Posts Tagged ‘Ford Cortina Mk2’

(R Donaldson)

Ford Australia photo-shoot to amass material for the release of the new Cortina Mk2. The ski-bunnies are at Falls Creek in the Victorian Alps, 385km north-east of Melbourne during August 1967.

While the Going Ford is The Going Thing tagline days were a little after this, I always thought FoMoCo was a bit more edgy than their local competition with their marketing. The Sex Sells approach is consistent with that, bless them. Poor girls, it certainly would have stood the nippy-nips on end.

(R Donaldson)
(R Donaldson)

My first car was a very fourth-hand Mk2 1600 GT which served me well in my student years and gave me a thorough grounding in the Kent engine and the foibles of Lucas electricals, both useful in my Formula Ford years later. I’ve always thought the Corty Mk1 was much the prettier car of the three Cortinas all the same.

In order that you won’t think I’m engaged in the wanton exploitation of the female form – goodness me, perish the thought – the shot below is of Paul Hawkins in an Alan Mann Racing Cortina FVA in 1967, circuit folks?

The Mk 1 Lotus Cortinas were built at Hethel (Lotus), while Ford built 4,032 Mk2 Lotus Cortinas and Cortina Twin Cams at Dagenham through until September 1970. Their use as Ford’s frontline touring car was relatively short as Ford homologated the Escort Twin Cam in May 1968, it was with the new car that Ford then focussed its marketing/competition efforts.

Ford Australia Ad in 1969 (FoMoCo)

The car shown – CTC24E chassis BA91GD12811 – was originally a Team Lotus car raced by Paul Hawkins and Jacky Ickx in the ’67 BRSCC Group 5 British Saloon Car Championship powered by the equally new Ford Cosworth FVA 1.6-litre F2 engine. Check out this website for some fantastic information: http://www.lotuscortinainfo.com/?page_id=101 and here: http://www.lotuscortinainfo.com/?page_id=4

Etcetera…

(R Donaldson)

Don’t do it, it can’t be that bad! I wonder if JUF-423 is still with us?

(R Donaldson)

Oops, nearly lost it.

(R Donaldson)

Cine camera as well, the footage would be interesting to see.

Credits…

Rob Donaldson-State Library of New South Wales

Tailpiece…

Good to find a gentleman in the group.

Finito…