The Ford Cortina

[Richard1978]

Re: The Ford Cortina

I was thinking of the OFAH Cortina then the above Crayford convertible was mentioned. My brother really likes the final scene of that episode.

[sf1378]

Re: The Ford Cortina

My Dad had many, MK IV's, too many to mention.... my favourite he had as a kid was a second hand midnight blue estate with a vinyl blue interiour....Loved the space inside, you could practically go to sleep in the back with the seats down if you were in the boot area! It was his first car in years and the first car I got to sit in as he drove us around....Loved it.

[cheazypeaz]

Re: The Ford Cortina

Everyone added a door mounted mirror as wing mirrors was pretty much useless - I have done the same on my Morris. I could never get them quite right, and even when you did get them pointing in roughly the right direction they would wobble as you drove along.

I would like a 1600E Mk2 someday.

[escorteclipse1990]

Re: The Ford Cortina

I love the Cortina, such a great car. I wish Ford would bring it back. I have had a few in my time mk3s, 4s, and 5s. I think the mk3 Cortina is the better looking.

[themilkman]

Re: The Ford Cortina

I had a MK 3 (and later a MK 5) but tje mk3 was built like a bus...........I got T-boned at a junction (my fault), by two far modern cars and I drove off ok while the other two crumpled. No one was injured btw.

[goodbyetomaria]

Re: The Ford Cortina

In 1984, I had a red mk111 Cortina GT and it was gorgeous. I bought it for around £750. After leaving it parked in town one day, a bloke came up to me and asked if it was for sale. I can't remember what he offered but it was more than I paid for it. I told him I just couldn't let it go but thanks all the same.
Within two or three weeks it had almost fallen to pieces with rust and other problems and ended up doing less than 10 miles to the gallon, and I scrapped it for £25.

[Pussywillow]

Re: The Ford Cortina

My late Father had a pale grey Mk 1 cortina back in the 60's. Swear it had red seats.

My Father did nothing but moan about it. It did seem to break down a lot. I liked it though and was disappointed when he replaced it with a ghastly Renault 10. Ugly damn thing that was.

Funnily enough, I bought a Cortina Mk IV in the late 70's. Best car I had had up until then. Never broke down.

[Chris-T]

Re: The Ford Cortina

I had a red MK2 1600E in about 1989. It was 'good from a distance' but close up was getting a lot of rust bubbles, the interior was tatty, the engine was somehow struggling on and the steering box broke while reversing it out of the driveway!
Scrapped it eventually but would love another - preferably a series one 1600E or GT.

[zabadak]

Re: The Ford Cortina

My dad had Marks I, II & III as company cars.

[80sChav]

Re: The Ford Cortina

I can recall my Grandad owning one in about 1986 and he always maintained it was the worst car he ever had, had - but he needed o buy a car really quickly and so was bought "as seen" - surfice to say it didn't reside with him very long though as it was so terrible!

I have always liked Cortina's regardless but I think it'd be fair to say that Cortina's were Ford's poorest make. I think Escort's being better given their size etc too - making Cortina's b like Marmalade in a way sadly. My favourite version (if I had to pick was/would be the early to the middle of the 80s Box Shape version that resembled the up-market Granada of the era - which is where I guess Ford went wrong - trying to copy the Granada cheaply in a way with the Cortina I think/feel

80sChav

[Twocky61]

Re: The Ford Cortina

RS2000 for me though of course actually an Escort not a Cortina