A lthoughits long run came to an end last year in the midst of chip shortages, Ford’s performance in the UK’s car sales charts has been nothing short of astonishing over the last five decades or so. You have to go back to 1971 for the last time it wasn’t on the very top step, but the real trigger for the firm’s modern-era ascent came 60 years ago with the launch of the Cortina.
The ubiquitous family favourite traded blows with the BMC 1100/1300 for almost a decade, paving the way for an unblemished period of Blue Oval success that saw model after model march to the top, as well as numerous other hits and, of course, the occasional miss.
And because us Brits are a nostalgic bunch, it’s little wonder that Fords still hold a special place in so many of our hearts. In this special 12-page celebration of Blue Ovals over the past 60 years, we look at everything from expensive halo models to some surprising under-theradar bargains.
HALO HEROES FORD CORTINA MK1/MK2 (1962-1970)
It seems almost unfeasible that Ford entered the 1960s without a mid-sized family car. The Anglia, Popular and Prefect were all smaller options, while the Consul, Zephyr and Zodiac were variations on an executive theme. The short-lived 109E Consul Classic could’ve filled the void, but it was expensive to produce and its Transatlantic styling divided opinion.
Thankfully, everything fell into place with the Consul Cortina in September 1962. A fantastic example of Ford’s ability to take the conventional and give it mass market appeal, it combined simple mechanicals with loads of space, keen pricing and those iconic ‘Ban the Bomb’ taillights. It was everything families wanted, and the vital fleet market warmed to its mechanical simplicity.
Hotter versions helped further boost the appeal, too. The 1500 GT set the trend, but the real halo model was the Cortina Lotus with its Twin Cam motor and iconic white and green colour scheme. Saloon car title victories for Jim Clark and Sir John Whitmore helped ensure classic status almost from the off.
Although the Mk1 was brilliantly engineered and costed, its styling dated rather quickly. So, for the Mk2 launched October 1966, Roy Haynes penned a more contemporary squared-off design that was bigger and had even more room inside.
The Lotus version returned six months after the rest of the range, followed later that year by the 1600E. With its Rostyle wheels, vinyl roof and sporty interior, the E arguably set a new standard in desirability for the man on the street and really emphasised the growing importance of badge hierarchies. It’s fair to say it was the first Cortina aside from the Lotus to achieve classic status.
Nowadays, any Mk1 in good shape is likely to push past the £10,000 barrier, with a GT heading towards £20,000 for a nice example. As for the Lotus, you can pay to up to £75,000 for a show car and more for one with race history. It’s still eminently possible to buy a Mk2 for under £10,000, but a tidy 1600E is likely to push into six-figure territory. The Lotus has recently hovered around £20,000- £30,000, making it a bit of a bargain when compared to the Mk1.
ESCORT MK1/MK2 TWO-DOOR (1968-1980)
Ford’s replacement for the now-dated Anglia arrived in January 1968 in the pleasingly curvaceous guise of the Escort. As with other contemporary Fords it wasn’t particularly technically advanced, but it looked the part and was an instant success.
Like the Cortina, its desirability was aided by a series of halo models beginning with the Twin Cam. Although it looked plain, it had the same 1.6-litre engine as the Cortina Lotus but in a lighter shell, so it was no
