"In 1961, Colin Chapman was commissioned by Harry Mundy to design a twin cam version of the Ford Kent engine and its first appearance was at the Nürburgring in a Lotus 23 driven by Jim Clark. Soon after, the engine appeared in the Lotus Elan. During the engine's development, Walter Hayes at Ford, asked Colin Chapman to fit the twin cam into 1,000 Ford saloons for Group 2 racing homologation. Chapman accepted the contract and the type 28, or Lotus Cortina as it became known, was born. Whilst Ford supplied the two door body shells and took care of the marketing, Lotus engineered the mechanical and cosmetic changes which included the 1558cc engine along with the Elan's close-ratio gearbox, front quarter bumpers and Lotus badges. They also made changes to the interior with a new centre console to accommodate the revised gear lever position, different seats and a later styled dashboard that incorporated a tachometer, odometer, oil pressure, water temperature and fuel gauges. A wood rimmed steering wheel was the finishing touch.
Originally registered on 1st May 1966 this Lotus Cortina appears to have been well looked after. The previous registered keeper had the car under his stewardship for 23 years and in October 2007, the car featured in Classic Car Mart magazine. These highly collectable Fords are in high demand, particularly examples such as this that are on the Ford register. The engine started immediately during our inspection and had good oil pressure. We are advised by the vendor she drives as she should. Supplied with a V5C registration document and history folder this ‘Fast Ford’ will evoke great memories for men of a certain age."