Lotus Cortina Mk1 1965

[20B_4ME]

The Lotus-Cortina is a high-performance car, which was produced in the United Kingdom from 1963 to 1970 by Ford in collaboration with Lotus Cars. The original version, which was based on the Ford Cortina Mark 1, was promoted by Ford as the "Consul Cortina developed by Lotus", with "Consul" later being dropped from the name.

And the racing version:

 

[RandomCarGuy17]

Hell yes! That car would fit nicely in GT.

 

[Chris Cox]

Oh yes, awesome car!

 

[Sick Cylinder]

Agreed this car absolutely has to be in the game.

If we get the racing version, please make it car 57 as driven by the late great Jim Clark to win the British Saloon Car Championship. Clark is rated by many - especially his contemporaries - as one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time. Keith Duckworth who helped Harry Mundy develop the engine went on to incredible success later with the design and development of the Ford BDA and Ford Cosworth DFV families of engines.

This car, in an era before the hot hatch was invented, was one of the first sports saloons from a big manufacturer - the cars were marketed and sold through the Ford dealer network.

Enjoy this clip showing the masterful Jim Clark at work with great period commentary by Mr Chumley Warner.

 

[GBO Possum]

You bet!

Back in the day, the Neptune Racing Team had a Morris Mini, Lotus Cortina and Ford Mustang in blue livery with white stripes, and the three used to battle it out at tracks such as Warwick Farm outside Sydney, Australia. The Mustang smoked the straights, the Mini dominated the esses, and the Cortina performed well all 'round. In many races, these three cars would finish neck and neck after an incredibly exciting race with the lead swapping every few seconds.

The three cars are pictured in this web page - http://aussieroadracing.homestead.com/Stanley2.html

 

[Sick Cylinder]

It was also marketed as the Ford Cortina Lotus. An iconic car which should be in Gran Turismo having won the BSCC in 1964 (Jim Clark), ETCC in 1965 (Sir John Whitmore) and also competed with distinction in the early days of Trans Am.

Incidentally I would rather have a 1963 version as Ford gradually reduced the number of lightweight / special parts in the car once enough had been made and the parts had been homologated - this was done to save costs - from 1964 onwards the aluminium panels were replaced with standard steel ones and in 1965 the special Lotus coil spring rear suspension was replaced with the leaf springs from the Cortina GT. The 1965 model also has an uglier (imo) front grille. This picture shows the 1963 model.

I found this great colour clip of the Cortina racing at Sebring in 1964 driven by F1 champion Jim Clark. The first half of the film is saloon racing and Jim brings his car home in third place for a class win behind Augie Pabst in the 7 litre Ford Galaxie with a 4.7 litre Ford Falcon second. In The second half of the film Jim works his magic again entering the Sebring 12 hours and bringing his car home 21st in a field of 70 cars, coming second in class to one of four Zagato bodied Alfa Romeo's. Great colour period footage - well worth a look!

 

[cbarbosa]

Voted! 👍

 

[GBO Possum]

@Sick Cylinder, the Cortina at Sebring footage is classic!

The music! The commentary! The three wheel cornering! The "Le Mans style start"! Rules requiring the driver to perform repairs! The relaxed pit stops (except when the innovative Jim Clark tells them to actually do it quickly)! The hit and miss style fueling system!

Those were the days. Wouldn't you like to superimpose that music and that commentary voice onto your replays!!!?

 

[Sick Cylinder]

@Sick Cylinder, the Cortina at Sebring footage is classic!

The music! The commentary! The three wheel cornering! The "Le Mans style start"! Rules requiring the driver to perform repairs! The relaxed pit stops (except when the innovative Jim Clark tells them to actually do it quickly)! The hit and miss style fueling system!

Those were the days. Wouldn't you like to superimpose that music and that commentary voice onto your replays!!!?

Yes - I agree 100%. I would like Mr Chumley Warner (I think it's spelt Cholmondley) to commentate when I use English cars - he did the plummy commentary in the Crystal Palace 1964 clip and use an American commentator like the Sebring one for when I use American cars.

Regarding the refueling - they used to just slosh it about until Roger Penske introduced aircraft style high speed refueling to Europe in 1971 when his team raced a Sunoco Ferrari at Le Mans. It seems odd to have to lift the Cortina boot lid to pour the fuel in.

 

[jscc48]

 

[Sick Cylinder]

Here's a great bit of footage - Brands Hatch 1964 - a sea of Cortina's and Mini's!

 

[Sambreero]

This machine, and the goodwood racetrack...
Perfect combo

 

[John Wells]

Watched some these cars racing at Croft Revival great, against the Mustangs.