Ford Cortina - Mk's IV and V

The Mark V was largely an update of the Mark IV, it was really a step between a facelift and a rebody. The styling upgrades were done primarily to bring the Cortina into line with Ford's current design language seen on the Fiesta MkI, Capri MkIII and the forthcoming Escort MkIII.

[@RoadCone411]

As a young kid in the 1970s, it would have seemed impossible to consider a time when Cortinas were not everywhere... they were on just about every street corner in Britain, especially the Mark IVs and Vs that I remember the best. If your family didn't have one, then you probably knew somebody who did. I recall my friend's mum had a blue 1980 or 81 estate for many years; she took us many places in that car (thank you!) Even to my young eyes, the Mark V was simply a warmly-executed makeover of the previous generation, somehow making the square and stern Mk IV look a little more rounded and a little more modern, even though it was basically the same exact car. Then along came the Sierra, which I happened to like at the time but it was clearly not a popular replacement for the best rep-mobile of the day. Here we sit, some 40+ years after the curvy Mk III gave way to the straight, no-nonsense Mk IV, and we lament the fact that you could drive around Britain all summer and not see a single roadworthy Cortina from any era, short of going to a car show. Indeed, you are more likely to see a Mk I or Mk II than you are a Mk IV. The later cars were bought by the tens of thousands and dominated British roads for the better part of two decades. (I used to play a game, how many Cortinas could I count in the service area car parks along the motorway. I make no excuses, I was an only child!) Just about all of them are gone now, long gone in some cases. We can only take a moment and remember that the cars of our youth are a rare sight now, or a few clicks away on KZbin, and that's how it will be for the kids of today and the fossil fuel cars that currently occupy our roads and car parks.

[@chrisaskin6144]

Many years ago - way back in 1979 in fact, I was serving in the RAF in Germany. And a 'perk' of serving overseas was the ability to buy a brand new car tax free. Having had a succession of Mk II Cortinas (all bangers), I took the plunge and bought a new Mk IV Cortina 1.6 GL Estate. It was in Apollo Green (a sort metallic British racing green) with a black vinyl roof. At the time I was a mere Corporal, and then a new Station Commander (a Group Captain) arrived. He had an identical Cortina to mine, the only difference being that the interior upholstery on his car was in tan, whereas mine was black. On many occasions I would drive back on to camp, only for the RAF Policeman on the barrier to come to attention and throw a stiff salute which slowly dissolved away, as he realised it was only me and not the Station Commander coming through. I loved that car and it was a source of great upset when it was 'taken out' by a drunken German civilian worker in his Transit van actually on the camp, when it was just 13 months old. The car was repaired by the Ford dealership in Monchengladbach, but it was never quite the same car again.

[@corrinecummings3538]

Two works of art - the car and the film you made. Two thumbs up.

[@lesrogers7310]

Great old Cortina's & epic Ennio Morricone music......simply superb!

[@gingercat555]

WOW ... Great video ... take's me back some years, only had a Mk5 but good to see it again here ... these were the days when the manufacturers did not have your arm behind your back with "diagnostic this & that" and endless fault codes that we now have. I used to do all my own repair and maintenance work as it was easy with room to get your hands and arms right down inside the engine bay. Replaced two cam shafts on mine as the oil distribution pipe was a problem as I recall, think I modified the oil pipe myself and never got the problem again. BTW ... very nice background music ... good choice. Thanks for posting.

[@michaelwilson3844]

I bought my first new car which was the Ford Cortina Carousel Mk5 (video ends with a green two tone). Mine was also two tone metallic silver and grey I was 23 at the time I still have original invoice for it along with the original brochure,it was to be the end of the Cortina so it was a limited edition and had extras thrown in sun roof and other bits and bobs , still remember to this day the registration number ANV 523X it was bought at Wards garage of Corby Northamptonshire which was a Ford main dealer that sadly came to a end. Loved the Video took me back a bit got some lovely photographs of the old girl. Bought it for new registrations in August 1981

[@strongbowism]

Learnt to drive in my Dad's 79' T reg MK IV 2.0 GL. Signal Amber with a brown vinyl roof. He let me use it for a few months after passing my test before I could afford my first car, a MK II Capri 1.6 S in Signal Amber like the Cortina.. Loved my Capri but the Cortina was a nicer car to drive. I would love to find a tidy 2 or 2.3 litre Cortina to use for the weekends.

[@robertavery152]

What an excellent video - thanks for making it, succinctly covers all the differences between the Mk4/5 (Cortina 80)

[@brucecox296]

Back in 1990 me first car was a 1980 TE Ford Cortina 4 door sedan , 4.1 Litre (6 cyl) purchased it second hand for $5000 , nice solid car had it for 9yrs ..... Cheers from Hobart , Tasmania ("The Apple Isle State) , Australia 🇦🇺

[@speakfreeley4473]

Cortina Ghias were nice looking & definitely worth preserving. Sadly these were the most neglected of all the Cortinas, which if rust didn't get them the banger racing brigade most certainly did.

[@gazza9463]

Goodness, the memories. In the mid eighties I had a Cortina Crusader in pepper red. Loved that car.

[@jamestong6110]

FORD CORTINA MK-3, MK-4, MK-5 IS BEST FAMILY CAR EVER ! STYLISH DESIGN ( ESPECIALLY MK-3 ), COMFORTABLE, STRONG AND LONG LIFE ENGINE, SAFE AND STRONG BODY ! MOST IS TAKE ME BACK A LOT GOOD OLD MEMORY !

[@malcolmbriggs4281]

Brought back good memories

[@stephenboyle3195]

I had 32 cortina,s from mk3 to 4, 5, I loved these cars, Happy days ...

[@BarryBethal-yv2oz]

I forgot that they made a three door version, the 2000S was a great motor. I had dark metallic brown one with a beige roof. When they built the Mk5 around 1981/2 I always thought these was a superb car for there time they was so comfortable and kept the value well a lot of old timers had them so looked after them.

[@iannorth5958]

My dad had a R reg 2.0 gia in Roman bronze with a tan vinyl roof as shown. First car I ever drove while on holiday in North Wales.

[@colinbassett1303]

I used to own a 1982 Mk 5 Cortina Carousel automatic Great memories

[@antoniocacho193]

thanks for sharing the video. i really miss my last mark IV 2.0 ghia and my 2000E mark III, they were one of a kind compared to a toyota nowadays. I wish they revive the cortina again, i sure would love to own the next generation.

[@tilerman]

I got my Cortina in 1985 when i was 20 years old. I didn't notice for about 6 weeks until the Police stopped me and told me i had different number plates. JYL 622W a on the back and JYL 662W on the front! They were actually OK about it, gave me a producer (who remembers them!) and i sorted it.

[@Tobinindustrial]

Thanks for sharing. I am from NL, Canada but I am a fan of the Ford Cortina. I watch Pete C' videos all the time. He restores these beautiful cars and he is awesome at what he does.

[@TheExStig]

Yeah, been following Pete's videos myself, the guy is amazing...loves his Mk III's

[@garethifan1034]

NL usually stands for Netherlands, as in Holland.

[@Roger.Coleman1949]

Great production and review of these wonderful cars, and a perfect choice of music !

[@vicfulcher9834]

The cortina was a great car. I really miss them.

[@animallover19581]

Brought a tear to my eye, recalling a mispent youth tearing around in a Cortina. Happy days indeed. 😢😢😅😅

[@bartlemy]

I so miss our 1.3 L, 1977 light blue Cortina. We replaced it with a 1982 Beige Crusader 1.6 which we cherished.

[@eggshellskullrule7971]

My first car was a used Mark IV Cortina GL 2.0 manual 4-speed in white body and vinyl roof cover. So many good memories in it ....

[@emiliorodrigues1924]

Great Ford Cortina. Lovely music from Ennio Morriconi !!!

[@melvyncox3361]

Loved my 9 years of owning a mk lV which l bought for £500.Went everywhere in it.Was really upset when it had to be scrapped.

[@kelvinh8327]

They're really good looking cars. As with the MkIII, in Australia Ford shoehorned a 3.3 l and a 4.1 l six into them. They went like stink.

[@derektinkler4120]

Very nostalgic and great music two of the most beautiful cars on the road including it’s forerunner the MK3 Cortina

[@2490debrick]

My old man had a Cortina Mark V estate and he swapped it for a Cavalier Mark 2 and when he did that's when I started to get travel sickness as a kid lol! It was the smell of the vauxhall just turned my stomach the moment I got in it lol! Cortina's were and are the best cars wee Brits have ever and will ever see again on the road!

[@tonyhancock3912]

Really enjoyed this. Thanks 👍

[@shaunw9270]

I loved my '78 Mk IV ! Mine was Maroon & Silver 1.6L . Uprated suspension from an Estate and I put on Mustang wheels with chrome outers 😊

[@jacklee8168]

just bought mk4 ford cortina Ghia in silver with vinyl roof Wood trim inside they lovely cars

[@stephenross9307]

great cars bring them back 😊

[@robertstorey7476]

A mark 4 cortinas ghia is as desirable as anything on the planet.

[@andrewjones5513]

First car I ever drove , my dad taught me driving round car parks on a sunday morning , EFK 567T,

[@knowbodiesfull5768]

Who caught that license plate on the Cortina at 0:40?

[@mattowen415]

Love the tune

[@celticboy1950]

When cars looked like cars, wish I'd had one.

[@fasthracing]

Cool. I had a 1970 MK2 1600E and a VERY late 1977 MK3 1600L

[@sgthree]

You have not mentioned that the Mk5 estate was identical to the Mk4 estate - apart from minor cosmetic trim changes and the front grille and indicators. Many parts were carried over from the 1970 Mk3 estate - such as the rear light cluster lens and tailgate styling being almost identical. None of the body panel changes of the saloon were implemented on the estate apart from the front wings to accommodate the wrap around front indicators. Most noticeably, the flatter roof line of the Mk5 saloon and the lower window sills were not used on the estate versions. They did the same on the Escort estate with the Mk1 being carried forward to the Mk2 with just the front wings and grille being changed. One could say they were very lazy in the design room back then!

[@chrishart8548]

I guess they did the same again with the Mk1 -Mk2 mondeo in the estate version.

[@mebeasensei]

In Australia they had sixes too. 4.1 litre and a 3.3 litre variants. Amazing that you could get one with just a 1.3 litre engine in the UK at the time which is less than 1/3 of the size. I wonder how many mass production cars had such variation in engine capacity for the same body? Australia was odd like that. A tiny British made aircraft carrier landing large twin engined prop planes was going around at the same time. HMAS Melbourne.

[@garethifan1034]

@Daan Vaan They rusted quicker than you could say its name! Our 1981 Mk 5 estate failed its FIRST Mot test (at 3 years old!) on chassis perforation from corrosion..by the time it was 9 years old, it was off the road for good, having had a rebuilt floor and chassis in the intervening years to pass the yearly tests. They should have been a summer car only..Cortinas and winter road salt did not go well together.

[@markrl75]

TommyTwobats - The 1.3 litre Cortina was a pretty miserable and underpowered poor mans version. It often only had two doors and was contemptuously referred to as the "Dagenham dustbin" after the British assembly plant where it was manufactured. It was the runt of the Cortina family.

[@richie9777]

I loved my 2.0 GL

[@adebrade172]

I had 2 door Mk4,1300,and 2.0 gls mk5

[@warrenedwards2415]

Mk4 cortina (tincorner) takes me back to when i was 18 my first car a white 1600 L cortina

[@emmetdonnelly2072]

Oh what is the music please?

[@stephenhughes2775]

Be brilliant to bring the cortina name back as an electric car.

[@TerrieAlexander]

Sorry to be pedantic, but at 24secs where you say Rostyle wheels were fitted, those are standard Ford sports wheels. Rostyle wheels were only fitted to the Mk2 1600E and the Mk3 GT.

[@TheExStig]

Those wheels you call 'standard Ford sports wheels' were spec'ed as Rostyle wheels by Ford. The wheels on a Mk 2 1600E although completely different were also 'Rostyle'.

[@autumnmatthews3179]

Really interesting video but I don’t know if it’s my eyesight but I couldn’t read a lot of what was on the screen sadly

[@AnthonyTolhurst-dw1nc]

Poor typography. Sadly, yet another art that has been passed by.

[@davldcralg5792]

Once upon a time in a Cortina

[@pickard-cd2yn]

brings back memories who rembers cutting the the tops of mk4 doors so they could put them on the mk5 rust buckets a lot better metal on the mk4

[@rustywreck3351]

2.0 V6 ? I do remember a v4

[@anthonymindel5861]

Fords most classic car ever

[@christastic100]

I remember my dad had a red mk v after a white MK 3 with a brown vinyl roof.

[@dreadlocksinmoonlight]

It seems that in England these cars were called Ford Cortina but in the Netherlands Ford Taunus and thats for sure i had different Ford Taunus, always almost Ford cars that i had

[@michaeldouglas8151]

What about the XR6?

[@TheExStig]

Never heard of it.

[@michaeldouglas8151]

@@TheExStig V6 cortina built in south Africa, only two that I know of in this country.

[@eddiejones.redvees]

I had one in yellow it was 1.6 L it was a great family car but it did like a drink not now like my current car 1.6 diesel Astra which average 66 mpg and has a lot more power

[@Cooke125]

My dad has a 1980 MK5 Cortina with only 3,445 miles from new

[@leonshackleford9585]

I wanna buy all the Mk4 & Mk5 Ford Cortina Saloon Cars in Crusader / Carousel / Ghia’s / 2.0 GL / 2.0 GLS / 2.0 LS / 2.0 S

[@stevehillier7018]

A popular colour on the early mark 4 was Arizona Gold Metallic. It was a difficult colour to match as there were over 6 shades of the paint. You found the base models had the very light shade while the Ghia was a deep tea colour of it. Polish it up back in the day with Simonize polymer sealant it was like looking in a mirror.

[@ffotograffyddgohebwyr8308]

I have not seen a single Mk iii ,iv.or v on the road the past ten years.What has happened to them all.

[@Cooke125]

ffotograffydd gohebwyr my dad has one

[@garethifan1034]

Cymro?

[@ffotograffyddgohebwyr8308]

ie,how did you guess !!!!

[@vicfulcher6339]

they are there.

[@garethifan1034]

@@ffotograffyddgohebwyr8308 Enw'n dweud y cyfan!

[@barnbersonol]

When I first started driving in the mid eighties you could get these 2nd hand for silly money, like £300 in good nick with a new MOT. That's because they were terrible on petrol and rust magnets.

[@colinjohnston8519]

The mk v was officially called the cortina 80.

[@stephenport4768]

Can't beat a real Dagenham Dustbin 😅

[@worldofrandometry6912]

I bought a brand new 2000S in 1979. The car drove well but the head gasket failed within three years and the exhaust just rotted away - all this on low mileage too.

[@rattlehonda]

Leaded petrol rotted exhausts back then. I had 2 mk4 and 2 mk5 . Great cars. Couldn't kill them. Never had a head gasket blow. The trick was never let them idle when cold or hot for too long. Oil pump didn't pump enough to feed the cam at low revs. Start it and give it to it . South Africa put 302 V8s into their factory Cortinas. . .

[@Mark-rc1gj]

God bless the Ford Cortina. What have we got to look forward to now, something driven by a f*****g battery. 😪

[@Bruce-vq7ni]

What is wrong with a Google self driving Pod. They are testing those in my town next year.

[@Mark-rc1gj]

Bruce C that’s right I heard mclaren are going to use them in formula 1 😂

[@geertdegraeve9769]

Geert thielt.

[@rong.7768]

F**** can't read the specs, to fast your video.

[@jemielhaider6991]

A shit box,king of all shit boxes

[@chriswalker9850]

go and play with you giant crayons, bellend.