front spoiler and better visibility thanks to bigger windows. The line-up included a Standard, L and GL at the lower end, while at the top of the range were the Ghias and the S, for Sport, which was effectively the GT. Engines were the familiar 1300, 1600 and 2000 units - until September 1977, when a 2.3-litre V6 was offered, complete with power steering, alloy wheels, and uprated suspension and gearbox. It sounded good, but in reality it was heavy and not very sporting at all. Sales were slow. Good news for Ford, though, was that from 1977 onwards the Mk4 Cortina became the UK's number-one best-seller.
Ford Cortina Mk5 1980-82 Number sold 1,131,850 (inc Mk4) Officially there is no such thing as the Mk5. Ford referred to the latest-generation Cortina as the '80 in its advertisements, but hard-core Cortina fans insist the revised model qualifies as a separate mark. It didn't look that different, although it did have a new slatted grille, larger tail-lights and deeper glass areas. Inside, face-level vents were fitted in the centre of the dashboard which meant the radio had to be repositioned - wow! The V6 and 2.0-litre engines were revised and the S model was dropped. By 1982 everyone knew that the Sierra - a Cortina wearing a jelly-mould - was on its way, so Ford shored up sales with a Crusader special edition. This had sports wheels, adjustable driver's mirror, passenger door mirror, locking petrol cap, Ghia seats, velour trim, head restraints, radio, clock and two-speed wipers. Priced to sell, it did indeed sell out, and those last 30,000 models contributed to a grand total of 4,279,079 Cortinas produced over 20 years.
