Time for the Cortina to rise from the dead...

[CortinaDave]

Once upon a time I owned a mint mk4 Cortina 2.0S.

 

 

Not so much anymore....

 

 

The top photo was taken in 2006, the bottom one today.  Long story short is back in 2009 I split from my missus, and she screwed me over and left me with a load of debt to deal with, so it became a bit neglected... then some arse weaved into my lane on a roundabout in aberdeen at the start of 2010 and wrecked the front wing. Then I lost my job.

 

So the Cortina became a very low priority. I got as far as taking the bent wing off and loosely fitting another one, then parked it up in my parents drive and forgot about it.

 

As it was sitting at their house as opposed to mine - out of sight out of mind.

 

After I'd gone out and found a hotter missus and a new gig, I finally decided it was time to do something with it so I bought a new battery, fired it on, cleaned and gapped the points and put a fresh gallon of petrol in the tank. Started on the third turn of the key and settled down to a smooth idle.

 

This morning it reversed out of the drive its sat in for the last three and a bit years under its own steam and was A framed down to a mates workshop.

 

Its not nearly as bad as it looks - almost all the rot is just the front end due to the ludicrous amount of waxoyl underneath.

 

I have a pair of new wings, a new front valance, all round new suspension and numerous other goodies waiting for it... this weekend the front end is coming off and the work begins...

 

Plan is to get it sorted, tested, resprayed and back on the road for spring... I'll keep this thread updated on progress to guilt me into making sure its done.

[Bren]

If I was looking for a tina it would be one of these, especially a V6 - assuming it had'nt been raped of all it's unique trim.

 

Much respect on getting it sorted again - you wil probably have it on the road before I get my SD1 sorted.

 

Please keep us updated.

[Partridge]

It's great you're going to give it some love again...and well done for sticking with it.

[Bren]

Your parents must live in a quiet area - it would'nt have sat on a driveway around here for three years - the travelling community / banger racers / scrap merchants would have had it away no doubt.

[CortinaDave]

Thats why it sat in their drive as opposed to mine - I live beside a busy main road - they live in a quiet cul de sac and the car was quite hidden at the bottom of their drive, as well as being blocked in 95% of the time by their micra which they never use.

 

I'll be wiring in a tracker of some description while its off the road given the spate of classic car thefts lately.

 

It did get a fair few "enquiries" from banger racers while it was sat - but in all fairness when they were told it wasn't for sale they walked away.

[Brent_Crude]

Good on you for sorting the 'tina and especially for getting yourself a hotter missus. Looking forward to hearing how it gets on after its stint in the workshop

[Jim Bell]

That looks great for the amount of time its been sat!

 

Moar pics pls.

[fordperv]

great stuff make sure you keep up with the updates, i need to get my mk1 sierra off to the bodyshop before i can get my capri from my parents and do the small amount of work it needs, so i kinda know how you feel

[CortinaDave]

I'll get some more pics when I'm down the workshop through the week. I feel bad for letting it get in such a state - but I didnt want to part with it and life gets in the way. It just had got to a point where it needed more than a bit here and there and a fresh MoT  and I couldnt afford it with everything else that was going on.

 

I'd likely have got round to it a year ago without that bloody Saab 93 I had costing me a fortune in repairs most months!

 

Hopefully this will be the proof that sometimes those cars you see lying abandoned in gardens with owners that wont sell because "I'm going to do it up" do sometimes get their finger out!

[Lord Sterling]

Looks excellent. Hope it al goes well for ya. I guess it goes to show there is hope for all of us. Funnily enough I have a White Rover 825 Sterling saloon that looks a bit like your bottom photo of the Cortina. I also have in my possession a pair of primered wings waiting to go on.

[Split_Pin]

Relationship breakups can have profound effects on a car hobby. Your description of it in your signature as rusty and broken was sad. I'm so glad it's come back to life, I'm sure it will be a great feeling!

[oman5]

That's very nice. I have plenty of lurve for the Cortina mk4/5 good luck with it

[cort16]

Great car, glad to see it's getting some love. It being white probably makes it looks worse than it is (hopefully).

 

Any idea what it needs doing?

[HillmanImp]

I agree, being white it no doubt looks worst than it is. But then again being a Cortina.....

 

I look forward to seeing the progress. 

[CortinaDave]

Front valance is rotten - to the point the chin spoiler fell off when I moved the car today. Inner wings are a bit questionable looking, One sill will need doing I think -floors/boot  look fine.

 

There will probably be holes on the wing rails once they come off.

 

Some bubbling on the rear arches too although I prodded it and nothing fell off.

 

I might source a new engine as the one in it is blowing a bit of back pressure despite it being fairly low mileage.

 

Sits at a funny angle hence the new suspension going in. And the void bushes are slapping about all over the place.

 

Plus a repaint. Not sure whether to keep it Diamond white or go for a colour change. Always liked the MK4 in Cosmos Blue so thats a maybe.

[CortinaDave]

Yeah I like the Louver. I took it off while it was sitting as someone came and stole all the clips that held it on, but not the louver itself.

 

Its lying in my spare room and will go back on.

 

As it turns out autoplas will still sell you a louver fitting kit for £15 or so which is handy

[Steviemillar]

Like Tayne, I used to see your 'Tina in Aberdeen a lot, did it laterally have Fiesta MK4 Alloys on it?

One day, I saw it on double yellows on Hutcheon Street beside that Bavaria place, like it had been abandoned after being stolen. I was really worried that someone would lift it!

[Steviemillar]

By the way, I'm delighted to see it still lives and will be returning to the road soon. Made my day Dave.

[CortinaDave]

Yep it did. I moved to Aberdeen and got a job there although it wasn't great money, so for a while the cortina went from being weekend toy to my daily since I couldnt afford to run 2 cars and didnt want to lose the 'Tina... It needed tyres all round and I had the fester alloys with decent rubber hence they went on although they looked silly.

 

I'm back in Fife now working in Edinburgh... there's a set of wolfrace slots ready to go on it.

[trigger]

This is great news that your resurrecting it again Dave, I remember it featuring it Practical Classics a few years back and really falling in love with it.

 

I guess the problem now is finding the parts and the prices some of them parts now demand, they have really gone up in price in the last few years!

[Shep Shepherd]

^

 

Same here. I really like the mark 4 Cortina S

[cort16]

I like the white, you hardly see any mk5 and 5's in white and it really contrasts against the black rear panel. I'm sure it'd look good in any colour though.

You seem to be able to buy pre-built hotted up pintos for 4-500 quid that should drop right in.

 

I want another Cortina!

[londonm]

Nice looking car that, look after it. They're rocketing in price.

[sheffcortinacentre]

the 2.3 S is now in single figures & is prob the rarest std model.

[ShiteRider]

There's a proper mk4 valance on the bay now, it's pricey mind (£130) but they really are rare as rocking horse shit.

[barefoot]

As it turns out autoplas will still sell you a louver fitting kit for £15 or so which is handy

Strangely they sent one to me for no money, but it was the wrong one.

I phoned up again and they sent me the right kit, with tools as well, again for no money.

[Angrydicky]

Another vote for keeping it the original colour, looks great with the black decals. Look forward to seeing it back on the road!

[derskine]

Like it a lot, really want myself a mk4/mk5 to compliment the mk1

[CortinaDave]

Well a fair bit of progress has been made on the car... Needed some welding on the wing rails both sides, although surprisingly the A posts are still solid. New wings and front valance are on.

 

Drivers side sill cut off and replaced, and some rot around one jacking point which had to be cut off and plated ( I was pissed off about this as all four jacking points were still on the car up to this point)

 

Next step is all round new suspension and void bushes, and possibly sourcing a replacement pinto since it is blowing a bit of back pressure despite having only done 70k.

 

I'll get some pics when I'm next at the garage.

[cort16]

Once it's done I've got £500 here waiting It's just an old car M8 better off scrapping it or I'll swap you it for a SAAB 900 convertible.