Cortina Ghia fast lane magnificence.

[eddyramrod]

the best (worst?) mingebag spec possible.

Cavette, some great stories there, then you let me down right at the end. Yes, in general terms, they should be preserved for posterity but really... who would actually drive a low-spec old car? I mean this was when low-spec really meant something! Mrs Ramrod's base-model Suzuki had central locking, electric windows, CD player... come on! Yer base-spec Tina2 has none of that, you're lucky to get glass in the windows! OK, I'm 51, maybe I'm just too old for these things, but I like a bit of comfort these days.

These are my A40 seats. The red one is what it came with, which even new, was pretty basic. 44 years on, there's just no way I'm sitting on that. The blue one is from a 1985 Escort Ghia. I rescued the pair from a scrapper before it was crushed. A little fettling to the mounts and I'll have nice comfy reclining Ghia seats in my little Austin. New carpets, soundproofing, 6-disc changer, real wood... it's going to be a nice place to sit while the Cypriot scenery trundles past.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

My first Cortina was a Mark 4 1.6L VGN655R. I bought it for £80 or so from Witney auctions around 1986. It was originally Diamond white but had an iffy blue paint job, shagged cam and a shagged clutch. I DA'd it with 240 grit, masked it up and painted it in Synthetic (ICI Permobel) Venetian red, added a vinyl roof, Ghia badges (it already had a Mark 111 20000E interior), Capri S alloys and a 3 spoke Capri steering wheel. I felt so elected driving that and once I did the clutch and cam it was okay. The awful squeaking clatter from the back that I lived with for 3 months was a fucked, bone dry and rusty rear UJ. The engine eventually coughed when it broke a ring. I fixed it and sold it, only to be questioned later by the cops when the next owner did an armed robbery in Swindon.

 

CBW818V was a midnight blue 2.0GLS from Witney auction. It was fantastically straight and rust free (Cologne built) but needed a good mop and a set of axle bushes. Even then I'd cottoned on that you had to fit the Estate solid axle bushes. It owed by £400 all in and I sold it for a grand with no lack of willing billys wanting it.

 

DTF455V was a Nevada beige 1.6L that I bought from a well known trader in Thatcham. The body was superb but the gearbox awful. I stuck an exchange box in from Ford (they were only 100 quid) because the car warranted it. I did a lot of miles in that and sold it in 1989, and it was on the road for long after that. It had done 200'000 when I sold it and was feeling it's age. Time for a low mileage replacement.

 

RMB90V was a very good car of which I have fond memories. I put two wings on it and proceeded to do thousands of miles. I sold it, bought it back, put a recon axle in, Waxoyled it everywhere and really minted it up. This was my everyday car for 18 months and it really did the job. I was sad to see it go.

 

Sierras came next, but only the Mark 1 Pinto versions are worth having. I never liked the Sapphire. I foolishly replaced the Y reg 1.6L with an D plate 1.8GL 'E Max' Sapph in Galaxy blue and it was shit. Dog slow, inferior handling (Ford softened the Mark 2 up to improve the ride further) and it leaked water in everywhere making it a bastard to demist. It was worse on fuel than the 1.6, was already rusting at 4 years old and needed bits replacing the old one didn't such as calipers. Everything Ford did to the Sierra made it worse - the next step was the dogshit CVH and I4 DOHC models. The Mondeo couldn't come fast enough.

[Marshall]

Nice spot Rev!

 

This is my Dads old 2.0 Ghia S. Twas a great car!

 

[Cavcraft]

Anyone had one of the last ones with the fancy/natty striping on the bottom of the doors?

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

No, but I had to bodge one up once. Dagenham built 2.3 Ghia Auto, 82 on the X plate in Forest green, Bottom of all four doors were rotting so I grind them out, spooned in some Wag, high build primer, top coat, laquer and then those stripes. God that was a shed but it drove so well with a lovely interior. I have a pic of it parked next to DTF455V somewhere.

 

I also have a pic of my first XJS with my fat ginger Cat about to piss up the front bumper.

[Cavcraft]

XJS? Picture/s please, feeling a ot of love for them.

 

All this talk of Cortinas has had me digging through my tat cupboard.

Happy to report I have dug out my 'Ford Cortina Accessories' pamphlet/brochure and 'Ford Cortina Your Operating Guide'. For some misty eyed reason I kept these.

[whitevanman]

Since 1980 until the present day I have only had a gap between Nov 1989 until Feb 92 without owning a Cortina, currently have 6 belonging to me and 2 that don't here at the moment they are all good cars, the best driving in standard form is the Mk5 the Mk3 is the best looking and the Mk4 has novelty value...Mk1 and Mk2's are a breed apart from the coils spring ones.

 

the fleet-

1973 2.0 GXL saloon

1974 2 Dr GT

1973 2.8 Bakkie (don't ask)

1978 2.0 Saloon

1980 Td estate

1981...very rare and saying nowt just now

 

 

the others are here for work to get done on them

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Just had a look for the XJS pic and can't find it. I was never one for taking pics of cars back then. It'll show up sometime.

It was VDA707S, a Juniper (olive) green V12 Auto. Bought from an auction in 1987 for £2000 and discovered all the wag the next day.

Still, it had a genuine 56'000 so I went to town on it - new wings, sills, rear arches, front and rear valances and a full paint. New carpets, grille, refurbed Kents - it was lovely. Then the gearbox (GM400) went pop so I had it reconned and outed it for £5000 which was a lot for a '78. I later had a stunning Ziebarted from new 30'000 mile '76 V12 manual in Signal red.

Like all old Jags the XJS was crap, but I love 'em. Not sure I'd want one now though, esp a V12. Maybe a pre facelift 3.6 Manual........

[Owain-328i]

Ive never driven a cortina However if they are anything like a Sierra to drive they GR8, as Sierras are good fun to drive and hoon about in

[Guest]

Hi that was me in the green Mk5 ghia.

I was on my way to the mk1 cortinas oc national gathering in stratford on avon. I remember you moving over cos I said to my daughter how unusual it was for a bm to move over

 

Sadly the day didn't end so well.....

 

 

Either a dropped valve or maybe a holed piston, hohum the joys of old car motoring.....just been offered a 3.5 rover

[eddyramrod]

Glad you could join us, yorkie! And there's a lot of precedent for the Rovertina, good luck...

[Richard]

A bit too much precedent IMO. Just now and again I'd like to look under the bonnet of an old family saloon and not see a Rover V8.

[Guest]

Bit of a different view of the car from yesterday!!!!

 

 

And thanks for the welcome, the v8 is not definate, gotta consider zetec, pinto, 2.3,2.8, and 2.9i cologne or for that south african feel theres the 3.0 Essex..... hmmmchoices!

[whitevanman]

Glad you decided to join us 'bro

[Richard]

I forgot to say welcome to the forum.

[CortinaDave]

I'm somewhat Cortina - obsessed as you may have gathered. The S is still here, needs a wee bit of love at the moment as I've not had any time for it so its looking a tad neglected.

 

Heres a few pics of my past Cortinas:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CortinaDave]

 

 

[trigger]

The Mk 5 shape is really starting to grow me, You white one is very nice.

 

I'm just finishing uploading my photos from the Ford show i went to yesterday, I'll post them on here in a bit, there are lots of nice Cortina's in there.

[scaryoldcortina]

Hi that was me in the green Mk5 ghia.

I was on my way to the mk1 cortinas oc national gathering in stratford on avon. I remember you moving over cos I said to my daughter how unusual it was for a bm to move over

 

Sadly the day didn't end so well.....

 

 

Either a dropped valve or maybe a holed piston, hohum the joys of old car motoring.....just been offered a 3.5 rover

 

'Ello John, Need a new motor?

[Guest]

Hahaha I do indeed matey, what you got lingering round that yard of yours?....Really starting to feel the need of 2.9i motivation.

[shaun1706]

Its one of the cars really wish I hadn't sold, my MK4 2.0 'S' in silver and the reg was MCC38R. It had the stripy black and white seats and was an early one. Oh where are you now

[CortinaDave]

Looks like its a goner now - but it did bloody well!

 

The enquiry is complete

The vehicle details for MCC 38R are:

 

Date of Liability 01 06 2000

Date of First Registration 05 10 1976

Year of Manufacture 1976

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1993CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour SILVER

Vehicle Type Approval

Vehicle Excise Duty Rate for vehicle

6 Months Rate £112.75

12 Months Rate £205.00

[shaun1706]

Thanks for that She was on her last legs when I sold her in 2000. I was knocked down from £100 to £80. We all make mistakes

[oldford]

I ran Cortinas continuously as everday cars from 1985 to 2008. My last one, owned and used everday from 1996 to 2008.

 

 

It used to get its fair share of the use that it was designed for, outside lane of the motorway at indicated cruising speeds in excess of the limit.

 

I used to think that the Sierra wasn't a worthy successor, despite driving hundreds of 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 litre versions, now I think that it is a worthy successor to the Cortina.

[155V6]

I had a 2.0S too,ENM 308T.It was red with a black vinyl roof,but was scrapped in 1990 I think

[CortinaDave]

There are less than a dozen "S" Mk4s left now. Rare beasts!

[155V6]

There are less than a dozen "S" Mk4s left now. Rare beasts!

I don't remember seeing that many when they were current,much like the MK 1 Granada 3.0S.

[greengartside]

My old man had two MkV's.

 

First one was a 1979 1.6 Base model in Red (with rust and white paint splatter) was originally registered GKP 629V but was given the number MAY 7 in 1984 until 1989 where it was (mistakenly) given F126 EVF. That's right, the only F-plate MkV Cortina ever in existence, as far as I know.

Ran like a dog when bought in 1993, hunted badly and inside smelled like a farm. Missing front bumper and broken passenger door handle made fun for passengers wanting to get in and out. Dad went up the scrappys and got another bumper, handle and passenger door mirror as the basic model wasn't fitted with one.

Petrol tank leaked when filled over half, worn engine and the offer of another better Corty led him to scrap this one. I remember taking bits off and putting them back on and taking them off again as a 9-year old budding mechanic! When the scrapman took it away, the back bumper fell off and cartwheeled down the street.

 

Was replaced by a 1980 1.6 GLS in Signal Orange! MVW 838V. Sold at Candor Motors of Braintree originally (how do I remember such random crap?) was jacked up at the back and had a Linwood alarm which didn't work. Dad's mate who he bought it off had another Corty but was a 2.0 Ghia. Dad's mate crashed it when drunk and quietly got it towed home at night We salvaged the interior out of here and was in both the Corty's obviously ending up in the orange one last. Suspension was un-jacked and went like a rocket thanks to a twin-carb setup!

Unfortunately it got stolen when we went to visit my aunt in Manchester. I think he had it about two months! Police never found any trace of it to this day

[whitevanman]

The GLS was a very rare option especially in 1.6 form

[gtd2000]

 

 

i spotted this on the A1 today

 

How awful.

Would the owner be a BI Poofy Bastard?

 

 

*Disclaimer*

No offence to gays or bi people intended..