The Ford Cortina was a medium sized family car sold by Ford of Britain in various guises from 1962 to 1982.
The Cortina was Ford's mass-market midsize car and sold in enormous numbers, making it common on British roads. It was replaced in 1982 by the Ford Sierra. 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.
The Cortina was produced in five generations (Mark I through to Mark V— though 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. 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.
[] Mk I (1962-1966)
Cortina Mk I
1966 Ford Cortina Mk I in GT trim, with Lotus Cortina-like side stripe
Production: 1962-1966
933,143 units
Body style: 4-door saloon
2-door saloon
estate
Engine: 1.2 and 1.5 L Straight-4
Related: Lotus Cortina
Notable models were the Lotus Cortina and Cortina GT. Available with 1.2 L and 1.5 L engines in 2 and 4-door saloon and 4-door estate forms. 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 Mk 1. The Mk 1a possessed elliptical front side-lights, whereas the Mk 1b had a re-designed front grill incorporating the squarer side-lights. The dashboard, instruments and controls were also revised.
The engines used across the Mk 1 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 1498cc (1500) and produced 78bhp. This engine contained a different camshaft profile, a different cast of head featuring larger ports, tubular exhaust headers and a Weber double barrel carburettor.
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. 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 car soon reverted to the standard Cortina semi-elliptic rear end.
[] Mk II (1966–1970)
Cortina Mk II
1970 Ford Cortina Mk II
Also called: Hyundai Cortina (1968-1970)
Production: 1966-1970
1,159,389 units (UK)
Body style: 4-door saloon
2-door saloon
estate
Engine: 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 L Straight-4
Designer: Roy Haynes
Designed by Roy Haynes.
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.
The engines were at first carried over, but for 1967, they received a new crossflow cylinder head design, making them more efficient. 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.
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, a vinyl roof and plated Rostyle wheels featured outside.
For 1969, the Mk 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.
[] Mk III (1970–1976)
Cortina Mk III
1974 Ford Cortina Mk III
Also called: Hyundai Cortina
Production: 1970-1976
1,126,559 units
Body style: 4-door saloon
2-door saloon
estate
Engine: 1.3,1.6 and 2.0 L Straight-4
Wheelbase: 101 inches (2578 mm)
Length: 168 inches (4267 mm)
Width: 67 inches (1714 mm)
Height: 52 inches (1320 mm)
The Mk III Detroit-inspired "coke bottle" shaped Cortina was a hit amongst fleet buyers. It replaced both the Cortina Mk II and the larger, more expensive Ford Corsair by offering more trim levels and the option of larger engines than the Mk II.
Ford UK originally wanted to call it something other than Cortina, but the name stuck. Although the Mk III looked significantly larger than the boxier Mk 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. 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. 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 Mk III aped the Vauxhall Victor FD of 1967.
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.
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 woodgrain 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 U.S, although it was available in Canada until 1973.
[] Mk IV (1976–1979)
Cortina Mk IV
1978 Ford Cortina Mk IV
Also called: Hyundai Cortina
Production: 1976-1979
1,131,850 units (including Mk 5)
Body style: 4-door saloon
2-door saloon
estate
Engine: 1.3, 1.6, 2.0 L ' Straight-4
2.3 L V-6
Designer: Uwe Bahnsen
This Cortina had a conservative square-shaped style, this time imitating the Opel Rekord D, but this was largely appreciated by fleet buyers. Generally a rebody of the Mk III, as an integration of Ford's model range, this car was really a rebadged 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. The 2.3 litre Ford Cologne V6 engine was introduced in 1977 as an engine above the 2.0 litre Pinto engine, already a staple of the Ford Capri and Ford Granada ranges. The 2.3 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. There was a choice of base, L, GL, S (for Sport) and Ghia trims, again not universal to all engines and body styles. The dashboard was carried over intact from the last of the Mk III Cortinas while the estate used the rear body pressings of the previous 1970 release Taunus.
Throughout its production life, the Mk4 was the most popular new car in the United Kingdom.
[] Mk V (1979–1982)
Cortina Mk V
1982 Ford Cortina Mk V in the Crusader version
Also called: Hyundai Cortina
Production: 1979-1982
production - see Mk IV
Body style: 4-door saloon
2-door saloon
estate
Engine: 1.3, 1.6, 2.0 L ' Straight-4
2.3 L V-6
The Mk V was announced in September 1979. Officially it was known as 'Cortina 80', although the Mk V tag was given to it immediately on release, by the press, insiders and the general public.
A large update on the Mk IV, it was really a step between a facelift and a rebody. The Mk V differentiated itself from the Mk 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 taillights (on saloon models) and upgraded trim.
Variants included the regular Base, L, GL, GLS and Ghia variants, although various 'special editions' were announced, including Calypso, Carousel and Crusader, the Crusader being a high-volume version that saw the car towards the end of production.
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.
Up to and including 1981, the Cortina was the best selling car in Britain. Even during its final production year, 1982, the Cortina was still selling well despite competition from the front-wheel drive hatchback Vauxhall Cavalier. On the continent, the Taunus version was competing with more modern and practical designs like the Talbot Alpine, Peugeot 505 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 last Cortina rolled off the production line late in 1982, when it was succeeded by the much more radical Ford Sierra.
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