Pete05
Premium
- 7,080
- Melbourne, Australia
The Cortina GT was released in the UK in April 1963. It's specification was quite basic compared to later Ford 'GTs' and it's performance modest (top speed 150km/h, 0-100km/h in 14 seconds, 1/4 mile in 19 seconds) but it was the beginning of a long line of performance cars from Ford Britain.
The GT's engine was quoted as producing 78bhp (58kW) at 5200rpm and other changes from the standard Cortina included the fitting of a stronger clutch, remote floor gear change (lesser Cortinas had an unsightly direct change) although the standard rather widely-spaced ratios (3.54/2.39/1.41/1.00) remained, a larger diameter propeller shaft, very slightly uprated MacPherson Strut front and live axle/shocks/leaf spring rear suspension, non servo-assisted 9.5" front disc and 9.0 x 1.75" rear drum brakes, a tachometer mounted on the steering column, impossible to read ammeter and oil pressure gauges in the centre console and 13 x 5.60" crossply tyres (5.20" were standard!) mounted on modestly wide 4" steel rims...this was 1963 after all.
Items unchanged from the ordinary Cortinas included the 3.90:1 final drive ratio and the not exactly overly responsive 4.2 turns lock-to-lock recirculating ball steering system.
The first updates appeared on the 1964 models and included a vastly improved instrument cluster design and the very important addition of an 'uprated' gearbox especially homologated for competition purposes, featuring a taller second gear which substantially reduced the huge gap between second and third. Wider wheel rims were also available.
http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/car_info_ford_cortina_consul_gt.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Cortina
http://www.fordcortina.co.uk/links.htm
The GT's engine was quoted as producing 78bhp (58kW) at 5200rpm and other changes from the standard Cortina included the fitting of a stronger clutch, remote floor gear change (lesser Cortinas had an unsightly direct change) although the standard rather widely-spaced ratios (3.54/2.39/1.41/1.00) remained, a larger diameter propeller shaft, very slightly uprated MacPherson Strut front and live axle/shocks/leaf spring rear suspension, non servo-assisted 9.5" front disc and 9.0 x 1.75" rear drum brakes, a tachometer mounted on the steering column, impossible to read ammeter and oil pressure gauges in the centre console and 13 x 5.60" crossply tyres (5.20" were standard!) mounted on modestly wide 4" steel rims...this was 1963 after all.
Items unchanged from the ordinary Cortinas included the 3.90:1 final drive ratio and the not exactly overly responsive 4.2 turns lock-to-lock recirculating ball steering system.
The first updates appeared on the 1964 models and included a vastly improved instrument cluster design and the very important addition of an 'uprated' gearbox especially homologated for competition purposes, featuring a taller second gear which substantially reduced the huge gap between second and third. Wider wheel rims were also available.
http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/car_info_ford_cortina_consul_gt.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Cortina
http://www.fordcortina.co.uk/links.htm
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