1966 Lotus Cortina MKI Coupe

Production of the Lotus Cortina began in February of 1963 with homologation being achieved in September of 1963 despite production not yet having reached the FIA's 1,000-off minimum. Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Vic Elford, Jack Sears, Sir John Whitmore, and Jacky Ickx all raced Cortinas. Jim Clark – multiple F1 World Champion and Indy 500 winner, also won the 1964 British Saloon Car Championship in his works version.

It is believed that 2,894 Lotus Cortinas were built when production ended in late 1966. In 1967 a Lotus Cortina Mark II followed, assembled by Ford not Lotus, and therefore not allocated a Lotus type number.

This particular Series 1 Lotus Cortina was developed as a streetable vintage race car and has been used in various vintage events throughout the Northwest for almost 15 years. It has FIA-CACC logbooks and homologation paperwork.

This is a left-hand drive with a liver rear axle. The car was restored to factory specifications in the early 1990s and finished in its original Ford color scheme of Ermine White with a Sherwood Green side flash.

The engine is an Omnitech Stage 4 all-steel 1594cc Ford-based twin-cam producing an estimated 190hp with a very flat torque curve. There is an Accusump lubrication system, a lightweight flywheel with a Tilton rally clutch drives a Quaife-prepared four-speed gearbox with dog engagement, heavy-duty shifter and reverse lockout. There is a 4.70 rear axle, a limited-slip differential, and a custom-made 10-gallon fuel cell.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2014