Mk 3 Cortinas?

[MGB Boy]

I'm not really in the market to buy my next project yet, but I've been looking for Mk 3 Cortinas and they seem to be quite rare? There seems to be more Mk 2s for sale than there are Mk 3s!

Were there less sold? Did their popularity increase after 'Life on mars' so no one wants to sell? Did they rot like cheese and disappear?

Looks like I need to plan my next project for quite some time...

[AndrewW-G]

No doubt one of the most popular saloon cars of its period, both here and in Europe . . . . . . . . . . I'd suggest that most have been sent to the crusher some time ago

[RW774]

Try `Affordable classics `nr Gt Yeldham, Essex .He deals with low mileage 50s /60s/70s fords.

[Dogwatch]

The one we had (bought at 2years, ex Abbey National fleet car) developed rot just below the windscreen after a few years. Luckily (of sorts) it got rear-ended so written off but I could see an expensive welding bill coming over the horizon otherwise.

Never had a problem there with any other car.

[SB - Nigel]

Mk3 were (are?) not considered classics by some that think they known and those that listen to those that think they know

try these links

http://www.mk3cortina.com/

http://www.markthreeownersclub.com/

http://www.fordcortinaforum.com/

For a short time in the very early 90s my wife had a 2000E that we'd known from new (74) but it was a bit of a banger by then - usual Ford vehicle stuff much roomier and curved than the Mk2 it replaced in 1970(?)

[aeropilot]

MGB Boy said:

I'm not really in the market to buy my next project yet, but I've been looking for Mk 3 Cortinas and they seem to be quite rare? There seems to be more Mk 2s for sale than there are Mk 3s!

Were there less sold? Did they rot like cheese and disappear?

No...... and yes...... to the last two questions.
And a very big YES to the last one. Mk3's rust like buggery. By the early 70's Mk2's were already 'collectable' and by the time Mk3 have got to that stage, perhaps only in recent years, most have already gone to the scrappy.
Which does mean that in terms of surviving cars, there prbably now less Mk3 around than Mk2.

Plus, the fact that the Mk1 and Mk2 were better (more sporty) cars to drive than the Mk3/4 cars, as the suspension was horrid on the 3/4/5's. The Mk1 and 2's had proper front MacP suspension.
I had a 1975 Mk3 2.0GT 2-door back in 1982 and it was rotten as a pear then at only 7 years old.....!!

[SB - Nigel]

aeropilot said:

I had a 1975 Mk3 2.0GT 2-door back in 1982 and it was rotten as a pear then at only 7 years old.....!!

(see above) we had the '74 2000E replacement a '81 Capri 2.0S when it was 24 years old and had been ungaraged for at least 5 years, there was very little rust - the reason it had been Ziebarted properly

Ziebart was franchised so a lot of cars were not done well

ETA: I can't remember the 16 year old 2000E being badly rusted (or if it was Ziebarted, I'm too old and it was too long ago)

Edited by SB - Nigel on Monday 24th May 14:25

[Andy 308GTB]

Great memories of the MKIII Cortina - a mate used to have a 2L GXL in Gun Metal grey (the one to have, with the pair of twin headlamps) registration NME340L
Hacking around Essex in the early 80's - the thing used to roll like a boat.
He sold it to a friend who wrote if off very quickly.
I did sniff around a couple 10 or so years ago but they were dearer & rustier than I expected.

[pad58]

My dad had Mk3 2ltr GT which had all in on front seats (head restraint in with the seats).

Man that car could move,pinto engined i believe.

He had it new from the ford factory in germany,where he was stationed in the army.

Great fun on the autobahn.

[Chester Drawers]

Andy 308GTB said:

Great memories of the MKIII Cortina - a mate used to have a 2L GXL in Gun Metal grey (the one to have, with the pair of twin headlamps) registration NME340L
Hacking around Essex in the early 80's - the thing used to roll like a boat.
He sold it to a friend who wrote if off very quickly.
I did sniff around a couple 10 or so years ago but they were dearer & rustier than I expected.

The 2.0ltr GXL (Guxel) was the one to have I think, the front end with the four lamps looked cool and the coke bottle styling worked well. Unfortunately they were made of that special Ford soluble metal and rot like buggery, most will have long since gone, you'd have to search far and wide to find a good "rust free" example but a nice car if you do find one.

[MGB Boy]

So in simple terms, I'm buggered. Unless I want to stump up mega money.

Only reason I've really started looking for them again now I've realised how much I like them is at the garage I had a trial day at a bloke pulled up in a Mk 3 Dark Blue 2000GT 2 Door Convertible. Got valued at £9,000 so a little out of my reach though!

[//j17]

6 of 'em on eBay at the moment...

Edited by //j17 on Tuesday 25th May 11:05

[neutral 3]

I am trying to buy this one at the moment, but getting it out of its tomb may prove difficult.
Its a Saphire Blue 2000 GXL, but what makes it special is that it was first registerd in Sept or Oct ( will have to check again) 1971 , which must make it one of the Earliest GXLs.

Its pretty rough , but still saveable and Saphire Blue was a really good colour.
My mum had a 72 or 73 from 1976 to 1987 , GXL in Onyx Green with Tan Half Cloth trim, Auto, very fond memories of that car, wish we had kept it. Think the guy we sold it to scrapped ? her.

[aeropilot]

neutral 3 said:

Its pretty rough , but still saveable and Saphire Blue was a really good colour.

Savable...... with that much water around it for god knows how long.....

Hats off to you if you can/if it is

It certainley is an early one in a rare colour, so fair play for trying.

A school mate's Dad replaced his Morris Oxford with a 4xlamp 1600GXL in Copper Bronze Met in the mid 70's..... and so instantly became the 'coolist' of the school run vehicles that we had access to

[Mr2Mike]

aeropilot said:

The Mk1 and 2's had proper front MacP suspension.

First time I've heard someone suggest that McPherson struts are more "proper" than double wishbones!

[NHK244V]

Mr2Mike said:

aeropilot said:

The Mk1 and 2's had proper front MacP suspension.

First time I've heard someone suggest that McPherson struts are more "proper" than double wishbones!

The theory was sound but the aplicaton was somewhat lacking, the later cars are Ok with regular bush changes (read yearly)

[neutral 3]

Ret Zeibart , i think i am correct in saying that they went bust due to haveing So many warranty claims.

For a long time in the early 80s i tried to buy and save a 1974 Sebring Red Capri RS3100, this car had been Zeibarted , but was in a terrible state.

[aeropilot]

NHK244V said:

Mr2Mike said:

aeropilot said:

The Mk1 and 2's had proper front MacP suspension.

First time I've heard someone suggest that McPherson struts are more "proper" than double wishbones!

The theory was sound but the applicaton was somewhat lacking, the later cars are Ok with regular bush changes (read yearly)

Exactly....although I think you're being kind by only saying somewhat lacking

In fairness, Ford tried to do 'the right thing' but got it badly wrong, so when I say proper, I meant 'proper' as in Ford had a proven track record with MacP setups.

Edited by aeropilot on Wednesday 26th May 21:22

[LS6wetdream]

i scrapped 3, 1600l, 2000gxl and a 2000e, my mate also had a 2 door mk3 cortina, cant remember what model though

[chard]

I had a couple of 1600's in the seventies, I liked them then but I don't think they have aged so well. I could fancy a MK2 1600e though---------------------My Dad had one, red with sone extra spot lights and rostyle wheels----------------------------fantastic