Austrian title
Chassis no. BA74ED59981

- One of the 660 LHD models!
- Complete, high-quality restoration
- Version developed by Colin Chapman
- No reserve

At the start of the 1960s, Ford decided to invest in motorsport and Ford UK therefore approached Colin Chapman to improve one of its saloons. He chose the Cortina for its light body and made the changes needed to turn it into a racing car. He then won a contract to build 1000 cars so that they could compete in touring car racing, which they did with great success. In the end, nearly 3300 cars were built, of which only about 660 had left-hand drive.
The model presented here is one of them. It left the factory at Delamare Road in November 1965 and was exported to the USA at the start of 1966, where it was registered on 27 March that year. Decades later, the Cortina was found, by an engineer from Boeing in Seattle, complete and to its original specification, but in need of a complete restoration. He set about bringing the whole car back to life with particular care, tackling the restoration of every part. Sadly, he died before the work was completed, and in December 2011 the car was bought by an English Cortina restorer, who spent two years finishing the restoration. The engine was sent to the specialist Throbnozzle Engineering for a complete overhaul. Most of the details specific to the US versions were kept, except for the bumpers, which were far more elegant on the European models. The fully restored body was repainted in Ermine White and Sherwood Green, as it was when new. The restoration of the interior was also carried out in accordance with its original specification. Rare and sought-after, especially in left-hand drive, this Cortina stands out for the quality of its restoration and will not fail to attract the attention of enthusiasts and racing drivers.

Full catalogue and more photos https://www.artcurial.com/en/sale-4315-retromobile-2023-artcurial-motorcars