1966 Ford MK1 Cortina

[Roy Royson]

Been lurking on here for a while and have finally decided to post my project up

It's a 1966 Mk1 Cortina, which I have owned for 2 years - prior to purchasing it, it had sat in a garage for 30 years forgotten, all of the mechanicals have been overhauled completely, with absolutely everything being checked, restored/replaced. She's not finished yet, still requires a tidy up on the underside (removing ziebart, replacing with por15) and some welding and finally a respray, but completion is on the horizon, having recently passed my driving test, there's nothing more I want than to be able to drive this!

The underseal is a project in itself and is half way done, or perhaps I'm being generous, whatever, it's taking decades.

Anyway, here's some pics


How I bought her



A while after



How she looks now





Changed from a 1200 pre xflow to a 1500 pre xflow (insurance seems okay still)



Underside is immaculate under ziebart save a little surface rust



Not so good bits





Plans in future are to build a decent crossflow mated to a 2000e box

Thanks for looking ;D

[luckygti]

Love it, another Mk 1 to whet the appetite Plans sound good to. And welcome of course.

[markske67]

Great car you have ! Looks very solid. I'm going to follow your thread with interest !!

[Roy Royson]

Thanks guys, It's very solid for it's age, hopefully be finished soon!
Looking to get a mk2 polo Breadvan/Coupe as a daily car though

[Clement]

Hey Daniel! Sweet project ;D The "not so good" bits are very small, lucky you! I didn't see you at the Nats, were you there at all? Good luck for the rest of the build, please keep us posted

[Roy Royson]

Wasn't there clement, I will be next year for sure, how was the trip to Cortina d'ampezzo?
(If you went) I have bought another retro car, a 1988 squareback polo to get me back and forward everyday but the Cortina still takes pride of place! Though have delayed the spray a bit, which isn't so bad because its winter anyway, and I don't intend to drive it till summer.

[Clement]

Just read "because it's winter anyway", thought "but why, it's just early September" then recalled where you are living. Sorry ;D
Too bad you didn't come, the turnout was very very good but I was pretty much the only young Cortina owner so I'd love to have some company next year! I can't go to Cortina d'Ampezzo because it's a lot of money for me, I was completely skint when I came back from Stratford... I'll drive there when the Tina's a century old I guess.

[Roy Royson]

No updates for a while on here but I will hopefully be picking up a mig welder this week and get stuck in on the welding - hopefully take it for an mot with a multicoloured paint job (red oxide primer ftw), get it through the mot then paint it, either using the rustoleum roller method, or spraying it myself (latter probably the preference).

I also plan to fashion my own exhaust for it with a single silencer

[sierra1off]

more pictures please

[jim]

I love the colour and it looks like a solid shell which is good!

[Roy Royson]

The shell is pretty solid, where it needs to be anyway, no holes in the floor at all
I've been neglecting the cortina recently as I've been getting my mk2 polo how I want it, but I've really managed to jump start my interest. I want this drivable by summer, paint job doesn't matter at this stage, I've had this car 2 and a half years now and not driven it once, so that's got to change.
I'm getting a pro to do the welding this time round until I have a bigger garage, which will be a long time!

So hopefully it should be welded at the end of the month, touched up with some rattle cans, and then various tiny mechanical jobs such as torquing hub nuts etc, then MOT, free tax , then perhaps use it daily in summer to get to work.

I'm planning to find a 1600GT crossflow shortly to build to the spec I want.

I can't wait

[Roy Royson]

Welding/bodywork almost finished, need to paint it too but that'll happen next month.
MOT around that time too hopefully - provided I pick up a few little things such as another pair of sidelights.

Its staying spruce green but the plan is to paint the roof creme, which I think will look great.
Hopefully my next update will be the paint!

[Roy Royson]

She's on the road!

[Roy Royson]

[jim]

Its looking good, are you still looking at a bike carb conversion?

[hastandard]

Very nice!! Love the colour!

[eternaloptimist]

Brilliant - love a Mk1

[Roy Royson]

Cheers guys, only just seen these.
Not going for bike carbs anymore, as I've got a set ready to go on one of my other cars, but will probably be going for a 28/36 DCD.

I went to a local car meet at the weekend with it, and was very surprised by how it performed - no issues except for the dash lights not working.

[jeffeRS]

That looks so nice in the last two pics. A car with a purpose.....