Ford Cortina Lotus Mk2 (early Series 1a)

1967 Ford Lotus Cortina Description

RARE:1967 Cortina Lotus Mk2 Series 1a

(1 of 33 Canadian Export cars)

This Mk2 LoCort is particularly rare. First, it was built in the first month of production for the Mk2 Cortina Lotus versions(March 1967), so it has many holdover parts from the Mk1 LoCort including: 3-rail gearbox, Lotus on both banks of the valve covers, Lotus badges on rear quarter panels, plus rare gauge pod on the dash. All of these features went away in Fall 1967 with the Mk2 Series 1b version of the LoCort. Second, it's color is rare (Alpina Green) as most Cortina Lotus cars were Ermine White. Third, this is 1 of 33 Canadian export cars (LHD) and was never sold in the USA. Lastly, the Dunlop wheels are also rare options and the car also comes with a set of stock steel wheels.

I have a receipt file going back to 1977. Given that the receipts show 67,418 miles back in 1990 (69K miles currently) it is very possible that the odometer has not rolled over.

1967 was the final production year in which the Cortina Lotus was successfully raced. Both Jacky Ickx and Graham Hill raced Mk2 LoCort's at tracks such as Oulton Park before the Porsche 911 arrived to dominate the sedan class - thus, marking the end of an important era in racing history.

WHY I'M SELLING IT

I am a 30-year car collector that purchased this car in 2013 with the intention of refurbishing it and giving it to my oldest son when he graduated college as his first classic car. The reality is that he doesn't have anywhere to store it, so I've decided to sell it after investing $55K in addition to the $25K I originally paid for the car.

RESERVE PRICE IS SET WAY BELOW WHAT I'VE INVESTED - SO MY LOSS IS YOUR GAIN.

CONDITION

This rare car is a mechanically reconditioned driver (not a rotisserie show car) so that it can be enjoyed. It retains original factory items such as hang tags under the rear seat and rear trunk writing (shown in pictures), stickers in trunk area and more.

The car had a poor exterior respray when I bought it in 2013, so I had the car stripped to metal and the exterior resprayed as the car was going to be a gift to my son. Note picture of lower rocker when car was in paint shop as it was rust-free. Only rust found was slight pitting above headlights (ground out, sealed) and there is slight surface rust around the hood (bonnet) hinges which can easily be removed with steel wool by removing the hood. No known fiberglass or steel repairs anywhere -- including rust-free original floor plans.

The engine is better than new with "best of everything" parts by renown engine builder, Tony Ingram and producing an impressive 164hp (versus 109hp factory rating) on pump gas.

The interior is original (patina) so it’s up to the new owner whether to restore or leave “as is.”Comes with original Owner’s Manual, jack, and spare steel wheel set.

WHAT'S BEEN DONE(pictures & $50K+ of receipts available for the below)

*Gearbox (original): 3-rail 2000E (Mk1 type); freshly rebuilt everything inside the case: semi-close ratio gear cluster, with new synchro's, needle bearings, fork, seals, etc. Also replaced new driveshaft universal joints. Less than 100 miles on rebuild.

*Engine (original): Mk1 type valve covers with Lotus on both banks, fresh Tony Ingram rebuild from 1558cc to 1700cc: Ford Racing crankshaft, new pistons/rings, ARP bolts, all new engine fasteners/gaskets, upgraded water pump front cover assembly (a weak point in original twin cam engines), rebuilt distributor, electric fuel pump (mechanical pump comes with car), lightened flywheel, new Lucas C40L generator, rebuilt starter (Pete Snyders). PD Gough (UK) original spec exhaust (built in UK), ceramic coating on original header, Braille battery.Less than 100 miles on rebuild.

Dyno run-in shows peak164hp/143 ft lbs on pump gas!Tony ensured the engine completed its break-in miles on the Dyno and then drained/inspected the oil and verified tolerances before crating the engine for shipment back to Texas for installation.

*Fusing: the Mk2 Series 1 cars were never fused, so I obtained an original fuse box (per later Mk2’s) and had the wiring correctly fused (see pictures). This was crazy expensive (80 hours @ $100/hr) as wiring diagrams for these early cars are not readily available.

*Suspension: all new/NOS parts from Rod Smith (Cortina Owner’s Club UK), including control arms, springs, bushings, track rod ends. I also had the hubs/bearings rebuilt, installed new rear shocks from Burton Power UK, and sent the front shocks out to Koni for inspection/rebuild. Thousands of dollars in labor was invested to disassemble, sandblast and paint the leaf springs, hubs, axles, etc.

*Brakes: rebuilt original calipers, new discs/pads; dual brake assist servos were sent to the UK for rebuild (Nigel @ Past Parts), plus new brake lines, new rear wheel cylinders/shoes installed (all parts from Dave Bean Engineering).

*Body: body sanded and checked for rust, exterior repaint to original Alpina Green; interior, engine compartment & boot area retain their original paint. All original glass with factory stamps.

*Interior: original seats (foam replaced), original carpet, original window glass, and dash gauge pod; upgrade GT steering wheel, Bakelite steering wheel (spare); rebuilt windshield wiper motor. Speedo & Tach rebuilt/calibrated (Oct 2018).

*Shock towers: clean/excellent, no rust!

*Wheels: rare 13" Dunlop wheels, plus a set of original 13 x 5.5" steel wheels

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE

* Adjust idle (Weber carburetors)

* Buff paint in door jambs

The car has current Texas inspection.

Bid with confidence as I've been on eBay 18 years with 100% Positive reviews and I've been involved in eBay automobile transactions in excess of $100,000.