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The Lotus Cortina by Ford of Dagenham, in England was a very successful high-performance automobile. The two-door Ford Cortina GT had proven itself in rallies and circuit racing when Ford executive Walter Hayes approached Colin Chapman to help produce a world-beating racing saloon. The pan called for Lotus to assemble 1000 cars to homologate the model for FIA Group 2 racing.
Chapman commissioned engineer Harry Mundy to design a twin-overhead camshaft cylinder head to top the Ford 1500 Kent engine. Mundy had previously helped design the Formula 1 World Championship-winning Coventry Climax engines. Cosworth Engineering helped develop and fine-tune these engines, while the Ford 4-speed gearbox as specified for the Lotus Elan was adopted for the Cortina program. The Ford Cortina suspension received significant revisions by Colin Chapman, changing the spring and damper rates, reducing the ride height, and utilizing coil springs at the rear. The body shell was lightened with aluminum skins in the doors, hood and trunk lid. Aluminum was also adopted for the clutch housing, remote gearshift extension and differential case. The standard full-width front bumper was replaced by quarter bumpers. Lotus badges were added externally while the interior featured bucket front seats, pistol-grip handbrake and a wood-rim alloy-spoked steering wheel.
Production began in February of 1963 and homologation was achieved in September of 1963 despite production not yet having reached the FIA's 1,000 minimum.
Legendary names who raced the Cortina included Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Vic Elford, Jack Sears, Sir John Whitmore, and Jacky Ickx. Jim Clark – multiple F1 World Champion and Indy 500 winner, also won the 1964 British Saloon Car Championship in his works version.
In 1965, the Lotus Cortina was updated, replacing the leaf springs in favor of coil-springs at the rear. The engines were tuned by 1962 F1 World Champion constructor BRM. By the end of production late in 1966 it is believed that some 2894 Lotus Cortinas had been built, virtually all finished in Ermine White with Sherwood Green body band and flash. In 1967 a Lotus Cortina Mark II followed, assembled by Ford not Lotus, and therefore not allocated a Lotus type number.
This Cortina
This Lotus Cortina was purchased new by Stan Hallinan from Grappone Ford, of Concord, New Hampshire, where incidentally he worked at the time. The date of his purchase was recorded as November 22nd, 1968. Over the next few summers, he accumulated just over 6,000 miles before the Cortina was parked and carefully stored for the next four decades.
This is a very original, untouched example.By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2013
Chapman commissioned engineer Harry Mundy to design a twin-overhead camshaft cylinder head to top the Ford 1500 Kent engine. Mundy had previously helped design the Formula 1 World Championship-winning Coventry Climax engines. Cosworth Engineering helped develop and fine-tune these engines, while the Ford 4-speed gearbox as specified for the Lotus Elan was adopted for the Cortina program. The Ford Cortina suspension received significant revisions by Colin Chapman, changing the spring and damper rates, reducing the ride height, and utilizing coil springs at the rear. The body shell was lightened with aluminum skins in the doors, hood and trunk lid. Aluminum was also adopted for the clutch housing, remote gearshift extension and differential case. The standard full-width front bumper was replaced by quarter bumpers. Lotus badges were added externally while the interior featured bucket front seats, pistol-grip handbrake and a wood-rim alloy-spoked steering wheel.
Production began in February of 1963 and homologation was achieved in September of 1963 despite production not yet having reached the FIA's 1,000 minimum.
Legendary names who raced the Cortina included Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Vic Elford, Jack Sears, Sir John Whitmore, and Jacky Ickx. Jim Clark – multiple F1 World Champion and Indy 500 winner, also won the 1964 British Saloon Car Championship in his works version.
In 1965, the Lotus Cortina was updated, replacing the leaf springs in favor of coil-springs at the rear. The engines were tuned by 1962 F1 World Champion constructor BRM. By the end of production late in 1966 it is believed that some 2894 Lotus Cortinas had been built, virtually all finished in Ermine White with Sherwood Green body band and flash. In 1967 a Lotus Cortina Mark II followed, assembled by Ford not Lotus, and therefore not allocated a Lotus type number.
This Cortina
This Lotus Cortina was purchased new by Stan Hallinan from Grappone Ford, of Concord, New Hampshire, where incidentally he worked at the time. The date of his purchase was recorded as November 22nd, 1968. Over the next few summers, he accumulated just over 6,000 miles before the Cortina was parked and carefully stored for the next four decades.
This is a very original, untouched example.By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2013
2013 Bonhams - Quail Lodge Auction
Sale Price :
USD $115,500
1966 Lotus Cortina MKI Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Lotus Cortina MKI
(Data based on Model Year 1966 sales)
1966 LOTUS CORTINA MK I Chassis#: BA74FT59059 Sold for USD$67,944 2022 Gooding & Company : London Auction | |
1966 Ford Cortina Lotus Mk 1 Race Car Chassis#: BA74FM59831 Sold for USD$47,600 2020 RM Sothebys : The Elkhart Collection | |
1966 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk1 Sports Saloon Chassis#: BA74 4362065 Sold for USD$55,548 2018 Bonhams : London Olympia | |
1966 Lotus Cortina Mk1 Chassis#: BA74FT59391 Sold for USD$74,250 2018 Gooding & Company : Scottsdale, Az. | |
1966 Lotus Cortina MK I Chassis#: BA74FM59709 Sold for USD$57,200 2017 Bonhams : Quail Lodge | |
1966 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk.I Chassis#: BA74FY59122 Sold for USD$64,447 2016 Historics at Brookland | |
1966 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk. I Chassis#: BA74FL59042 Sold for USD$72,503 2016 Historics at Brookland | |
1966 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk I Chassis#: BA74 4362065 Sold for USD$77,173 2015 Silverstone Auction - NEC Classic Motor Show Sale | |
1966 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk1 Rally Saloon Chassis#: BA74FP59901 Sold for USD$46,106 2015 Bonhams : The Beaulieu Sale | |
1966 Ford Cortina MK1 1500 GT Sold for USD$23,067 2015 Anglia Auction | |
1966 Ford Cortina (Lotus Specification) Sold for USD$21,000 2015 Anglia Auction | |
1966 Lotus Cortina MK1 Chassis#: BA74FM59709 Sold for USD$73,700 2015 Bonhams : The Scottsdale Auction | |
1966 Ford Cortina GT Sold for USD$14,964 2014 Anglia Auction | |
1966 FORD LOTUS CORTINA MKI SPORTS SALOON Chassis#: BA74EK59827 Sold for USD$102,754 2014 The Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale | |
1966 Lotus Cortina Mk I Chassis#: BA74FM59831 Sold for USD$55,000 2014 Bonhams - The Scottsdale Auction | |
1966 Lotus Cortina Mk1 Chassis#: BA74FT 59391 Sold for USD$107,250 2014 Gooding & Company - The Scottsdale Auction | |
1966 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk1 Saloon Chassis#: BA74FS59292 Sold for USD$73,154 2013 Goodwood Revival | |
1966 Lotus Cortina MkI Chassis#: BA74FT59409 Sold for USD$115,500 2013 Bonhams - Quail Lodge Auction | |
1966 Ford Cortina MkI 1500 Super Saloon Chassis#: BA84FT33833 Sold for USD$3,220 2009 Bonhams - Collectors' Motor Cars and Automobilia | |
1966 Ford Cortina MkI 1500 Super Saloon Chassis#: BA84FT33833 Sold for USD$4,554 2009 Bonhams - Goodwood Revival, Chichester, Sussex |
Lotus Cortina MKIs That Failed To Sell At Auction
1966 Lotus Cortina MKI's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1966 FORD LOTUS CORTINA MK1 SPORTS SALOON | 8A744362065 | 2021 Bonhams : Goodwood Revival : Collectors Motor Cars and Automobilia | $40,000 | $50,000 | |
1966 Ford-Lotus Cortina Competition Saloon | BA74EU59035 | 2018 Bonhams : Goodwood Members Meeting | $80,000 | $120,000 | |
1966 Lotus Cortina Mk1 | BA74FS59280 | 2017 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island | $75,000 | $90,000 | |
1966 Ford Lotus Cortina | BA74FP59901 | 2015 H & H Auctions Imperial War Museum |
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1966 Lotus Cortina MKI
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