1966 Lotus Cortina MKI Coupe

The two-door Ford Cortina GT proved itself as a competitive vehicle in rallies and circuit racing. Seeing the car's potential for more, Ford executive Walter Hayes approached Colin Chapman to produce a world-beating racing saloon. The plan was to assemble 1000 cars to homologate the model for FIA Group 2 racing. Engineer Harry Mundy had been commissioned by Chapman to design a twin-overhead camshaft cylinder head to top the Ford 1500 Ken engines. Cosworth Engineering helped develop and fine-tune the engines, while the Ford 4-speed gearbox specified for the Lotus Elan was adopted for the Cortina program. Chapman revised the Cortina's suspension, changing the spring and damper rates, reducing the ride height, and fitting coil springs at the back. To help reduce weight, the doors, hood and trunk lid were made of aluminum. Aluminum was used in other areas of the car including the clutch housing, remote gearshift extension and differential case. The full-width front bumper was replaced by quarter bumpers. Inside were bucket seats in the front, a pistol-grip handbrake and a wood-rim alloy-spoked steering wheel. Lotus badges were added externally.

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.

The Lotus Cortina was raced by several prominent racing figures including Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Vic Elford, Jack Sears, Sir John Whitmore, and Jacky Ickx.

By the time production came to an end in late 1966, it is believed that some 2,894 Lotus Cortinas had been built. Nearly all were finished in Ermine White with Sherwood Green body band and flash.

This Lotus Cortina is a left-hand-drive street car example with an undocumented history. The car may have been delivered to the West Coast when new, as it was discovered in Northern California by its present owner in 2006. The car was restored in red and gold livery of Alan Mann racing, one of Ford's most successful factory backed teams of the 1960s.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2015