“THE MISSING MODEL” BECOMES A STAR
Roy Brown’s punishment for designing the awkward-looking, slow-selling Ford Edsel was a transfer from Detroit to Dagenham where he clearly turned over a new leaf and shaped the eye-catching, well-proportioned Mk1 Cortina. It was a sensibly sized, well-priced car and an immediate hit in New Zealand.
Launched in Britain on 20 September 1962, the Cortina was being put through its paces in New Zealand just four days later — in itself, quite remarkable. The multinational company had imposed strict security following excited rumours about a new medium-size saloon. Such was the level of interest that cameras were focused through the wire fence at Ford’s Seaview plant in Lower Hutt as media attempted to catch scoop photos of the Cortina.
The two most prominent local motoring journalists of the day, Peter Greenslade and Jim Webber, were among those invited to a formal press preview at the Levin Motor Racing Circuit — a first for any New Zealand motor company. Christchurch-based Greenslade, motoring editor of newspaper for years, was well on his UK overseas experience, Nelson-born Webber got to know fellow motor enthusiasts Harry Secombe and George Formby.
