1966 Mk1 Cortina GT
Discussion
Hi,
I've been lurking on here for some time and though I should actually post something, this is my long term project that I have owned since I was 19 back in 2005. The reason for buying the Cortina was that the Triumph Herald my dad purchased via a radio auction (seriously!) was less than deserving of the MOT it had been supplied with!
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/jy7QSi44.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/YydtUSkN" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/YydtUSkN.jpg)
The Cortina was used daily till the engine went into Cadillac arrest after losing oil pressure on a spirited country drive, this was just before I departed for university so the Cortina stayed in my parents garage with the intention of fixing the engine and tarting up a few bits...
I had started by removing decades of underseal which I thought would be an easy job - it wasn't, I was on my back with the car inches above me heating that would smelling stuff and coming out of the garage looking like a miner!
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/v0Ji2sqQ.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/hkwDvKeU" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/hkwDvKeU.jpg)
That's when the real problems started.....
I've been lurking on here for some time and though I should actually post something, this is my long term project that I have owned since I was 19 back in 2005. The reason for buying the Cortina was that the Triumph Herald my dad purchased via a radio auction (seriously!) was less than deserving of the MOT it had been supplied with!
The Cortina was used daily till the engine went into Cadillac arrest after losing oil pressure on a spirited country drive, this was just before I departed for university so the Cortina stayed in my parents garage with the intention of fixing the engine and tarting up a few bits...
I had started by removing decades of underseal which I thought would be an easy job - it wasn't, I was on my back with the car inches above me heating that would smelling stuff and coming out of the garage looking like a miner!
That's when the real problems started.....
There are no big problems, only lots of little ones.
- Henry Ford.
He had a point too, my floor for example had lots of little repairs that had been poorly done and a few pin holes. I didn't find any large rust holes.
I'd have preferred large rust holes because you know what you're dealing with!
The spare wheel well was attached using body filler, several repairs had been made from what I assume to be bean cans and offcuts of tin foil!
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/ycv6I1SK.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/bI3pVJZC" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/bI3pVJZC.jpg)
- Henry Ford.
He had a point too, my floor for example had lots of little repairs that had been poorly done and a few pin holes. I didn't find any large rust holes.
I'd have preferred large rust holes because you know what you're dealing with!
The spare wheel well was attached using body filler, several repairs had been made from what I assume to be bean cans and offcuts of tin foil!
The floor repairs and welding took place over 4 years mainly because the car was at my parents and I was at university studying etc.
The intention was to have the Cortina road legal for Le Mans 2009 but that's when the chassis leg was found to be none existent around the mount for the leaf spring which is amazing it didn't collapse whilst I was driving it around. A new leg would take 3 months to arrive and would blow the budget I had to sort the engine because I wanted someone who knew more than I did to fit it with it being an intergeral part of the car.
Eventually though I had a solid shell.
The intention was to have the Cortina road legal for Le Mans 2009 but that's when the chassis leg was found to be none existent around the mount for the leaf spring which is amazing it didn't collapse whilst I was driving it around. A new leg would take 3 months to arrive and would blow the budget I had to sort the engine because I wanted someone who knew more than I did to fit it with it being an intergeral part of the car.
Eventually though I had a solid shell.
catfood12 said:
Great work and photography OP. Love seeing threads like this. We're all willing you to progress and keep posting.
Will look forward to finding you at Le Mans this year with the car.
Thank you, i cant take credit for the photos as I usually have it set in auto! I wont be ready for this years le mans but i would like to be there next year to see the hypercars Will look forward to finding you at Le Mans this year with the car.
Eyersey1234 said:
Lovely looking Cortina OP.
Thank you! Aluminati said:
Excellent ! Sure i had some 1/4 bumpers for one somewhere. Shall check tomorrow. Had a few Mk 1’s culminating in a Lotus. Fantastic cars.
That would be amazing if you do, what was the lotus like? I imagine a bit more power and the DCOE's must be intoxicating.gf15 said:
Well done. I love projects where people do their own work under less than ideal conditions. Look forward to the updates.
The GT is the same age as I am.
Thank you. I bought the cortina not only because it was cool, I was 19 and thought girls would talk to me if I had a cool car. (Turns out they don't!) I wanted something I could play with, its what piqued my interest in engineering so I can thank the car for giving mr a career.The GT is the same age as I am.
I've tried to do as much as possible even attempting to paint her, this I'll come on to once I've sorted the photos. I hope you're in better shape than my Cortina!
wolfracesonic said:
Top work OP and top free vehicle storage parents!
Thank you! I didnt give them a choice to be fair!Legacywr said:
The Mk1 Lotus Cortina is probably my favourite car, but, I could certainly settle for a GT.
Fantastic shape.
Good choice! Have you had one? Fantastic shape.
To be honest I wasn't looking for a Cortina when I bought it, I was looking at Mgb's but struggled to find one that I'd want to own and thats when the cortina popped up locally on ebay and I fell in love with it!
I found that I have about 1500 photos that need resizing (dont worry I wont post all of them!) I'll be updating tomorrow with more photos
Yes, I bought a Lotus blind 2 years ago... not my best Idea. It wasn't good enough, and I moved it on, but, I loved driving it, they must have been the absolute daddy in the early 60's, as, the exotics were a pig to drive.
I considered buying a better one, but, decided to invest some money into my Mk2 Savage.
I considered buying a better one, but, decided to invest some money into my Mk2 Savage.
Legacywr said:
Yes, I bought a Lotus blind 2 years ago... not my best Idea. It wasn't good enough, and I moved it on, but, I loved driving it, they must have been the absolute daddy in the early 60's, as, the exotics were a pig to drive.
I considered buying a better one, but, decided to invest some money into my Mk2 Savage.
Nice! Having gone through the pain of a blind purchased car I can empathise!I considered buying a better one, but, decided to invest some money into my Mk2 Savage.
A Mk2 Savage is a rare beast, is it on the road or is it being restored?
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