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1966 Lotus Cortina MKI Coupe

  • Chassis Number: BA74FT59409
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

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 Mk1
Chassis#: BA74FL59076
Sold for USD$73,920
  2024 Broad Arrow Auctions : Chattanooga Auction
 
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 Lotus Cortina MKI image  
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 Lotus Cortina MKI image  1966 Lotus Cortina MKI image  
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 Lotus Cortina MKI image  1966 Lotus Cortina MKI image  
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 MKI image  
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 Lotus Cortina MKI image  1966 Lotus Cortina MKI image  
1966 Ford Cortina MkI 1500 Super Saloon
Chassis#: BA84FT33833
Sold for USD$3,220
  2009 Bonhams - Collectors' Motor Cars and Automobilia
 

Lotus Cortina MKIs That Failed To Sell At Auction

1966 Lotus Cortina MKI's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1966 FORD LOTUS CORTINA MK1 SPORTS SALOON8A7443620652021 Bonhams : Goodwood Revival : Collectors Motor Cars and Automobilia $40,000$50,000
1966 Ford-Lotus Cortina Competition SaloonBA74EU590352018 Bonhams : Goodwood Members Meeting $80,000$120,000
1966 Lotus Cortina Mk1BA74FS592802017 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island $75,000$90,000
1966 Ford Lotus CortinaBA74FP599012015 H & H Auctions Imperial War Museum   

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1966 Lotus Cortina MKI

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1966 Lotus Cortina MKI Vehicle Profiles

1966 Lotus Cortina MKI vehicle information
Coupe
Chassis #: BA74FM59709
Engine #: S29773
1966 Lotus Cortina MKI vehicle information
Coupe
Chassis #: BA74FM59831
1966 Lotus Cortina MKI vehicle information
Coupe
Chassis #: BA74FT59409

Vehicle information, history, and specifications from concept to production.