I Wish I Had A Grey Cortina

[Negative Creep]

As if I did, the title would make more sense. Instead I picked up this beauty instead and somehow ended up with my third yellow car in a row:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted it on the ebay tat thread the other day and since I sold my Falcon to a Steve Irwin tribute act (no, really) I needed something else asap. This was up for sale at a good price and cheap so went to look today. Although the paintwork is a bit tired the body is solid and the interior is in excellent condition. It was owned since 1982 by an old boy who only sold it 3 months ago. I know this as he kept a service book were he meticulously recorded every little thing he did for the next 26 years. Only 140,000km (86,000 miles) on the clock, even has the toolbox he made in theboot and the original change of owner slip dated 07 June 1982. As for the car, well check out the spec list:

 

 

Radio

Intermittent Wipers

Rear seat belts

Locking fuel cap

Clock

Foot rest

Door pockets

Twin door mirrors

 

Yes that's right, it has none of these features. It's the 2 litre pinto which despite being an auto actually goes pretty well for what it is. Auto choke doesn't appear to work though despite following the procedure in the handbook. Other than that, it's awesomely miserable, although I won't have it for too long as I'll be off touring the South Island in about 6 weeks so will need a van of some sorts

[whitevanman]

very, very nice

[Cavcraft]

Lush and no mistaking. We didn't get the 2.0L over here, pretty sure the two litres only came in GL, S and Ghia trim.

[trigger]

You my friend are a WINNA! That's is a hunny and no mistake!

[Mr Lobster]

*Jealous*

 

Very cool indeed.

[michiel]

Epic backgrounds!

 

Nice car.

[mouseflakes]

I don't know much about Cortinas, but this looks nice. This is a Mk4 yes? I think they messed up with the Mk5 styling - this car looks pin-sharp. I like the sound of the giffer-spec bespoke tool box too.

[STUNO]

Love those old giffer cars

 

Did you notice the houses on the cliffs at sumner while you were there. Some of them are quite stunning!

Or did you just listen to the Throbbing pinto on the hillclimbs?

[retrogeezer]

what a wonderful bit of kit....more photos please, and pics of the tool box!

[GJR 11L]

Wundahful.

As has been said; we didn't get a 2 litre in L-spec here, even the S was special order only if you wanted a 2-door, a thing I believe was available ex-showroom over there in NZ.

[Negative Creep]

Love those old giffer cars

 

Did you notice the houses on the cliffs at sumner while you were there. Some of them are quite stunning!

Or did you just listen to the Throbbing pinto on the hillclimbs?

 

Oh yes, some of the views and houses there are incredible. No idea what they cost but it must be worth it waking up to those views every morning. They're just quick camera phone shots; I'll try and get some better ones when I get a chance/it isn't raining

[CortinaDave]

 

Bloody lovely that. I'm jealous!

[AnthonyG]

Lovely - New Zealand definitely seems to be the place for rustfree old British tin.

 

I may retire there!

[Tayne]

.

[barrett]

This looks a fantastic old thing, great colour too. Being in NZ or having a MK4 Tina would be enough to make me jealous, but both together.....

also makes you seem much less capable of rape than your last vehicle..... which can only be a good thing!

[CIH]

is that a rare motor in kiwi town ?

[j-j]

Brilliant - good colour too. Loving the OMG vinyl seats!

[Negative Creep]

is that a rare motor in kiwi town ?

 

There were 4 on Trademe (no one uses ebay over here) within the city and in my price range. This is a NZ assembled one, apparently the Aussie ones are a slightly different spec. As promised, here's the old giffer's homemade toolbox filled with such useful things as two old spark plugs in boxes and what appears to be a tube of wax.

 

 

The book is a record of everything he did since he bought the car in 1982 (with 78k on the clock), loads of old maps, the handbook and a mini haynes manual

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Lush and no mistaking. We didn't get the 2.0L over here, pretty sure the two litres only came in GL, S and Ghia trim.

Yup, L's were only available as 1300 ohv, 1600 Pinto Economy and 1600 Full Fat. The seats look very much like Cortina Base types and our Cortina L's all had fabric trim.

The German Taunus had (I think) a 1300 Pinto and the 2.0 was a Cologne V6. 1600 Ghia Cortinas had the GT spec engine with 2.0 cam and twin choke 32/36 Weber.

Signal yellow is a superb colour and it doesn't look too sore either.

 

As for the spec...

 

Radio - optional on L, the Ford P21 push button.

Intermittent Wipers - not standard on L

Rear seat belts - No Euro Cortinas had these

Locking fuel cap - I don't think it was even an option

Clock - Nope

Foot rest - ditto

Door pockets - er........

Twin door mirrors - an option, even on a Ghia. Tight bastards.

 

Jayzus, folk were easily satisfied back then!

[VWPowered]

wow that tina is awesome