Ford's 1970's fleet favourite! 1978 FORD CORTINA 1.6 L - put through its paces!

[@manokent]

Lovely to see an honest survivor, like this one, still going strong.

[@dr.leftfield9566]

I had a R reg 1600 in white with black cloth in 1985-87 and loved it. Watching you drive takes me back and was a car that i lost no dough on as a neighbour " had to have it". Lucky for him i had the hots for a late 70's Celica.....

[@Bruce-vq7ni]

My Father had a 1978 2.3 Ghia in Silver... The main thing I recall was that despite not being old how quickly it rusted. Especially in unusual areas.

[@speakfreeley4473]

Miss these! First started driving in the mid-to-late 1980s when they were very much all over the place on UK roads. The top of the range Ghia was my favourite.

[@Sophie-vanTg4u]

My dad gave me driving lessons in his mk4 Cortina and I Passed first time. I remember the Saturday that dad and I went to the Ford dealership to collect the brand new fern green 1.6L. We were invited to the unveiling the following weekend of the then Ford Capri. ..... Happy days

[@MrHead65]

Ah wonderful memories! I had a blue 1.6L in 1983. Sky blue. Same year: JFE 433T. I was an estate agent at the time and I bought this off the firm as an ex fleet vehicle. I think I paid £1000. It had done pretty high mileage and I had all sorts of issues with brakes and damp. It drove well though and at the time it felt like my first ‘grown up’ car! Thanks for the memories. 😊

[@paulnash7630]

We had a Gold 1600E with restyle wheels in the 70's complete with walnut dash, loved it.

[@doughunt9621]

>Do you mean Rostyle wheels? IIRC made by Rubery Owen.

[@bulletboy4288]

It's straight outta the 70s when everything was brawn, paints brown, trims brown, even the Dagenham rust was brown, trade unions ruled the roost and everyone was on the take, including the vicar, I smoked, me muvver smoked, even the baby brother smoked, Thatcher was on the scene to ruin the bloody lot and we can only look back, ace car.

[@Mike_5]

Cathy Burke 'But its a Brawnnnnnn car'

[@kieranmulvey1962]

the cortina was built in fords plant in cork ireland for the irish and british markets also

[@jjharson7344]

My first car was one of these, but in Burgundy with a black vinyl roof.... great car to be honest, I always preferred the look of the mark 3 though!

[@damiencrowley2506]

I remember when that car was for sale by Affordable Classics in Essex , then someone else was trying to sell it for years. I had a mark 5 I should have kept but was in the business of buying and selling at the time.

[@OldCarsNewVan]

Great fun - had one back in the day. I'm no expert, but I think those wheels / chrome outer trims on the wheels are actually off a GL. From memory the L had more basic steel wheels and certainly no chrome trims. Anyway, I'll get my anorak 🤣

[@stuart121972]

I think your right about the wheels. My Dad had a 1.6L auto in the 80’s and it just had plain steel wheels.

[@cricketbatguitar]

I was about to comment on that but I thought I'd see if anyone else had mentioned it first! Had the same one in that Sahara beige colour. Where did I leave my anorak now! 😂

[@berwhaletheavenger]

You are correct! The sports wheels were an option on the L.

[@e28forever30]

@@stuart121972 you’re

[@SimonNoina]

Absolutely - the GL had those wheels - presume they were an option on the L? - I had one of each and the L had plainer wheels

[@blade0954]

great review, i had a mark 5 1.6L,reg GAS703X,biggest problem was rot,car was fairly young and had holes in doors due to corrosion,easily fixed with newspaper and plastic padding

[@garygriffiths2911]

They all went rusty before very long - and just to prove that I'm slow to learn lessons I had three of them!

[@paultaylor7082]

I had a Mk 4 1.6L Cortina in dark green, with green cloth seats, RRA 55R, first registered Nov 1976, from July 1980 to August 1986. It was stolen in Feb 1981, but found shortly afterwards, undamaged. It was stolen for the second time in August 1986 and never heard of again. Great car to drive, but in ice and snow, it was a good idea to put 2 bags of sand in the boot to help roadholding, as the car was front heavy. No wonder it was a best seller in the UK, although the limited number of 1.3 engines were best avoided, as they were underpowered.

[@papalaz4444244]

a suspiciously over detailed fake story by a troll - well done

[@paulrollings6573]

My dad had a red 1979 T reg 1.6GL. He owned it for 5 years and gave it to me in 1986 after I passed my test. I absolutely loved it and kept it for two years. It never broke down once but the car just slowly rotted away to the point where it was no longer viable to weld it at every mot.

[@daryljackson3430]

On today’s roads it would shake it to bits. I had one in the day mk 5 BBT803V . They was known to rot and the tracking was always an issue but had some good memories.

[@nickbrown6457]

I had two Mk4 Cortinas back in the day. A 1.6 manual and a 2.0 Auto. They were both great but the 2.0 auto was just amazing!

[@sputumtube]

I had quite a few Cortina's (1xMk3, 3xMk4 [including an estate] and 1xMk5). I also crashed my dad's (company car) Mk5 2.0L in a ditch! They were easy to work on and the gear boxes were excellent, but they were never the best on fuel consumption compared to the main competition, Vauxhall Cavalier, which were also nicer (and quieter) inside. My favourite was my (powder blue) Mk3 which cost me £15. I painted it dark blue (with a brush) and it looked sh*t but it never let me down. Circa 1980 - happier days.

[@WorksOnMyComputer]

Interesting to see a UK Cortina up close like this. We had these in Australia and they were sent here as knock down kits and then assembled here by Ford or some by Renault Australia in the case of the wagon, but Ford Australia did make changes to trim and other items by using parts of the locally built Ford Falcon. Things like the inside door handles were Falcon parts out here and as a result the car had new front door cards for example. We also had the choice of the 2.0 litre four cylinder Pinto as the base engine and two six cylinder engines in 3.3 and 4.1 litres taken from the Falcon. To fit the six cylinder engines they pressed a new bonnet for the Cortina in Australia with a bulge in the centre. The sixes made the Cortina a quick car, but that wasn't really a great idea, as the Cortina's suspension was pretty crude even before all that weight in the nose and power to the rear was applied. I owned the model after this (TF Cortina in Australia) and while I loved the car, there was no question that the local Falcons were a much better handling car as was some of the Japanese cars of the time. Anyway, cool video.

[@mikemartin2957]

6 cylinder Aussie Cortinas would be great driving cars with plenty of torque..they do like their medium cars with in-line 6 engines ,for example a Marina with the E6 from the Landcrab , longitudinally mounted with a 3 speed MANUAL box! Or Borgwarner option.

[@windyworm]

Great rep’s car. I had three over three years no problems over the three years. The only problem was in heavy rain when it turned into boat. Every rep would either carry a boot load of literature, or a concrete block.

[@paultaylor7082]

In ice and snow as well. The trick was 2 X 25kg bags of sand in the boot, that stopped the rear end from getting too tail-happy.

[@grahamherbert3612]

I owned a Mk5, HFD 775V in Corsican blue. It was like driving a partially sunk lifeboat. Never ending ignition issues. Although as a young fellow I remember it being a bit of a 'bird puller' at the time. Mirror aviator shades and Lacoste track suit 😆

[@WheelieMacBin]

I had a MK4 back in the day. I still remember the registration, PKO 95R. The pinto engine was known for snapping cam belts though, and I had it happen on my car. Fortunately, on the 1.6 it wasn't terminal, but it was on the 2.0. They were good honest cars and cheap enough to run and maintain.

[@paultaylor7082]

Also the oil distribution system to the camshaft on the early 76 to 79 models wasn't very good, the oil holes on the distribution pipe were too small and frequently the cam on Number 1 cylinder got starved of oil, calling it to wear and then the engine sounded like a diesel one. This was rectified on the Cortina 80 model, the update introduced in September 1979. One of the best cars to drive at the time, no doubt about it and competively priced, no wonder it was a best seller for around 15 years.

[@alecporter1784]

I bought a 2 year old estate in 1984, I loved it

[@landiemark]

Can't believe who it was just popped up on my recommendations. Hope you are all well and best of luck with KZbin.

[@stevenmanning6884]

I had two of these back in the day, both estates both 2.0 pintos The first was a bit of a shed but a bit of work and it was fine. The second was a nearly new crusader Mk5 just a lovely car.

[@version736ha2]

Was the 2nd a good motorway car?

[@Auto-TaT]

I had a crystal green mk5 2ltr Ghia twenty years ago. It was awesome! Colour really suited it and it was well equipped (manual windows but electric mirrors!). Loved that car, a bit slow by modern standards and still only a 4 speed manual. A car I wish I still had.

[@johnj3577]

My Dad had an estate in the same colour as a company car for a while. Huge in the back, but best not put anything too valuable in it because you could unlock it with a spoon handle.

[@johnmorris1764]

You could buy these in Australia with a 4.1 lt straight six 155 hp, the weight over the front made them understeer badly, the 2.0 lt was the sweet spot for the chassis.

[@ianjeffery3762]

This was our family car growing up - except ours was sky blue and an r reg.

[@aswclassicsiow8588]

Always loved Cortina's, back in 70s early 80s had a MK1,1500GT, a Mk2 1600E, a MK3 which started life as a 1600GT in Daytona Yellow with black vinyl roof, it ended up with a 2.1lt Pinto with a pair of Weber 40DCOE carbs, which I keept for 6 years and had 1 MK4 loved them all, wish I still had the MK3

[@chuckmaddison2924]

When it came to Australia they stuck a 4.1 6 cylinder in it. And in that form, it was blast.

[@herbnalis3723]

Also raced in 1979 REPCO RELIABILITY around Australia trial. Triple SU carbs , 4.1 six cylinder.

[@herbnalis3723]

People would fit 302 V8 as well.

[@davidhayter8516]

My mate had a brand new one with a 1.6. Boat anchor.

[@peterj5751]

They handled very badly with the big cast iron straight 6. Went well in a straight line for the time though and they always looked great.

[@doughunt9621]

If that were my car, I couldn't live with the steering wheel like that. It would certainly be going in for alignment.

[@wadegarret]

My first car! Wheels on that one are GL, carb was single venturi and the head off the 2.0 fits the 1.6 and it gives the 1.6 a little extra 👍

[@alcorfield1157]

We had a brand new 1980 V reg Cortina , I learnt to drive in it, the ride always was wollowy and the steering vague. The next car a Sierra was a massive leap forward in driver experience!

[@techviking2]

My Dad had a 1977 1.6L Ford Taunus, so I grew up with that car. 😂

[@colinstickland3130]

No fancy electronics to go wrong

[@colinblick8946]

Yep as a rep I had the 1.6L mk4 cortina…. Good little tub😎👌🏽

[@CarlMCL]

Oh my.. that steering wheel position..:D

[@orion1983uk]

Yeah my eye keeps getting drawn to that. I doubt that's wheel alignment. Looks more like the steering wheel has been taken off at some point, then not put back on in the correct orientation. Easy fix on a car like this. Had a similar issue on my first car (mk2 Ford Orion).

[@chrisperyagh]

Acceptable in a Citroen DS with its single spoke, but definitely not with a two spoke steering wheel.

[@colinevans39]

Maybe someone put another steering rack on and not put the steering wheel back on straight 👍

[@OldCarsNewVan]

@@orion1983uk yeah, I'd be getting the socket set out straight away 🤣

[@Nakkisampyla]

Its very comfortable

[@orchidhouse297]

That car was in need of some serious maintenance - steering alignment would improve handling as would new shocks all round. I had a MK 3 Estate for many years. As well as regular servicing, a new clutch and a new prop shaft with new joints was all it ever needed. It handled a dream on rough Yorkshire lanes. Later i had a MK 4 Estate which was never as good as the Mk3.

[@chrishart8548]

The mk3 estate looked miles better than the mk4. Looking at the rear of the car the mk3 actually looks more modern. The mk4 estate tail lights are a crime.

[@megamega362]

1.6 pinto very good strong little engine a pleasure to work on.

[@chrishart8548]

Those days are long gone you need a £6000 scan tool with an annual subscription now just to clear problem codes on new car. A cheap reader will clear the code but it will just come back.

[@montyzumazoom1337]

I saw these being made in Dagenham in ‘78. It was a Technical college trip, and quite an eye opener.

[@TheWGLOVER]

One of the nicest looking cars ever.

[@26KE185]

Putting a twin choke weber on would put a smile on your face on a 1.6 i did the same on my 1.6 capri...it went from a sack of sxxt to something quite interesting

[@bondbug73]

I love everything about this car. Even it's small cooling fan.

[@toneman501]

In Australia they had a 2litre ,4 cyl ,or a 250 cross flow ,6 cyl...

[@charlietwotimes]

I learned to drive in my mum's MK4 Cortina. Blue, tan vinyl roof, 2 litre, 4 speed manual. It was a beast 😂

[@bttmfg7010]

Love it. My Uncle’s pride and joy. Kept it immaculate. Am hunting for a good one as we speak! Great review mate. Very nicely done!

[@berwhaletheavenger]

I remember these coming out in late 1976 on the R plate - imo they were a very handsome car with some Mercedes overtones and better looking than the Mark 3 that was horribly outdated. I ran a series of these in the eighties from a1977 1.6L to a 1980 Mark V ('Cortina 80') 2.0GLS. The L had rubber bumper trim inserts, reclining seats with cloth trim, side coachlines, the stainless trim around the windows, halogen headlights plus inertia reel belts and that storage cubby tray in front of the gearlever. There were a few other tiny trim differences but bugger all really. Some of the car mags were snotty about the Cortina but it was a good solid car that was pleasant and easy to drive, plus it was generally reliable and easy to fix.

[@paultaylor7082]

I had Mk 2, Mk 3 and Mk 4 Cortinas. I agree the Mk 3 body style aged badly, but now in the days of Retro, the 2020s, it stands out from many other boring, square models. The Coke Bottle styling seems to go in and out of fashion all the time. The later Mk 3s (Sep 73 to Oct 76) had the nicer interior and instrumentation, with less chrome than the earlier models.

[@ianbeeston2881]

Had a 2.3 V6 Cortina Ghia in white with a black vinyl roof and deep red interior when I was 21, OUJ118W, loved it, lovely car to drive if a little thirsty. Had a 110 mph out of it once, the spare wheel for it is still in my mum’s garage 30 years after I scrapped it.😂Great review 👍

[@joeblogs-vx4ep]

My parents had a ford cortina MK4 estate bright red colour We went everywhere in it as a family Holidays days out ect Fortunately we have many old photographs of it to remember happy days ...

[@larsson7709]

OMG ..memories flooding back now ..going on my hols in one of these as a kid ..Car probably needs shocks and new springs wheel alignment is mile out 👍

[@ivanfernyhough3851]

Brings back memories.me dad liked cortinas.he had a mk2 1.3 deluxe then a mk 4 1.3L then a brand new mk5 cortina 1.6 crusader.that was a lovely car.the pinto engine is indestructable.very comfortable cars for the time.ride was very exceptible back then.maybe the tyres are pumped up to much and hard with age on that one.good review.👍

[@seanwheeldon9315]

My favourite out of the cortina range didn't get the mk 5

[@iainmclaughlan1557]

I have a 1999 Nissan Primera 1.8 S, is that a bit late for you? The Ford Cortina looks amazing, such good looking cars.

[@RetroRatchet]

Hello iain, Yeah just a tad too new for me im afraid, thanks a lot for the offer though!

[@iainmclaughlan1557]

@@RetroRatchet you are welcome, maybe in 20 years time?

[@phil-n5t]

Great cars in their day loved them. will be subscribing.

[@RetroRatchet]

thanks a lot, hope you enjoy the content!

[@StewartP45]

Mk 5 W reg, think it was about 6 years old at the time. Jacked it up to do something on the front wheel, busy looking into the wheel arch checking stuff.....why's the wing dropping down into my line of sight...managed to throw the wheel under the suspension to stop it dropping totally on to the ground. Hole for the jack on the chassis leg had torn letting it fall off the jack. Yep, they were rot boxes even at that relatively low age-certainly compared with nowadays- though probably no worse than a lot of other 70's stuff. Yeah, ride wasn't that great from memory- live rear axle- and tail happy as soon as there was any moisture on the road...ask me how I know....Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

[@stephenmoutafis5587]

In Australia they had 2l 3.3 l 4.1l six

[@swanvictor887]

Growing up in South Wales in the 70s, these old dogs were everywhere! Everyone had one! My dad had a few Cortina's, they were reliable but above all, easy and cheap to fix. By the time I was 14, I could fix one of those Mk 4s! The only downside, like all period Fords, was the Tin Worm. Later, my dad bought a Vauxhall Cavalier mk2 from 1977....it was a better car to drive than the Cortina. The Mk 5s were nice, but dated badly by then. The Sierra was a gamechanger.

[@rabit818]

We had the 2.0. When I was a kid. It was reliable as far as I can remember. It was pretty fast and can be driven hard. The doors rattled after five years

[@leyland9999]

I owned three, be it in the Taunus disguise, I’m in Holland. The first one was a 1975 model, that model differed quite a bit from the British equivalent bodywise but underneath they were identical (minor detail, the Taunus had a Bosch startermotor and the British Cortina had a Lucas startermotor, the sound differed). The second one was a 1976 one, that model was exactly the same as the British Cortina. The third one was the last Taunus model, I bought it when the Sierra was already there. It was a bargain! The ride was pretty comfortable as long as you maintained them well. Rear axle rubbers needed to be in good condition, otherwise the back end could be pretty nervous. All were 1.6’s and very reliable. I wish I still had one. Oh, the Taunus/Cortina, as far as I know, never had the 3.0 litre V6 Cologne engine. The largest engine available was the Cologne 2.3 V6. Greetings from Hekelingen, Holland. Bye, Willem.

[@daveshongkongchinachannel]

That takes me back to my youth! Ford engines back then definitely had a distinctive and pleasing note to them and they looked like they would perform and handle better than they actually did. Also loved the clear ergonomics of the dash and of course the higher spec models with the rev counter looked all the nicer. Cruising at 70-80 mph back then would have been doable. The one thing you mentioned about the competition, I agree the Cavalier was the main rival but I think the Marina was more of an Escort competitor than the Cortina. Perhaps the Princess would have been a more suitable rival?

[@alanryderb]

Yep, had a few cortinas. Mk4 and 5. 1.6 or 2.0 L, GL and Ghia. Great cars. Single or twin chokes. The twin you could modify to make them open at the same time so it was quicker at pulling away.

[@MK-1973]

Nice video. I think that might have had a twin choke Weber conversion and with the KN air filter that contributes to the throaty sound under acceleration. A good job the fuel gauge works!! Not a perfect example for reasons others have said but a great survivor and very presentable - lovely to see it!

[@GPH2474]

My first car was a 1300 like this one more beige. Went through double digits of these in the 90s, cheap at the time for a new driver.

[@arthurdardalis]

Has a MK5 2.0 GLS, loved it, looked the part with the spotlights etc.

[@noellavelle2091]

I fitted a twin choke weber to my Dad's one..We thought it was as fast as a porche😂more like a porch compared to cars nowadays.We loved it. It just disintegrated with rust.Never let us down.Often had 7 passengers but hey it was the 70s!

[@simonjarvis9130]

My first car 77 mk 4 1.6L in Forest green. RDA 275R purchased by my parents for my 18th birthday in 88

[@user-tn1vc1xz5d]

My dad had a Mk5 Crusader 😊.Unlike the 2.0, its a non interfering engine. Handy when the cambelt snapped one day. AA man put a new belt on and we drove home. When the alternator went, AA only had a Granada one which fits the opposite side. He rotated the bracket 180 degrees, fitted fine. In NZ these had a 4 litre engine 😂😂

[@JohnHoganN8]

Had a white 2.0 litre Ghia with a tan vinyl roof and factory sunroof. It was fantastic.

[@martinhudson2552]

I had a mark 5 estate. The carb was a variable Venturi. They were ok but I replaced mine with a Webber conversion. The car started better when cold after that.

[@26KE185]

A janspeed 4 branch manifold was nice too

[@martinaddison5991]

I'm probably a generation older than most of your commenters, but I think the mark 3 was the best looking cortina after the first model in the 60s. The mark 4 and 5 were only mark 3s with different body work. The soft and wallowing ride and iffy steering was similar to the Morris marina with its Morris 1000 set up in use if not design. I know as I had both. The mark 4 felt more roomy than the mark 3 but only because of its more square appearance as they were a similar size inside. They were easy to work on as I could remove and replace a engine on my drive in a day with a few mates paid in beer. Mine had been deemed a write-off at 2 years old after a crash but a new front end apart from the bonnet which survived and a respray in original bronze had it looking brand new. Great cars cortinas, first to last.

[@tonyrussell7275]

My first car. I loved it. Took out the interior and replaced it with Ghia. Not great on the motorway. Destroyed the engine and replaced it with a 2.3 with auto box. Very comfortable.

[@Nikolai-l1i]

My father had this car for 30 years, he had the 1.3L and then he fitted a 1.6 engine on it. I have not seen a car with less issues than this one, this is the epitome of reliability and customer respect. Personally, not my dad, i found the 1.3 engine a bit slow, but when we changed the spark plugs with better ones the car was really transformed!

[@MrAvant123]

Great car the Mk4 Cortina...

[@tonylangridge3003]

I had the mark 4&5 great cars apart from rust great to see this one still going

[@Captain_Scarlet_SIG]

I never really took to the Mk4’s after having a Mk2 and three Mk3’s including a 1.6 GXL & 2.0 GT with the Tombstone seats I felt the 4 wasn’t really progression mechanically and the boxy styling a bit boring but I have to say it’s aged well and your one looks a good honest car and a fun daily.

[@kaveirinhaz]

In South Africa we had the XR6, which I think was the Mk4 Cortina with a 3 liter engine and a painted in red, similar to the XR3.

[@FTW523.]

Bushings used to go in suspension making them wobble about mine was the same colour as that I loved it was my first car back in the 90s.

[@ggj666]

My Dad had the estate version of this Cortina back then in green, Oh how me and my brother would get car sick in the back of it.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

That seemed to be a common theme for the Cortina - I got car sick in our mk3, and my cousins used to get car sick in my uncle’s various Mk4s. We switched to Vauxhall VX estates after the ‘Tina - never felt queasy in the back of those!

[@simonhodgetts6530]

That seemed to be a common theme for the Cortina - I got car sick in our mk3, and my cousins used to get car sick in my uncle’s various Mk4s. We switched to Vauxhall VX estates after the ‘Tina - never felt queasy in the back of those!

[@stevehensonuk]

My first 2 cars! First was a 1.6GL, then the 2.3 Ghia. I think you have GL or even Ghia wheels on that one. Very good nick though. I'd love to have another go - even without power steering. Glad to see they still look quite roomy as well, nice work.

[@wormon3626]

Had loads last one I had was a 2door with 2l 5speed Sierra gearbox high lift cam 4 branch manifold webber carbs fitted an electric rad fan twin head lamps ford capri dash

[@SID-sn2gm]

I did think about buying one for my first car and in retrospect I think I may I should have done. 😊

[@barryamos4920]

Had a mk5 X reg 1.6 L that must have been about 10 years old when I bought it.The rust was in it but one of the best cars I’ve owned,agree with what you said about the ride and driving position and just loved the gearbox. Then onto a mk5 X reg 2.0 gl auto loved that one too and got me into liking auto gearbox cars. Thank you for the video looking forward to seeing the next one

[@RCoon72]

I was waiting for the explosion in the exhaust just like keeping up appearances

[@mikev.5845]

We had the 2.0, the clutch was heavy, steering was heavy. But rode comfortably. Although, it was no match to the Opel Rekord - which was its competition at the time.

[@allanwainwright3056]

I had a 1.6 GL,,,red with a black vynal roof. That car never let me down. RLO492 R Idon,t suppose it still exists now but it was one of the best i have ever owned.I did alot of miles in that car and it just kept going. Its a pity that Ford don't make cars like that today.

[@arthurgordon6072]

I had one in the early eighties, very similar colour. Some were made in Germany and came with Bosch electrics, rather than Lucas. Also, the indicator stalk was on the 'wrong' sde. Apart from having to replace the clutch, nothing major went wrong.

[@e28forever30]

Spent most of my childhood in a lipstick red 1978 1.6S 2-door. I remember my dad flicking through the catalog, pointing out the car he chose. Apparently it had to be delivered from Germany, as the “S” models were not produced in Genk, Belgium. It lasted 18 years, he gave it to me after buying a Renault 25, I drove it for a while, driving it much faster than my dad ever did, the thing just kept on going. It was written off after I crashed it..😕

[@stecosgrove3779]

Loved the video - I drive her big sister (Granada 2.0L, almost same poverty spec except for headrests, rear armrest and TWO (count em) interior lights 😂) Awful lot of what you said reads across, same lovely Pinto sounds and smells, twin venturi Weber on mine, but some key differences - brakes are superb for its age, really good servo assist, front discs. Suspension is independent coils on each wheel (from the MK1 3.0S) probably the best riding car I've driven, especially on poor surfaces, but a little vague in corners. Probably same box and clutch, 4th is high geared but no idea on motorway revs due to poverty instruments 😅

[@anthonybeech676]

My Dad had a 1.6 blue estate. I learnt to drive in it. Sometimes it would pop out of 2nd gear on the over run. Rusty but easy to work on.

[@TheCleanersCupboard]

I had a very early Mk5 as my daily back in the 2000’s. It once backfired so hard that it blew its back box clean off.

[@shaun30-3-mg9zs]

You got a nice care there, never driven a MK4 but been a passenger in a few of them, I have driven a few MK5 Cortina's. The rev's would be quite high at 70 mph with a 4-speed gear box, last year I was in a MK2 Escort ( T-reg ) RS2000 I know at 60 mph in forth gear I was doing just over 3500 rpm so for a 1.6 the revs should be about the same on the pinto OHC engine. A mate of mine has a 1982 X-reg beige with brown vinyl roof MK 5 Cortina 1.6L with a few mild up grades, like your car it is fitted with the GL wheels with chrome rims a set of round spot lights on the bumper, the clocks from a Ghia model so it has a rev counter and fitted with a 1984 Capri 1.6 Laser 5 speed gear box. I know with this gear box at 70 mph in 5th it is doing just under 3000 rpm. You got a good example of an old Cortina. Great video

[@eoinkenny8603]

Good review thank you ! I imported a mint 1981 Taunus 2.3 Ghia into Ireland 2 years ago ! Steering wheel needs to be removed and put on straight ! That Cortina isn't mint but as you said a usable classic !

[@FMFGUF]

The number plate reminds me of one I saw in the 1980s on a fairly big car; it was FAT 61T - fat git! The next door neighbours at the time had a lime green Cortina 2.0 Ghia, which was rarely if ever washed and the Pinto camshaft clattered and exhaust smoked like anything, yet it would somehow always start even on a cold winter's day with a nearly flat battery, which was impressive.

[@vincew8609]

That no plate is now on a 2019 Ferrari.

[@pdsnpsnldlqnop3330]

FAT 61T is now on a red Ferrari, 2019 vintage. It has been on a Range Rover and a MINI Cooper S.

[@iansteel5569]

Have you driven a Vauxhall Cavalier mk1? They were floaty as well, I had both, the best one...Ford Cortina mk5 2.0 ghia auto.

[@RetroRatchet]

not yet

[@NiceCakeMix]

I have owned 5 of these, a 1.3L, 2 x 1.6L (one of these was an estate), a 2.0 GL and a 2.3 Ghia. The last one was the 2.3 Ghia in 1997. The 1.3 was woefully slow and underpowered and ended up using just as much fuel as the 1.6 because you had to rev it hard to get anywhere in it. The 1.6 models were good and reliable, the 2.0 was a really nice car and drove really well. The 2.3 v6 was a pretty quick car for the time but it ate fuel and I used to only get around 18 to 22 MPG from it. They all were nice cars though and always felt good to drive. I now have a BMW e46 325i

[@marcjeffery]

I had a 1981 Mk5 2.0 Ghia Auto back in 1989 and thoroughly loved it. Handling was fine in mine but it was a floater. Mk4 and Mk5 are very similar, as you know. The wheels on your example look to have been slightly upgraded if my memory serves me correctly. The chrome embellishers were for the GL and up and the black paint surrounding the holes maybe should be silver and black on the GL but I expect my memory has let me down so apologies if that's wrong. Was the S model somewhat of an add on for the L and GL? The S would have had a rev counter, driving/spot lights, the all-important S badge on the boot and may have had stiffer suspension. They would have been labelled LS and GLS. Wonderful to see the car.

[@arthurdardalis]

I had a 2.0 GLS, you’re correct on the extra spec, also had stiffer suspension with Bilstein dampers.

[@mikeford1273]

I had a cortina crusader. 2 tone green. Great car!

[@antonysmith9173]

Lovely car,one of my favourite of the day. Plain,simple. None of all the technical, computer Bs in todays things!😊

[@trevdean540]

My first car in 85 when i passed my test was 1978 Cortina mk4 1.6GL in met red.Its twin choke 32/36 on your one. Standard 1.6 came with the single choke carb at 72bhp Lol.