You can now book a one to one appointment (up to one hour) to view this lot at our central location. Please contact the member of staff associated with this lot to secure your appointment. The health and safety of both our customers and team remains the utmost priority, we are therefore operating to strict COVID-19 guidelines and full instructions will be given when making your appointment.An original A-frame car built in May 1965. Its first owner was Mr Joe N Dyer of Los Altos, CaliforniaHe appears to have kept the car until 1981/1982, when it wasregistered toJohn Lynch of Millbrae, CaliforniaCommenced a photo-documented,8-stage refurbishment in 2013 with the emphasis on retaining originalityThe work was carried out byVDM RestorationsRangiora, South Island, New Zealand ($11,000NZ)Athorough inspection by marque specialist Andy Middlehurst in 2019 resulted in aglowingreportA freshMOT and an oil and filter change and werecarried out bySaxon of Neath on 16/06/2019#59206 is an original 'A-frame' car built in May 1965 and delivered to its first owner, a Mr Joe N Dyer of Los Altos California by C J Motors the Authorized English Ford Line Dealer of Berkeley, California. It's unusual to think of a gentleman from Californiaordering a comparatively expensive little, 4-cylinder, British sporting sedan but, judging from the wonderful history file, Joe was a bit of an enthusiast and probably ahead of his time. In the owner's file from that period are a number ofUS registration cards,the original Dealers Service Policy, and hand-written mileage and fuel logs.The Registration Cards would suggest that he kept the car until 1981/82 prior to it becoming the property ofJohn Lynch of Millbrae, California. The car's history file contains hundreds ofreceipts, dockets, till slips and invoices from Joe Dyer's ownership, probably every cent he ever spent on it but after he sold it, even though there isa substantial quantity of paperwork from later owners, it is difficult to put in order. It could be an enjoyable bit of research for the car's new owner.In 2013,#59206 appears in Rangiora, South Island, New Zealand in the ownership of Paul van der Meys.A company called VDM Restorations Ltd embarked on an eight-stage sympathetic refurbishment over late 2013 and Spring 2014. In addition to detailed invoices from VDM totalling nearly $20,000 (NZ), there appear to be all the relevant parts and service invoices (some UK) totalling a further $9,500(NZ)and, judging by Andy Middlehurst's report (following), the restoration was excellent retaining much of thecar's originality. Within the owner's file is a Warrant of Fitness (NZ MoT) dated 25/10/2016 with an odometer reading of 23,471.At some point after this, the car arrived in the UK and in June 2019 was inspectedby acknowledged marque specialist, Andy Middlehurst, and a copy of his full report with photographswill be supplied with the car. Andy Middlehurst is one of the world's leading experts on these early cars and he confirms that this is a Dagenham built, early 'Airflow' car that has some features of the 'pre-airflow cars' and is 'one of the most original cars he has ever seen'. The report is very encouraging so it's probably appropriate to list a few of the relevant points.The car is fitted with A-bracket rear suspension which is all original apart from the shocksNo anti-tramp brackets confirming it was an A-bracket carThe car has all-steel panels. The boot hump is correct and originalCorrect quarter bumpers and late rear bumper. Front wings plenished as per productionChassis plate and Lotus production plate are both originalFront seats, door trims, rear seat, steering wheel, instruments and gear knob all correct for 1965Correct early engine, original carbs, airbox and servoAs well as the Andy Middlehurst Report and acres of invoices and sundry correspondence, the owner's file contains an original Ford Cortina Owner's Manual, a Lotus Cortina Service/Workshop manual, a Brooklands publication containing contemporary road tests, an original factory Price List, a gear lever knob (original?) and an invoice indicating the car had an oil and filter change and a freshMOTon 16/06/2019.This is a well-travelled car with a fascinating history and a recent detailed inspection showing that it is substantially original and in remarkably good order. Prior to the sale, the car will be MOT'd, road-tested and inspected.Video of the 1965 Ford Cortina LotusFord Cortina Lotushttps://youtu.be/DZvG1cEqkJotrue