Trigger's Mk3 Cortina

[trigger]

Well I'm looking to look like a right tit if I'm wrong aren't i! I'm sure it was Stow? Never mind, nothing new there... I did try pushing the end, loads of times and hard but nothing was happening, it was solid, no inwards movement what so ever?.

[Albert Ross]

I did try pushing the end, loads of times and hard but nothing was happening, it was solid, no inwards movement what so ever?.

 

Pfffft. Kchak. Woohoo. Etc.

 

Does it twist? Pull? Is it like a Boppit?

[trigger]

I'll have a good play with it when i get it home i think!

[HillmanImp]

Does it twist? Pull? Is it like a Boppit?

 

I like this version. 25% less difficult for the American market.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbZuTNzbJQ0&feature=related

[ashmicro]

My 73 Escort had what looked like a squash ball half-submerged in the floor for the washers. I know you've discounted that, but on the Escort it was very hard to see. Maybe yours has disintegrated or been otherwise replaced.

[ProgRocker]

Nice buy, Trigger.

 

Always loved the mark 3s.

My parents had a couple of them, the 2nd was a less powerful 1600 XL M reg estate in orangey red with those Rostyles.

[scooters]

-lovely Trig - Mk3 Cortinas are definately my favourite...

 

I still curse the day I missed out on an ebay auction by a few quid for a Mk3 Taunus 'fastback' coupe - think fastback body taunus coupe with the Mk3 front end - sounds odd - looked ace and was in good nick. This was 2007 and it went for about £1600...I was in at £1580 and suspect the buyer wasn't much higher than that as he'd been bidding in increments - I should have set up a sniper!

 

anyway - lovely motor and a good lesson in biding your time for the 'bottle of wine and ebay merchants' like myself obviously!

[peter9000uk]

If you look in the slot type vents in front of the screen there should be two little metal tubes visible there, they are the washer jets. Mine was the earlier type with the (nicer I think) 3 round type dials but I seem to recall the washers operated by a thingy (technicl term) on the floor slightly to the left of the clutch pedal. This being a facelift has different switch gear to mine, but did you try pulling the wiper stalk towards you?

[Pete-M]

That's a later spec Mk3, Mk4 dash, 2000E type headlamps. The washers should be by pushing in the wiper stalk....

 

Nice buy, Trig. I actually like the Alfa seats in it.

 

You gonna get some proper black'n'silver plates for it?

[M'coli]

Do these have a twin carb or something?, It certainly feel like a second choke opening up, it reminds me of a Vtec when you open one up!

It should have a Weber DGAV twin-choke on it(factory fitment too!), and as you describe, the second choke only opens when you give it some welly.

[Pete-M]

If the carb is correctly setup it shouldn't be too obvious when the second choke opens as it should be pretty progressive.

 

Unfortunately, most aren't.

[theorganist]

Well done, thats lovely!

 

I am very envious!

[CIH]

I hate to be the voice of dhoom but I would have had to have along think wether or not to accept the car. 'Biff in the rear and a likely seized caliper aren't what I'd expect for £2k. Granted not that big a deal but no mention in the ad seems real naughty. I've wasted entire days and ££s on trin journeys due to misleading adverts so that kind of thing really gets my goat.

 

Regardless, you seem happy with it so all the best.

[dollywobbler]

And another thing.... your Stow on the Wold looks remarkably lke Burford... having visied Brize Norton a lot and commuted between Marlborough and Warwick a few years ago...... Might you be mistaken? Or am I?

 

I did think that myself. Burford is much hillier than Stow. T'is a stupendously beautiful part of the world though, and must have been fun driving through either in an eye-catching metallic blue Cortina!

 

The 2CV has a twin-choke carb. You can tell when the second choke opens. It gets much louder and slightly quicker. I imagine that scaled up to Cortina size does make quite a difference.

[Lord Sterling]

Epic trip that Trig. I know of Stow-on-the-Wold having passed there a few times, once being towed back in this:

 

 

Down to the bottom pof the road is a small narrow bridge with a pub on the left-hand side or something?

 

Car looks great Trig, well worth the money, do you ever feel the need to grow a huge moustache and lambchop sideburns when driving this car?

[trigger]

Down to the bottom pof the road is a small narrow bridge with a pub on the left-hand side or something?

 

Hmm, That does sound like this place, I took this photo just as i was about to go over the bridge on the way there.

 

 

I hate to be the voice of dhoom but I would have had to have along think wether or not to accept the car. 'Biff in the rear and a likely seized caliper aren't what I'd expect for £2k. Granted not that big a deal but no mention in the ad seems real naughty. I've wasted entire days and ££s on trin journeys due to misleading adverts so that kind of thing really gets my goat.

 

Regardless, you seem happy with it so all the best.

 

I agree with what your saying, I was disappointed he hadn't told me about the dents or the bodgy paint jobs and especially about the brakes, i would have thought that he'd would had that sorted before selling it as i know i wouldn't have sold a car like that, My dad nearly put in in the ditch when he drove it up the road!

 

To be honest i was more relieved that that was all that was wrong with it after traveling 200 miles to get there, It could have been much, much worse.

 

I also really wish the guy hadn't painted the original rear seat cream to match the front seats seeeing that blue Alfa Romeo seats are easily available on ebay.

[RobT]

You've done well there Trig, looks good in that colour/wheel combo and I agree with Pete about keeping the seats, they seem to suit it. Worth the wait I'd say.

 

I was going to say that looks like Burford rather than Stow, but I'm sure the drive back was taking up most of your energy and adrenaline to notice such things!

[trigger]

A quick google street view search reveals it was in fact Burfold!, there was no village sign and i was busy admiring the scenery!

[Captain Mainwaring]

Hearty congratulations Trigger, a great buy that by the looks.

 

When did those rectangular headlights appear, or are they trim level specific? I've always preferred them over the round ones.

[Spottedlaurel]

Burford in the days when a Mk3 Cortina was more likely to be seen:

 

High St, Burford, Cotswolds 1980s by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

[scruff]

Great car Trig, look forward to seeing you do it justice!

[eddyramrod]

You gonna get some proper black'n'silver plates for it?

 

NOOOOOOOOO! Resist! They'd be wrong on this car, not to mention illegal. White/yellow with plastic letters, that's what it should have.

 

I second the reservations about the car's apparent faults relative to the price, but what the hell, you've got it now and I know you will make the best of it. Learn to live with stuff as much as possible and you'll have a bucket of fun. It's powerful, comfy and likely to be suitable for daily use if you want, and people WILL stare admiringly wherever you park. You really need a good mate with a bronze Mk1 Granada now...

 

I hope to see it in the metal sometime!

[cort16]

OMG M8 U IZ LYFE ON MARZ

 

Looks like a nice buy I'm glad you've found something that fits the bill.

[eddyramrod]

OMG M8 U IZ LYFE ON MARZ

 

Looks like a nice buy I'm glad you've found something that fits the bill.

 

Bravo! (How many more can we fit in? )

[retrogeezer]

Are the brakes sorted trigster??

[AnthonyG]

Looks good. Glad you like you. Bit more speedy than a 1.2 Kadett!

 

I wouldn't worry too much about the non disclosure stuff, its not like the gearbox seized 5 miles away from his house or something. It is a 38 year old car after all. You didn't pay a minter price either .

 

Look forward to the next Autoshite meet up to have a look at it proper!

[trigger]

Are the brakes sorted trigster??

 

Not yet!, It's been parked at my dad's all week and I've been working nights so i haven't had chance to get down to look at it, Tomorrow is the day though so fingers crossed I'll get it all sorted.

 

I looked at the online mot history this evening, it's a bit of a worry, this is from 2007 or 300 miles ago.

 

Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate

 

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

 

Nearside Front Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition on (1.4.B.1f)

 

Nearside Rear Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition on (1.4.B.1f)

 

Advisory Notice issued

 

Nearside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

 

Offside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

 

Clutch anti-slip pad wearing.

 

N/S/R & O/S/R doors stiff to open from outside.

 

Variours areas of surface rust. (Great spelling)

 

Slight mist of fluided around brake servo area.

 

Oil leak

 

Now i know most of this isn't anything major but the body rust is a bit, there wasn't any!, I'm starting to wonder if the guy i bought it of has hidden everything under the aerosol marks on the car, especially after i saw a post on the MK3 Cortina forum by him asking if anyone knew the colour code off the car.

 

It's only done 10 miles between most the mots as well!

[wuvvum]

To be fair, if it's only surface rust and he's rubbed it down and Kurusted it before rattle canning over it (which I would imagine most people would as it really doesn't take that much effort), it might not be too much of an issue.

[cort16]

It's more likely to be underneath have you stuck your head under there? Rough edges would be more worrying. I read the forsale thread on buysellcortina and it seems to be pretty well regarded .

[Vin]

As cort16 says, are you sure it isn't underneath. Every year I have advisaries on the 126 for surface rust, but it relates to the suspension components, such as the rear swing arms. They are solid though.