Born: 1962 Died: 1982
A car that was to become one of Ford's best-sellers in modern times and whose nameplate was to last for two decades started in development with the code-name Archbishop. It would be produced in four generations, each of which would sell more than a million copies. The Cortina was slotted between two other successful Ford models of the time, the Anglia 105E and the Zephyr/Zodiac series. It began life in two- and four-door saloon formats, powered by 1.2-litre engines, and with two levels of specification - Standard and De Luxe.
When its first full year sales reached 260,000, more than two and a half times projections, Ford realised it had come up with something that hit the spot for a wide range of motorists. In January 1963 came the 1.5-litre Cortina Super with some enhanced specification. The first estate version followed two months later, and in April a "power" variant, the Cortina GT with a 78hp 1.5-litre engine, roared into the showrooms. The race and rally tracks were already in Ford's sights, and the two-door Lotus Cortina with a 105bhp DOHC engine arrived also in the spring of 1963, in time to begin successful journeys from the autumn.
For 1964, with a wealth of success already behind them, Ford changed the instrument panel, and offered an automatic transmission option. A truly groundbreaking innovation in 1965 was the first through-flow cabin ventilation system, known as Airflow. So successful was this that all manufacturers eventually introduced similar systems.
The millionth Cortina rolled out in the summer of 1966, and towards the end of that year Ford introduced the Mk II, a completely new shape on the established platform and drivetrains. In March of 1967, a Lotus variant of this model arrived. New engines were introduced in October of that year, in 1.3- and 1.6-litre sizes. A version of that latter with an "E" suffix was to establish an "upper level" range of Cortinas.
Through 1969 Ford continued to refine the Cortina, and in the process changed the Lotus Cortina name to the Twin-Cam. With no fewer than 14 versions available, the Mk II continued the nameplate's success until the Mk III was introduced in the autumn of 1970. Again in Ford custom, a brand-new body style was laid over the existing drivetrains. But a new 2.0-litre "Pinto" engine with 98bhp was added to the range, while the Twin-Cam version disappeared. The Mk III was wider and lower than its predecessor, and had a longer wheelbase.
New smaller variants of the "Pinto" engine arrived in October 1973, and the 2000E took up the mantle of the 1600E of the previous generation. Three years later, in answer to the fuel crises, a 1.3-litre version was added. The Mk III was the best-selling version yet, so the Mk IV introduced in autumn 1976 used the same recipe for success, including the same running gear under its more angular shape. A Cortina S replaced the GT, and a new top of the range specification designation was Ghia, which is still used by Ford today. In 1977 came a 2.3-litre option, with 108bhp.
In 1979 the style was significantly upgraded, with more glass and and subtle changes to the grille, tail lamps and many of the skin panels. The Cortina remained a superb seller for Ford until 1982, when it was replaced by the Sierra.
The Cortina was the mainstay of Ford's assembly plant at Dagenham in Essex throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Many other Cortinas were also built in Ford plants overseas - in Australia, South Africa, Amsterdam, Cork, and Genk in Belgium. Derivatives of the Cortina - particularly the GT and the Lotus-Cortina - won races and rallies all around the world in the 1960s, including the East African Safari, and the RAC rallies, two of the world's toughest endurance events.
- BRIAN BYRNE