| Ford Cortina | |
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| Manufacturer | Ford of Britain |
| Production | 1962-1982 |
| Predecessor | Ford Consul Classic |
| Successor | Ford Sierra Ford Orion |
The Ford Cortina is a mid sized family car sold by Ford of Britain in various guises from 1962 to 1982. The automotive industry is the industry involved in the design development manufacture marketing and sale of Motor vehicles In 2007 more than 73 million motor vehicles Ford Motor Company Limited was the manufacturing and sales arm of the Ford Motor Company for the United Kingdom and originally also Ireland The Ford Consul Classic or 'Consul 315' (as the export version was known was a mid-sized car built by Ford in the UK from 1961 to 1963 The Ford Sierra is a Large family car built by Ford Europe from 1982 until 1993 The Ford Orion was a saloon car built by the Automaker Ford for the European market from 22 July 1983 until 19 Ford Motor Company Limited was the manufacturing and sales arm of the Ford Motor Company for the United Kingdom and originally also Ireland
The Cortina was Ford's mass-market mid-sized car and sold in enormous numbers, making it common on British roads. It was replaced in 1982 by the Ford Sierra. The Ford Sierra is a Large family car built by Ford Europe from 1982 until 1993 In other markets, particularly Asia and Australasia, it was replaced by the Mazda 626-based Ford Telstar, though Ford New Zealand did import British-made CKD kits of the Ford Sierra estate for local assembly from 1984. Australasia is a Region of Oceania: New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and neighbouring Islands in the Pacific The Mazda 626 was an Automobile produced by Mazda for the export market The Ford Telstar was an Automobile sold by the Ford Motor Company in Asia, Australasia and Africa, comparable in size to the Ford New Zealand is the New Zealand subsidiary of Ford Motor Company. For other uses of the abbreviation see CKD Complete knock down (CKD, is a complete kit needed to assemble a vehicle
The Cortina was produced in five generations (Mark I through to Mark V, although officially the last one was called the Cortina 80) from 1962 until 1982. From 1970 onward, it was almost identical to the German-market Ford Taunus (being built on the same platform) which was originally a different car model. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Ford Taunus was a range of Family cars sold by Ford in Germany and other countries This was part of a Ford attempt to unify its European operations. By 1976, when the revised Taunus was launched, the Cortina was identical. In fact, this new Taunus / Cortina used the doors and some panels from the 1970 Taunus.
All variants of the Cortina sold over one million, with each successive model proving more popular than its predecessor. Such was its fame in the UK that the BBC Two documentary series Arena once devoted an edition to the car and its enthusiasts. Arena is a British Television documentary series made and broadcast by the BBC.
The model's name was inspired by the name of the Italian ski resort Cortina d'Ampezzo, site of the 1956 Winter Olympics. Cortina d'Ampezzo (Hayden is a town and municipality in the Province of Belluno, Veneto, northern Italy. As a publicity stunt, several Cortinas were driven down the bobsled run at the resort.
Ford Cortina Mark I (1962–1966)
| Cortina Mark I | |
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| Production | 1962-1966 933,143 units |
| Body style(s) | 2-door saloon 4-door saloon 5-door estate 2-door convertible (conversion) |
| Engine(s) | 1. Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only A station wagon (or simply wagon) in American, Australian, Canadian and New Zealand usage and an estate car (or just estate A convertible is a type of automobile in which the vehicle's roof can retract and fold away converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle 2L OHV "Kent" Straight-4 1. An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft The straight-4 or inline-4 engine (often abbreviated I4 or L4) is a four cylinder Internal combustion engine with all four cylinders 5L OHV "Kent" Straight-4 |
| Wheelbase | 98 in (2489 mm)[1] |
| Length | 168. An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft The straight-4 or inline-4 engine (often abbreviated I4 or L4) is a four cylinder Internal combustion engine with all four cylinders In both road and rail Vehicles the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels 25 in (4274 mm) (saloon) 168. 5 in (4280 mm) (estate) |
| Width | 62. 5 in (1588 mm) |
| Height | 56. 5 in (1435 mm) (saloon) 57. 75 in (1467 mm) (estate) |
| Curb weight | 1736 lb (787 kg) (De Luxe) 2072 lb (940 kg) (Estate) |
| Fuel capacity | 8 imp gal (36 L/10 US gal) |
| Related | Lotus Cortina |
As the 1960s dawned, BMC were revelling the success of their new Mini - the first successful postwar mini-car to be built in Britain. Curb weight is the total Weight of a Vehicle with standard equipment all necessary operating Consumables (e The Lotus-Cortina was a high-performance car, the result of collaboration between Ford and Lotus. The British Motor Corporation (BMC was a UK vehicle company formed by the merger of the Austin Motor Company and the Nuffield Organisation (parent The Mini is a small car that was produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC and its successors from 1959 until 2000 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Overheads at Ford felt that they could not develop a similar small car as the production cost would be too high, so instead they set about creating a larger family car which would sell in huge volumes. Ford Motor Company is an American Multinational corporation and the world's fourth largest automaker based on Worldwide vehicle sales, following The result was the Cortina, a distinctively-styled car aimed at buyers of the Morris Oxford and Vauxhall Victor, that was launched in September 1962. Morris Oxford is a series of motor car models by the Morris Motor Company of the United Kingdom, from the 1913 "Bullnose" Oxford The Vauxhall Victor is a medium/large model of automobile produced by Vauxhall Motors, the British subsidiary of General Motors from 1957 to 1976 It was briefly known as the Consul Cortina before simply being sold as the Cortina. [1]
Notable models were the Lotus Cortina and Cortina GT. The Lotus-Cortina was a high-performance car, the result of collaboration between Ford and Lotus. Available with 1. 2 L and 1. 5 L engines in 2 and 4-door saloon and 4-door estate forms. A station wagon (or simply wagon) in American, Australian, Canadian and New Zealand usage and an estate car (or just estate Standard, Deluxe, Super and GT trims were offered but not across all body styles. Estates offered the option of fake wood side and tailgate trim, aping American-style estates, for a short time. There were two main variants of the Mark 1. The Mark 1a possessed elliptical front side-lights, whereas the Mark 1b had a re-designed front grill incorporating the squarer side-lights. Advertising of the revised version, which appeared in late 1964, made much of the newly introduced "Aeroflow" through-flow ventilation, evident by the extractor vents on the rear pillars. The dashboard, instruments and controls were also revised.
The engines used across the Mark I range were of identical design, differing only in capacity and setup. The formula used was a 4-cylinder pushrod (Over Head Valve) design that came to be known as the "pre-crossflow" version as both inlet and exhaust ports were located on the same side of the head. The most powerful version of this engine (used in the GT Cortina) was 1498 cc (1500) and produced 78 bhp (58 kW). This engine contained a different camshaft profile, a different cast of head featuring larger ports, tubular exhaust headers and a Weber double barrel carburettor. The camshaft is an apparatus often used in Piston engines to operate Poppet valves It consists of a cylindrical rod running the length of the Cylinder bank A carburetor (North American spelling or carburettor ( Commonwealth spelling) is a device that blends air and Fuel for an Internal
Lotus Cortina models were solely offered as 2-door saloons all in white with a contrasting green side flash down each flank. Lotus Cortinas had a unique 1. 6 L twin cam engine by Lotus, but based on the Cortina's Kent OHV engine. Lotus Cars is a British manufacturer of sports and racing cars based at Hethel, Norfolk, England. The Ford Kent is an Internal combustion engine from Ford of Europe. An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft Aluminium was used for some body panels. For a certain time, it also had a unique A-frame rear suspension, but this proved fragile and the model soon reverted to the standard Cortina semi-elliptic rear end.
Ford Cortina Mark II (1966–1970)
| Cortina Mark II | |
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| Production | 1966-1970 1,159,389 units (UK) |
| Body style(s) | 2-door saloon 4-door saloon 5-door estate 2-door convertible (conversion) |
| Engine(s) | 1. Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only A station wagon (or simply wagon) in American, Australian, Canadian and New Zealand usage and an estate car (or just estate A convertible is a type of automobile in which the vehicle's roof can retract and fold away converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle 2L OHV "Kent" Straight-4 1. An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft The straight-4 or inline-4 engine (often abbreviated I4 or L4) is a four cylinder Internal combustion engine with all four cylinders 3L OHV "Kent" Straight-4 1. An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft The straight-4 or inline-4 engine (often abbreviated I4 or L4) is a four cylinder Internal combustion engine with all four cylinders 5L OHV "Kent" Straight-4 1. An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft The straight-4 or inline-4 engine (often abbreviated I4 or L4) is a four cylinder Internal combustion engine with all four cylinders 6L OHV "Kent" Straight-4 3. An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft The straight-4 or inline-4 engine (often abbreviated I4 or L4) is a four cylinder Internal combustion engine with all four cylinders 0L OHV "Essex" V6 (Savage conversion) |
| Wheelbase | 98 in (2489 mm)[1] |
| Length | 168 in (4267 mm) (saloon) |
| Width | 64. An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of three cylinders In both road and rail Vehicles the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels 9 in (1648 mm) |
| Height | 55. 7 in (1415 mm) |
| Curb weight | 1890 lb (857 kg) (De Luxe) 2032 lb (922 kg) (1600E) |
| Fuel capacity | 10. Curb weight is the total Weight of a Vehicle with standard equipment all necessary operating Consumables (e 0 imp gal (45 L/12 US gal) |
| Designer | Roy Haynes |
The second incarnation of the Cortina was designed by Roy Haynes, and released in 1966, four years after the original Cortina. Roy Haynes was a British automobile designer Haynes worked for Ford where he was responsible for the design of the 1966 Cortina MkII. Roy Haynes was a British automobile designer Haynes worked for Ford where he was responsible for the design of the 1966 Cortina MkII.
Again, a Lotus version was produced (this time done in-house at Ford) but the most admired was the 1600E that came out in late 1967. Lotus Cars is a British manufacturer of sports and racing cars based at Hethel, Norfolk, England.
The engines were at first carried over, but for 1967, they received a new crossflow cylinder head design, making them more efficient. A crossflow cylinder head is a Cylinder head that features the intake and exhaust ports on opposite sides At this time, they became 1. 3 L and 1. 6 L in size, with the Lotus Cortina continuing with its own unique engine. A stripped out 1. 2 L version running the engine of the Ford Anglia Super was also available for some tax conscious markets. The Ford Anglia was a British car from Ford in the UK. It was related to the Ford Prefect and the later Ford Popular.
The Cortina was Britain's most popular new car in 1967, achieving the goal that Ford had been trying to achieve since it set out to create the original Cortina back in 1960.
Again, 2- and 4-door saloons and a 4-door estate were offered with base, Deluxe, Super, GT and later 1600E trims available, but again, not across all body styles and engine options.
The 1600E combined the lowered Lotus Cortina's suspension with the high tune GT 1600 Kent engine and luxury trim featuring a Burr Walnut woodgrain-trimmed dashboard and door cappings, bucket seating, sports steering wheel and full instrumentation inside, while a black grille, tail panel, front fog lights and plated Rostyle wheels featured outside. Rostyle wheels are a notable design of wheels for cars made by the British firm of Rubery Owen, a diversified industrial company which made many car parts
For 1969, the Mark II range was given subtle revisions, with separate "FORD" block letters mounted on the bonnet and boot lids, a blacked out grille and chrome strips on top and below the taillights running the full width of the tail panel marking them out.
V-6-engined variant, featuring Essex 3. A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of three cylinders 0, appeared both in Great Britain (called Cortina Savage) and South Africa (Cortina Perana). Savage was available with 1600E trim in all three body styles, while her African stablemate was offered only as 4-door saloon with GT trim.
Ford Cortina Mark III (1970–1976)
| Cortina Mark III | |
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| Production | 1970-1976 1,126,559 units |
| Body style(s) | 2-door saloon 4-door saloon 5-door estate 2-door convertible (conversion) 2-door pickup (P100) |
| Engine(s) | 1. Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only A station wagon (or simply wagon) in American, Australian, Canadian and New Zealand usage and an estate car (or just estate A convertible is a type of automobile in which the vehicle's roof can retract and fold away converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle 3L OHV "Kent" Straight-4 1. An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft The straight-4 or inline-4 engine (often abbreviated I4 or L4) is a four cylinder Internal combustion engine with all four cylinders 6L OHV "Kent" Straight-4 1. An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft The straight-4 or inline-4 engine (often abbreviated I4 or L4) is a four cylinder Internal combustion engine with all four cylinders 6L OHC "Pinto" Straight-4 2. Overhead camshaft, commonly abbreviated to OHC, Valvetrain configurations place the engine Camshaft within the Cylinder heads above the The straight-4 or inline-4 engine (often abbreviated I4 or L4) is a four cylinder Internal combustion engine with all four cylinders 0L OHC "Pinto" Straight-4 2. Overhead camshaft, commonly abbreviated to OHC, Valvetrain configurations place the engine Camshaft within the Cylinder heads above the The straight-4 or inline-4 engine (often abbreviated I4 or L4) is a four cylinder Internal combustion engine with all four cylinders 5L OHV "Essex" V6 (South Africa) 3. An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of three cylinders The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa 3L OHV Straight-6 (Australia) 4. An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft The straight-6 or inline-6 engine (often abbreviated I6 or L6) is a six cylinder Internal combustion engine with all six cylinders For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. 1L OHV Straight-6 (Australia) |
| Wheelbase | 101 inches (2578 mm) |
| Length | 168 inches (4267 mm) |
| Width | 67 inches (1714 mm) |
| Height | 52 inches (1320 mm) |
In the late 1960s, Ford set about developing a third generation Cortina, which would be produced in higher volumes than before. An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft The straight-6 or inline-6 engine (often abbreviated I6 or L6) is a six cylinder Internal combustion engine with all six cylinders For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. In both road and rail Vehicles the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels
The Mark III Detroit-inspired "coke bottle" shaped Cortina was a hit amongst fleet buyers. It replaced both the Cortina Mark II and the larger, more expensive Ford Corsair by offering more trim levels and the option of larger engines than the Mark II. The Ford Corsair, manufactured by Ford Motor Company in the United Kingdom, was a Midsize car available as either a saloon or estate
The MacPherson strut front suspension was replaced with more conventional double A-arm suspension to give the car a soft 'freeway' ride. The MacPherson strut is a type of car suspension system widely used in modern vehicles named after Earl S The larger engines induced distinct understeer.
Ford UK originally wanted to call it something other than Cortina, but the name stuck. Although the Mark III looked significantly larger than the boxier Mark II, it was actually the same overall length, but 4 inches (100 mm) wider.
Trim levels were now Base, L (for Luxury), XL (Xtra Luxury), GT (Grand Touring) and GXL (Grand Xtra Luxury). 1. 3 L, 1. 6 L and 2. 0 L engines were offered, the 1. 6 L having two distinct types - the Kent unit for models up to GT trim and a SOHC Pinto unit for the GT and GXL, the latter of which was also offered in 1600 form for a short while. The Ford Kent is an Internal combustion engine from Ford of Europe. Overhead camshaft, commonly abbreviated to OHC, Valvetrain configurations place the engine Camshaft within the Cylinder heads above the The Ford Pinto engine is the unofficial but generic nickname for a 4 cylinder Internal combustion engine built by the Ford Europe. 2. 0 L variants used a larger version of the 1600 Pinto unit and were available in all trim levels except base.
Four headlights and Rostyle wheels marked out the GT and GXL versions, while the GXL also had bodyside rubstrips, a vinyl roof and a brushed metal and black tail panel on the GXL and plain black one on the GT. Rostyle wheels are a notable design of wheels for cars made by the British firm of Rubery Owen, a diversified industrial company which made many car parts All models featured a downward sloping dashboard with deeply recessed dials and all coil suspension all round. In general styling and technical make up, many observed that the Mark III aped the Vauxhall Victor FD of 1967. The Vauxhall Victor is a medium/large model of automobile produced by Vauxhall Motors, the British subsidiary of General Motors from 1957 to 1976
In late 1973, the car received a facelift. Outside, there were revised grilles, rectangular headlights for the XL, GT and the new 2000E which replaced the GXL. The 1. 3 L Kent engine was carried over but now, 1. 6 L models all used the more modern 1. 6 L SOHC engine. The Ford Pinto engine is the unofficial but generic nickname for a 4 cylinder Internal combustion engine built by the Ford Europe.
Inside, the car received a neater dashboard that no longer sloped away from the driver's line of sight and upgraded trim. The 2000E reverted to the classy treatment offered by the 1600E instead of the faux wood-grain trim offered by the GXL.
From 1972, the third generation Cortina was the most popular new car in Britain. The Mark III was never sold in the US, although it was available in Canada until 1973. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page
The Mark III was available in South Africa as the XLE with the Essex V6 3. 0L engine. There was also a pickup truck version available. A pickup truck is a light Motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area which is almost always separated from the cab to allow for chassis flex when carrying or pulling
They were also sold in Australia, known as the TC, which were initially available with the 1300, 1600, 2000 SOHC four cylinders. Later, in 1973 Ford stopped the 1300 and 1600, and replaced them with the 200ci and 250ci in-line six cylinder engine, lifted straight out of the Australian Ford Falcon range. Early TD Cortinas, up until 1975 used these same engines. In 1975, these engines featured a revised crossflow cylinder head, keeping in line with the falcon.
For Japan, the cars were literally squashed by a few millimetres at each end on arrival in the country in order that they fit into a lower tax bracket.
Ford Cortina Mark IV (1976–1979)
| Cortina Mark IV | |
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| Production | 1976-1979 1,131,850 units (including Mark 5) |
| Body style(s) | 2-door saloon 4-door saloon 5-door estate 2-door convertible (conversion) 2-door pickup (P100) |
| Engine(s) | 1. Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only A station wagon (or simply wagon) in American, Australian, Canadian and New Zealand usage and an estate car (or just estate A convertible is a type of automobile in which the vehicle's roof can retract and fold away converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle 3L OHV "Kent" Straight-4 1. An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft The straight-4 or inline-4 engine (often abbreviated I4 or L4) is a four cylinder Internal combustion engine with all four cylinders 6L OHC "Pinto" Straight-4 2. Overhead camshaft, commonly abbreviated to OHC, Valvetrain configurations place the engine Camshaft within the Cylinder heads above the The straight-4 or inline-4 engine (often abbreviated I4 or L4) is a four cylinder Internal combustion engine with all four cylinders 0L OHC "Pinto" Straight-4 2. Overhead camshaft, commonly abbreviated to OHC, Valvetrain configurations place the engine Camshaft within the Cylinder heads above the The straight-4 or inline-4 engine (often abbreviated I4 or L4) is a four cylinder Internal combustion engine with all four cylinders 3L OHV "Cologne" V6 3. An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of three cylinders 0L OHV "Essex" V6 (South Africa) 3. An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of three cylinders The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa 3L OHV Straight-6 (Australia) 4. An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft The straight-6 or inline-6 engine (often abbreviated I6 or L6) is a six cylinder Internal combustion engine with all six cylinders For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. 1L OHV Straight-6 (Australia) |
| Designer | Uwe Bahnsen |
The fourth generation Cortina was a more conventional design than its predecessor, but this was largely appreciated by fleet buyers. An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft The straight-6 or inline-6 engine (often abbreviated I6 or L6) is a six cylinder Internal combustion engine with all six cylinders For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Generally a re-body of the Mark III, as an integration of Ford's model range, this car was really a re-badged Ford Taunus. Many parts were carried over, most notably the running gear, and even the dashboard design.
This series spawned the first Ghia top-of-the-range model, which replaced the 2000E. Carrozzeria Ghia SpA (established 1915 in Turin) is one of the most famous Italian Automobile design and coachbuilding firms established The 2. 3 L Ford Cologne V6 engine was introduced in 1977 as an engine above the 2. The original Ford Cologne V6, also known as the Ford Taunus V6, 640L was a 60° Cast iron block V6 engine built by the Ford Motor Company 0 L Pinto engine, already a staple of the Capri and Granada ranges. The 2. 3 L was available to the GL, S and Ghia variants.
2 and 4-door saloons and a 5-door estate were offered with all other engines being carried over. A station wagon (or simply wagon) in American, Australian, Canadian and New Zealand usage and an estate car (or just estate There was a choice of base, L, GL, S (for Sport) and Ghia trims, again not universal to all engines and body styles. Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only The dashboard was carried over intact from the last of the Mark III Cortinas while the estate used the rear body pressings of the previous 1970 release Taunus.
Throughout its production life, the Mark IV was the most popular new car in the United Kingdom. Despite this, it is now the rarest of all Cortinas. Scant rustproofing (much improved on the later "Cortina 80" models) and popularity with banger racers accelerated its demise.
The Mark IV was also sold in Australia, badged as the TE Cortina. It had trim levels L, GL and Ghia, With a few other short run variants, such as th 'S' pack. The TE featured the 2000 CC motor, as used in earlier models, and also the 200ci (3. 3 Litre) and 250ci (4. 1 Litre) OHV sixes with the crossflow cylinder head.
Ford Cortina Mark V (1979–1982)
| Cortina Mark V | |
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| Production | 1979-1982 production — see Mark IV |
| Body style(s) | 2-door saloon 4-door saloon 5-door estate 2-door convertible (conversion) 2-door pickup (P100) |
| Engine(s) | 1. Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only A station wagon (or simply wagon) in American, Australian, Canadian and New Zealand usage and an estate car (or just estate A convertible is a type of automobile in which the vehicle's roof can retract and fold away converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle 3L OHV "Kent" Straight-4 1. An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft The straight-4 or inline-4 engine (often abbreviated I4 or L4) is a four cylinder Internal combustion engine with all four cylinders 6L OHC "Pinto" Straight-4 2. Overhead camshaft, commonly abbreviated to OHC, Valvetrain configurations place the engine Camshaft within the Cylinder heads above the The straight-4 or inline-4 engine (often abbreviated I4 or L4) is a four cylinder Internal combustion engine with all four cylinders 0L OHC "Pinto" Straight-4 2. Overhead camshaft, commonly abbreviated to OHC, Valvetrain configurations place the engine Camshaft within the Cylinder heads above the The straight-4 or inline-4 engine (often abbreviated I4 or L4) is a four cylinder Internal combustion engine with all four cylinders 3L OHV "Cologne" V6 3. An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of three cylinders 0L OHV "Essex" V6 (South Africa) 3. An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of three cylinders The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa 3L OHV Straight-6 (Australia) 4. An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft The straight-6 or inline-6 engine (often abbreviated I6 or L6) is a six cylinder Internal combustion engine with all six cylinders For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. 1L OHV Straight-6 (Australia) |
The Mark V was announced in September 1979. An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft The straight-6 or inline-6 engine (often abbreviated I6 or L6) is a six cylinder Internal combustion engine with all six cylinders For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Officially it was known as "Cortina 80", although the Mark V tag was given to it immediately on release, by the press, insiders and the general public.
A large update on the Mark IV, it was really a step between a facelift and a re-body. The Mark V differentiated itself from the Mark IV by having revised headlights with larger turn indicators incorporated (which now showed to the side too), a wider slatted grille said to be more aerodynamically efficient, a flattened roof, more glass area, slimmer C-pillars with revised vent covers, larger, slatted tail lights (on saloon models) and upgraded trim.
By contrast, the estate models combined the Mk4's bodyshell (which was initially from the 1970 Ford Taunus) with Mk5 front body pressings.
Variants included the regular Base, L, GL, GLS and Ghia variants (all available in both saloon and estate forms), although various "special editions" were announced, including the Calypso and Carousel. The final production model was the Crusader special edition (although sold in high numbers) which was available as a 1. 3, 1. 6 and 2. 0 saloons or 1. 6 and 2. 0 estates. By this time, the Cortina was starting to feel the competition from a rejuvenated (and Opel influenced) Vauxhall, which with the 1981 release Cavalier J-Car, was starting to make inroads on the Cortina's traditional fleet market, largely helped by the front wheel drive benefits, of weight and grip. Vauxhall Motors is a British automobile company It is a subsidiary of General Motors Corporation (GM and is part of GM Europe. The Vauxhall Cavalier is a Large family car sold primarily in the UK by Vauxhall Motors, the British subsidiary of General Motors (GM
Up to and including 1981, the Cortina was the best selling car in Britain. Even during its final production year, 1982, the Cortina was Britain's second best selling car and most popular large family car. On the continent, the Taunus version was competing with more modern and practical designs like the Talbot Alpine, Volkswagen Passat and Renault 18, but the brand image of Ford's blue oval ensured the Cortina was a success in virtually every country where it was sold. The Simca 1307 was the name under which Chrysler Europe launched its new Large family car in 1975 The Volkswagen Passat is a Family car built by Volkswagen through six design generations since 1973 The Renault 18 is a Large family car produced by French manufacturer Renault between 1978 and 1993 (with production for European markets finishing in 1986
The very last Cortina – a silver Crusader – rolled off the Dagenham production line in July 1982 on the launch of the ultramodern Sierra, though there were still a few leaving the forecourt as late as 1987, with one final unregistered Cortina GL leaving a Derbyshire dealership in 2005. The Ford Sierra is a Large family car built by Ford Europe from 1982 until 1993
1982 was also the year in which the Cortina lost its title as Britain's best selling car, having held that position every year since 1972. It was still selling well though, and the number one position had been taken by another Ford product: the Escort. The Ford Escort is a Small family car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company from 1967 to 2003
The Mark V/ Cortina 80 was known as the TF in Australia, and featured the same trim levels and motor options as the TE.
Sales success
The Ford Cortina was a very popular car in Britain throughout its lifespan. In 1967, it interrupted the Austin/Morris 1100/1300s reign as Britain's best selling car. From 1972 to 1981, the Cortina enjoyed an unbroken run as Britain best selling car every year. Its key rivals in the 1960s were the Morris Oxford and Austin/Morris 1800, during the 1970s it was competing with the Vauxhall Cavalier, Austin Maxi and Morris Marina. At the end of its life it was facing stiff competition from the more advanced and practical second generation Vauxhall Cavalier, but was still more popular.
The final incarnation of the Cortina was Britain's best selling car for the 1980 and 1981 calendar years, and combined with Mark IV sales the Cortina also topped the sales charts for 1979. Even in 1982, when during its final year of production it was pushed off the top of the charts by the Ford Escort, the Cortina was still hugely popular with buyers. The Ford Escort is a Small family car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company from 1967 to 2003
The Cortina was also a very popular selling car in New Zealand throughout its production and continued to be sold new until 1984.
Although the last Cortina rolled off the production line in 1982, thousands of them remained in stock (with more than 11,000 being sold in 1983), and the final six examples didn't find homes until 1987.
As recently as the early 1990s, Cortinas were still a common sight on British roads, and in May 1992 The Times newspaper revealed that the Mark IV / Mark V models were still among the 10 most common cars on Britain's roads. The Times is a daily national Newspaper published in the United Kingdom since 1785 when it was known as The Daily Universal Register.
By 2000, however, the vast majority of them had headed for the scrap yard. In August 2006, following a survey by Auto Express, it was identified as the second most scrapped car to be sold in Britain since 1976. Auto Express is a weekly motoring Magazine sold in the United Kingdom, with features including news road tests first drives readers' letters product Of the 1,065,682 Mark IV and Mark V Cortinas registered in the UK, just 2,010 were still in working order — fewer than one in 500. It was second only to the Morris Marina, which had ceased production two years before the Cortina and fared even worse with less than one in 1000 still registered. The Morris Marina was a car manufactured by the Morris division of British Leyland throughout the 1970s a period of great turbulence and difficulty for the British
Racing and rallying
The Cortina also raced in rallies and Lotus did some sportier editions of the Cortina Mark I and Mark II referred to as the Lotus Cortina. Rallying is a form of motor competition that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars Lotus Cars is a British manufacturer of sports and racing cars based at Hethel, Norfolk, England. The Lotus-Cortina was a high-performance car, the result of collaboration between Ford and Lotus.
This car is, today, used for racing, because of its powerful cast iron engine. The car can have imported cylinder heads, with hydraulic valves, which give an enormous power boost.
Other cars using Cortina engines
The Kent engines used in the Cortina, being lightweight, reliable and inexpensive, were popular with several low-volume sports car manufacturers, including Morgan who used them in the 1962–81 4/4 (and continue to use Ford engines in most of their current models). The Morgan Motor Company is a British motor car manufacturer The company was founded in 1909 by H The engines are also found in a number of British kit cars, and until recently was the basis of Formula Ford racing, until replaced by the "Zetec" engine.
The Kent engines were also used in several smaller Fords, most notably the Escort, lower end Capris and Fiesta. Over the years the name 'Ford Escort' has been used for several models Ford Capri was a name used by the Ford Motor Company for three separate Automobile models The Ford Consul Capri coupe produced by Ford of Great The Ford Fiesta is a Supermini car designed by Ford Europe, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company
Non-United Kingdom sales and manufacture
The Cortina was also sold in other right hand drive markets such as the Republic of Ireland where it was assembled locally, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Malta and South Africa. Right-hand traffic and left-hand traffic mean regulations requiring all traffic to keep either to the left or the right side of the Road. Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and Singapore The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj Malta, officially the Republic of Malta (Repubblika ta' Malta is a European Microstate, comprising an Archipelago of three islands The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Mark III Cortina estates were adopted as police cars in Hong Kong. Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders The Cortina was also assembled in left hand drive in the Philippines, in South Korea (by Hyundai) and in Taiwan (by Ford Lio Ho) until the early 1980s. Right-hand traffic and left-hand traffic mean regulations requiring all traffic to keep either to the left or the right side of the Road. The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː The Hyundai Motor Company, a division of the Hyundai Kia Automotive Group, is South Korea ’s largest and the world’s fifth largest automaker in terms of units Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. Ford Lio Ho (福特六和 is an Automaker based in Taiwan. It is 70% owned by Dearborn Michigan -based Ford Motor Company.
The first two generations of the car were also sold through American Ford dealers in the 1960s. The Cortina competed fairly successfully there against most of the other small imports of its day, including GM's Opel Kadett, the Renault Dauphine, and the just-appearing Toyotas and Datsuns, although none of them approached the phenomenal success of the Volkswagen Beetle. General Motors Corporation ( GM) ( is a multinational automobile manufacturer founded in 1908 and headquartered in the United States. The Opel Kadett is a Small family car produced by the German automaker Opel between 1937 and 1940 then from 1962 to 1992 The Renault Dauphine is an Automobile produced by French manufacturer Renault from 1956 to 1967 (pronounced) is a Multinational corporation headquartered in Japan, and is currently the world's largest Automaker. Datsun was an automobile Marque. There never was an actual "Datsun" company as the brand name was used in production only by DAT Motors and its successor The Volkswagen Beetle, officially known as the type 1 and originally called ‘Käfer’ is an Economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen The Cortina was withdrawn from the US market when Ford decided to produce a domestic small car in 1971, the Ford Pinto, though it continued in Canada until the end of the 1973 model year. The Ford Pinto was a subcompact manufactured by the Ford Motor Company for the North American market first introduced on September 11, 1970
The third generation Cortina was also sold in some continental European markets, such as Scandinavia, alongside the Taunus. Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the Continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European Terminology and usage As a cultural term "Scandinavia" has no official definition and is subject to usage by those who identify with the culture in question as well A small number were exported to Japan, with the rear of the bodyshell compressed to make it narrower — this was because cars in Japan were taxed on width, and having a narrower body enabled the Cortina to avoid being heavily taxed. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics.
Australia
In Australia, the Mark I Ford Cortinas sold well, helped by some outstanding successes on the racetrack. The most notable performances were in the Armstrong 500 races at the Mount Panorama circuit, Bathurst, New South Wales where the Cortina GT was first across the line in 1963 and 1964 and the locally developed GT500 took the flag in 1965. The Bathurst 1000 (currently officially known as the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000) is a touring car race held annually at Mount Panorama Circuit
The Mark IIs continued the sales success, being offered in five different models - the 220, 240, 440, GT, and the rare "L" luxury model which featured solid wood panelling on the dashboard and doors.
After the Mark IIs, Cortinas in Australia had a two-letter code beginning with 'T' (with a wagon being introduced to the local range). Hence, the Mark III was the TC, with a mid-life revised model called the TD. The Mark IV was the TE and the Mark V the TF. Models for the TC and TD were L, XL, XLE and for the TE and TF were L, GL, Ghia, with sport options GS Rally Pack (TE) and S-Pack (TF).
While the first two generations were similar to the British models, Ford Australia began fitting the 200 and 250 in³ six-cylinder engines as available in the Ford Falcon to the TC onwards in addition to the four-cylinder engines. The Ford Falcon is a Full-size car which has been manufactured by Ford Australia since 1960 The last of the TD, TE and TF models were fitted with the cross-flow head versions of these engines, referred to as 3. 3 L and 4. 1 L.
To hold the larger engines, the chassis had reinforced side rails and centre pillar, and a tubular crossmember support under the transmission. A chassis (plural "chassis" (ˈʃæːsiː ˈtʃæːsiː consists of a framework that supports an inanimate object analogous to an Animal 's A crossmember is a section of steel usually boxed that is bolted across the frame of a vehicle to support the Engine and/or transmission. In addition, the firewall panels were shaped to accommodate the longer engines and wider bell housing, and were manufactured from thicker metal. The bell housing is part of the transmission system on a Gasoline (also known as Petrol) or Diesel powered Vehicle. This change was spread across the Cortina range so that the four cylinder models benefited too. But this was not enough to prevent the additional front mass of the larger engines causing roll steer, resulting in relatively unsophisticated handling by today's standards, especially on rough roads. Braking was also an issue under harsh conditions.
The TC six cylinder model had twin headlights which distinguished it from the four cylinder. The TD was identified by rectangular headlights. Both the TC and TD six cylinder models were immediately recognised over the four cylinder versions by the raised 'power bulge' (to clear the air cleaner) in the centre of the bonnet. Basic transmission for the six-cylinder model was originally a slick-shifting three-speed manual floor shift with a four-speed Borg-Warner transmission available, taken straight from the Falcon GT. Also available was a Borg-Warner three-speed automatic across all models.
In 1973 to 1974, Ford Australia proposed a three-door coupé version of the Cortina, in order to compete with the upcoming Holden Torana hatchback. The Holden Torana was a car produced by General Motors - Holden (GM-H the Australian subsidiary of General Motors. It would also be a local Capri replacement. This car would have used the Pinto tailgate and other parts from around the world (such as the longer 2-door Cortina doors). However, Ford rejected the idea, as a unique model, particularly a small coupé for Australia could not be justified on cost grounds.
Also on cost grounds, there was a proposal in 1975 by Ford Australia to simply facelift the TD (Mark III) series Cortina for 1977, rather than introduce the Mark IV. Ford Australia is the Australian subsidiary of Ford Motor Company and was founded in Geelong, Victoria in 1925 as an outpost of Ford Motor Company of A prototype facelift was made, however Ford instead went with a re-engineered Mark IV (TE, née the German Ford Taunus).
The TE Cortina was released in 1977, and the TF in 1980. Apart from specifications, the Australian TE and TF had minor exterior differences to the Cortina models sold elsewhere. Bumpers were the most noticeable differences (larger steel bumpers for the TE, rubber RIM moulded for the TF), while the TE had additional indicators in the front wings. Another example was that the TF's front numberplate was mounted below the front bumper, further distinguishing it from its European Mark V counterparts. The whole TE and TF range had a higher centre pressing in the bonnet to accommodate the six cylinder engines air cleaner. This change is not obvious unless you have the two different bonnets side by side.
In the late 1970s, the Cortina wagons were built in Renault's local Heidelberg factory in Melbourne, (now closed), as Ford Australia's own factories did not have the capacity. This is about the company for other uses see Renault (disambiguation. For the last year of Australian Cortina production, 1981, a Ghia wagon was produced, although this was also listed in the September 1980 factory brochure.
Despite the TF Cortina introducing worthwhile improvements in ride, handling, noise reduction and fuel consumption, the Cortina generally was seen by the motoring press as outdated, and buyers generally preferred the rival products — in marked contrast to New Zealand where the Cortina was a highly regarded success. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island
Ford Australia, however, found enough customers to last to the end of the model's life. In 1982 it was replaced initially by the smaller Ford Meteor (a rebadged Mazda 323 sedan) and then the Ford Telstar saloon / hatchback range in 1983. Dating from 1981 Ford Meteor was the name given to the sedan version of the Ford Laser in some markets including Australia and South Africa The Mazda Familia is a long-running nameplate used by Mazda for their Small family cars manufactured between 1964 and 2003 with 10589052 sold worldwide The Ford Telstar was an Automobile sold by the Ford Motor Company in Asia, Australasia and Africa, comparable in size to the
New Zealand
The New Zealand Cortina range generally followed that of Britain. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Overall CKD assembly ran from 1962 to 1983, at Ford's Lower Hutt (Seaview) plant. For other uses of the abbreviation see CKD Complete knock down (CKD, is a complete kit needed to assemble a vehicle Lower Hutt (Awakairangi is a City in the Wellington region of New Zealand.
The Mark IV Cortina range, introduced into local assembly early in 1977, was very similar to that offered in the UK - a main specification difference however was the use of metric instrumentation, and that a 2-door sedan was not offered. Engine sizes of 1. 6 and 2. 0 litres were available. The 2. 0 L was a very popular fleet vehicle and the transport of thousands of sales reps in New Zealand over the years.
Additionally there were limited imports of Australian Mark IV Cortinas, equipped with both 2. 0 four-cylinder engines – with more emissions control equipment than the UK-sourced cars – and the Falcon's 4. 1 L six-cylinder engines.
The Mark V range was introduced early in 1980, a range that featured 1. 6 base, 2. 0 L, 2. 0 GL, 2. 0 Ghia, 2. 3 V6 Ghia, and wagon variants for the 1. 6 base and 2. 0 L. A 2. 0 S was introduced in 1982, and unlike in the UK, it was a model in its own right. A "van" was also introduced — essentially a Cortina estate without rear seats, aimed towards fleet buyers.
All 2. 0 litre models had the option of automatic transmission, and with the 2. 3 V6, it was the only transmission offered. A unique option, offered under guarantee by a dealership, South Auckland Ford, was a turbocharger. A turbocharger, or turbo, is an air Compressor used for forced-induction of an Internal combustion engine.
The Ghia models were reasonably equipped, complete with wood trim; the 2. 3 V6 models featured imported Ford alloy wheels. Ford "Rostyle" steel rims were fitted to all 2. 0 GL, Ghia and S models, optionally on the other models. New Zealand Ghia models however did not feature a steel sliding sunroof (fitted as standard on UK Ghia models), although some models did feature an aftermarket sunroof.
Unlike Australia, the Cortina was always a popular car in New Zealand, and was missed by many when it ceased production in mid-1983, notably after Ford New Zealand had scoured the globe for surplus assembly kits, a number of which came from Cork in Ireland. Ford New Zealand is the New Zealand subsidiary of Ford Motor Company. Cork (Corcaigh is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland 's third most populous city after Dublin and Belfast Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. Wagons remained available until 1984. The Cortina range was finally replaced by the 1983 Ford Telstar range and the 1984 Ford Sierra wagon. The Ford Telstar was an Automobile sold by the Ford Motor Company in Asia, Australasia and Africa, comparable in size to the The Ford Sierra is a Large family car built by Ford Europe from 1982 until 1993
South Africa
In South Africa, the Cortina range included V6 "Essex"-engined variants, in both 2. A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of three cylinders 5L and 3. 0L forms. From 1971, a locally designed pick-up truck version (known in South African English as a "bakkie") was also offered, and this remained in production after the Cortina was replaced by the Sierra. South African English ( SAE, en-ZA) is a Dialect of English spoken in South Africa and in neighbouring countries with a large number
The Cortina pickup was exported to the UK, in a lengthened wheelbase form, as the P100 until 1988, when Ford divested from South Africa, and a pick-up truck version of the Sierra was introduced.
References
External links
- Cortina Owners Club Of Ireland Website
- Cortina Mk4 & 5 model information, dimensions, technical specifications
- Ford Cortina Information Page.
- A Cortina enthusiast page
- Cortina MK 1 page
- Mark III GT 1971
- Ford Cortina Australia | Cortina Crazy Car Club
- Online resource for the MK4 and MK5 Cortina
- Australian Ford Cortina TC-TF photographs and videos
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