IDRIVEACLASSIC reviews: MK1 Ford Cortina GT

Today's video is about (in my opinion) Ford's best ever car: the MK1 Cortina GT
IDRIVEACLASSIC is sponsored and insured by Adrian Flux - check them out for your insurance quote on the link below: www.adrianflux...
Please note I have noted many times in the comments I’ve said FWD not RWD and it was a mistake! We’ve all been there, no need for abusive comments.
Ford MK1 Cortina GT
Ford produced some absolutely belting cars in the 60s and the Ford Cortina came to market in September 1962 and was Britain’s second best selling car of the decade, only being pipped to the post by the also lesser spotted ADO16.
The Cortina was a Ford of Britain car - before the Ford of Europe creation later in the decade - and was put to market to attract buyers who were looking at the Oxford Farina and Vauxhall Victor. Both fine competitors, which is why Ford decided the Cortina needed to be economical, cheap to run and easy and cheap to produce to really take the market share they were after.
The rear wheel drive car which was known at first under the project name of Archbishop, and which doesn’t roll off the tongue quite as well as Cortina, was initially available in two specs: the standard or deluxe.
Both specs had the 1198cc Kent engine which had been used in the Anglia Super and was in the Anglia we tested last year. The overhead valve engine was used alongside Ford’s known commodities of the four speed all synchro box and Macpherson strut front suspension. It’s worth noting the Borg-Warner auto box wasn’t an option until late on in 1963.
Unlike other big motoring names of the time, Ford didn’t sit about and wait until a new model was released to make timely updates and in early 1963, they updated the Cortina line up.
The new line up saw the 1500 super added to the range and then the car we’re testing today as top of the range for the time: the Ford Cortina GT.
The GT was fitted as standard with the twin choke Weber carb, discs to front, remote gear change as we’ll show you in video later on and modified suspension. The GT was fitted with the 1500 engine and tuned to give an output of 78 brake horsepower against the 1500 engine fitted in the Cortina super which had 60 brake horsepower. It’s worth mentioning as well that the GT engine also contained a different camshaft profile and a superior cylinder head casting which had larger ports and those tubular exhaust headers.
1963 wasn’t just the year of the GT and also saw the launch of the Estate and the Lotus Cortina.
The range continued to be updated and it’s worth mentioning these changes, because with this being a 66 car, you get to see the big changes brought in across the range in 1964.
These changes included: front discs going from just the GT to all models as standard, a redesigned front grille and the Aeroflow ventilation system which I’ll show you when we hop into the car later. As we’d noted, the GT had from launch come with discs to front as standard, the braking system in 64 was revised and it then gave GT buyers larger front discs and self adjusting rear brakes.
The MK1 production came to an end in October 66 and Ford beckoned in the MK2. Although the Cortina is a rare spot in the UK today, at the time it was so popular it sold over one million units in the first four years of production.
The Cortina today across all five marques is supported by an owners club, with a club existing solely for the MK1 Cortina should you purchase one and wish to join a club full of great knowledge and support.

[@idriveaclassic]

Hey guys! I’ve only clocked after reading comments I must’ve said FWD not RWD despite writing RWD and listening back to myself earlier 😂. I’m not silly but I am very tired 😉

[@redmr2na]

We can wait for content, you need rest.

[@bcfairlie1]

Oh my Zeus!! You did indeed say FWD. So the committee must punish you for this heinous crime. You are now forced to drive a Prius for the rest of your life! Hahaha...kidding....take care of yourself lovely one. Get some rest. We need your reviews.

[@stephenricketts7764]

I think you should write 100 lines. 'I must read my script more carefully '. Hey Stepb we can all make mistakes, take care 🙂.

[@bertiewooster3326]

Steph when are you going to upload Bicester Heritage Vid ?

[@markpalmar70]

Hello Steph, beautiful car. I saw the news item, and thought I would say hello. I am Mark Lemon, did a music project called Village Green Machine, mid 60's sound, now preparing to re launch under the name Marc Lemon. I use vintage equipment to get the sound. Very impressed to hear you restore cars. I have long wanted a classic. I am on fb under my real name Mark Lemon, would love to have a chat. I live in a time warp ( David doesn't understand ) Retro house. I am also into the 50's, all the best to you :-)

[@anythingbootneck]

Fond memories of my late Dad’s 1966 Cortina (although not a GT) but the same colour, British Racing green? It’s the rear lights which always stuck in my mind about this car. Great review,and yes it also put a smile on my face! Thank you and, well done!👍🏻

[@Extreme_Rice]

We didn’t have one but when I was a little kid in the 80s there were still plenty of them on the roads and I loved those taillights.

[@wideawake11]

I believe the colour is named Goodwood Green - so basically British Racing Green by a lateral name

[@anythingbootneck]

@@wideawake11 ah yes, Goodwood Green always comes to mind. Thanks.

[@karlarmstrong]

@@Extreme_Rice ban the bomb lights.

[@clivequinn8978]

I had the same car, a 66 d reg 1500. The colour is Alpina green

[@josvandencamp8441]

This Cortina GT was the car to have. I remember them when I was young. I'm heading for 70 next month.

[@Stevewm869]

Yes I had a 1966 model D reg in Powder Blue I fitted Reccaro front seats in it 1500 GT engine was a big improvement to the earlier one I owned Mk 1 basic 1200 cc 3 bearing crank engine was absolute rubbish but ran my GT model until the body work became far too expensive to repair but sold it for spares have been through Mk1 to Mk 5 in various models of Cortina’s loved them all .

[@graemew7001]

I think the whole Escort v Cortina thing is purely down to as kids we had Escorts as first cars whereas Cortinas were considered to be Dad cars so the passion isn't there for them, I don't think it's which is better. This car is gorgeous and could quite easily be used in daily traffic.

[@firstclassatlanticflyer]

That's true, but Escort fans should thank the Lotus Cortina for paving the way for the sporting Escorts :D

[@graemew7001]

@@firstclassatlanticflyer Indeed, the Lotus Cortina was something else. My first car was a Mark 1 Escort and yes it has a place in my heart but no way would I pay the money they're asking for one nowadays. I'd probably go for a Mark 3 Cortina now, much more my thing at my age.

[@firstclassatlanticflyer]

@@graemew7001 that's true, my uncles on the older side had one and they were superb vehicles (to drive at least) according to my father. Ride quality was good in my opinion, although I can't speak for reliability. Although if I were to buy one, I'd rather fancy a Mk2 Cortina (on the lower end, of course). A Mk1 or Mk2 Granada too, on the luxury side.

[@graemew7001]

@@firstclassatlanticflyer Now you're talking I've always thought a gold Mk1 Granada coupe with a vinyl roof would be awesome to own, 3.0 litre automatic fuel guzzler as a Sunday lazy day car.

[@firstclassatlanticflyer]

@@graemew7001 It seems that you read my mind as that is the exact same combination that I wouldn't mind owning :) Strangely enough, I'd rather the saloon!

[@michaeltutty1540]

What a super video, Steph. Glorious automobile. We did get the Cortina, Mark 1, Mark 2, and Mark 3, here in Canada, so this brought back memories! When I was in Cub Scouts, one of the leaders had a Mark 1. By the time I was in Boy Scouts, he had switched to a Mark 2. Oddly, my only experience with a Mark 3 was in Jamaica in the mid-80s. The poor thing was in use as a taxi. No tail lights, doors that barely closed, you had to be careful where you put your feet, and it had about a million miles on it, but it ran straight and true and still somehow felt special and Wonderful. I've always wanted a Mark 3, but any one would do. Keep up the good work!!! As an aside, Twin Cam put out a video today about a Cortina competitor, the Austin Maxi. Give me the Ford any day!

[@JeffKing310]

The Canadian car market in the 1960s and early 70s was fun in retrospect. English brands, off beat French cars and the Canadian Frankensteins (Parisienne, Meteor, Acadian, etc ) all were not available in USA.

[@gortonshameless6746]

A very good example of a thoroughly practical car. The engine can be worked on without the need for a degree in compting and, I daresay, the components werre all better made.

[@francis2811]

It's wonderful to see these classic cars in motion. However, with the government mucking about with contents of expensive 'green petrol', I wonder how much longer we can enjoy them?

[@sawleyram7405]

For as long as we have petrol as an available resource. Premium petrol is but a few pence more per litre and given the mileage most of us do in our classics, it really doesn't make much of a difference. Not when vehicle tax for them is free and insurance premiums as low as they are. We'll be driving them around for a long time yet.

[@theblackstridersofficial2562]

Normal petrol should be always available for these classics etc as long as they are around and this must be taken into account now we are moving towards electric vehicles !!

[@zingo2664]

good point, i worry about that too.

[@visionsofhere3745]

Some of us remember how the introduction of unleaded was going to cause all classics to be scrapped/wrecked. Didn't happen,did it?

[@grayfool]

That was my cousins first car. He loved it too. During my childhood in the sixties and seventies those things were literally everywhere. It seemed like every other car was a Cortina. ANyone over the age of thirty will have a memory of the Cortina. That's why they are so loved. Stupid prices though.

[@magform]

This car brings back so many memories of so many firsts. My first Haynes manual, which I still own? My first car with positive earth. First place of my own. First love??? You opened the hood, and it was all so familiar. I was ready to start tuning again for the local autocross event. My experiences were with a 65 Cortina GT that had been lowered by the previous owner, and handled like a go-cart. Now this was 1976 in the USA, and competition was very stiff here from Japanese imports. But being very British, this car had a charm all it's own. It absolutely sold me on the Ford Kent engine. I had the 1.6L version in all my Fiestas. I really don't know whatever happened to that vehicle. It was my girlfriend's vehicle, and she left me to marry someone else that very same year. I do know that I found her on FB a few years back, and she is now a grandmother. But 1976 was forty-five years ago. A good memory of a great vehicle. PS. I think smoking was a generational thing. Though I quit smoking some thirty-three years ago, I remember that ash tray in the center console getting quite full, and emptied often. Be well! PPS: There are 5 speed transmissions that will bolt right in, and it does change the driving experience!

[@raypurchase801]

Open the bonnet and everything is visible and accessible.

[@joekurtz8303]

Learned alot about 12v DC theory on my 65GT w Pos. Earth.

[@levelcrossing150]

I do like the type 9, 5 speed box, but for this car I would definitely keep the 4 speed GT box. It's just a nicer box to drive and right for that era.

[@garybrown4854]

MK 1 Cortina was my first ever car , it was a very early one Reg ERY 318 , it was a nail , this example is lovely 😁

[@markmiwurdz202]

@gary brown. Do you remember seeing the earliest Cortina Mk.1 badged as a "Consul Cortina" with a slatted radiator grille?

[@seancooke7332]

Very smooth gear shifting there Steph. Fabulous taillamps and a cool fruity exhaust. Great to have this wonderful part of Sunday. Thank you so much. Excellent. Through Flow Ventilation. Forget Dagenham Dustbin, the Cortina is the Duchess/Duke of Dagenham.

[@stephenport4768]

The original Dagenham Dustbins my favourite is the mk2 1600E

[@chazw1964]

My parents got a 1966 lagoon blue/cream roof Mk1 1500 Super in the early 70's, they traded up from a 1952 A40 Devon, as a kid just riding in the back it still seemed a quantum leap!

[@stephenricketts7764]

Absolutely agree Steph, the Mk1 was the pinicle of Ford's in that era. My Dad had a '65 C reg. It was only a couple of years old when he got it, bought due to expanding family! His was a 1200 I think in light green and not a GT. We travelled miles in that car! My dad had a friend who worked for a Ford dealer and he did any major maintenance on the car, it had a reconditioned engine at one point which had to be run in (slow speeds). The rear lights were originally designed as a sort of teardrop but the 'top brsss' didn't like them so these were the final design although some in the drafting room worried that Mercedes might object but I am glad that these were the final choice. Great video Steph and please keep them coming. 👍

[@markmiwurdz202]

We used to call those Cortina Mk1 rear lights the "Ban The Bomb' style! Those rear lights from the Mk1 (and the Mk2) were used on the TVR 400 series sports cars,

[@stephenricketts7764]

@@markmiwurdz202 Your right about 'ban the bomb ' and I was going to mention the TVR connection but it just slipped my mind! Thanks for the reminder. 🤔👍

[@levelcrossing150]

The 1200 engine was shot in a Cortina at 30,000 miles due to the 3 bearing crankshaft being worn out. We replaced many over the years and a popular replacement was to fit the 5 bearing 1500 instead.

[@tracysroberts]

We were fond of Cortinas in my family. In the 70's and early 80's my younger brother had a MKI GT the same colour as your test car. My older brother had a white MKI with a red interior. I had a 1500 MKII 2 door, followed by a 1600 MKII with a column shift in Ford's beautiful copper bronze. My sister's husband to be had a MKI and later ran a MKI sports sedan. They are rare as hen's teeth in Australia now.

[@lesklower7281]

I can remember when the Ford Cortina came out my dad took me and my two brothers down to the local ford dealership and the flow through venterlation was a big new thing

[@micrashed]

Fab Video Steph - I remember when these (the Cortina) were on almost every street.

[@richardbedasie8422]

Yeah, I turned a lot of heads when I drive my ‘65 2 door GT on the roads in Orlando Florida. Here we don’t have front registration plates, so I have a Ford Emblem as a replacement. That draws a lot of attention.

[@calinescuandrei9662]

What a beauty! I've always had a soft spot for the first gen Cortina. As always, thanks Steph for another awesome video!!! :)

[@mothmagic1]

It was far nicer than the Mk2 and 3

[@tonythompson4951]

I had a MK 1 GT many years ago EON 665 D …ermine white with a black flash down the side like a lotus cortina looked a million dollars, lovely car wish I still had it.

[@leeallen623]

Always liked the 60s and 70s fords especially the zephyr , consul, 70s and 80s Grananda ...my first car was the only Ford i've ever owned EDH160Y a MIdnight Blue Poverty spec Cortina 1.6

[@charliegrinnall2172]

I remember my dad's mk1 estate, when I was four and it decided to burn its wires and smoke came through the dash. My dad turned the engine off and it stopped. Luckily we were at the top of the hill a mile from home so it was freewheeled down the hill to limp it home. The local Ford garage was only next door so it went there and was changed for a brand new mk3 1600 xl estate which was my favourite car of my childhood.

[@adrianrowden8266]

I like the way your outfit matches the interior.

[@slavomirilov2108]

My father had white Cortina Mk1 (1200cm3) in 1968-77 .We bought it in Tuzex market in Czechoslovakia. Cortina took me and my mother to the maternity ward in 1971.I'm sentimental. The car of my childhood .The first car is like the first love. You are a nice person ,You have a pleasant speech, Greeting from Slovakia

[@autisticlife]

I gew up with Cortinas, my father was a sales rep. I recall a childhood of bouncing around on the back seat. Wherever we went the car was full of cigarette smoke, nearly everyone did it back then. I used to sit behind my father with smoke coming over, the through flow ventialaton saw to this. Our last Cortina was a MKIV, a disapointment it was crummy horid to look at (beige) and broke lots (rear axles and water pumps peeling paint and rust before 3 years old) this was the "Dagenham Dustbin". The MKI was well regarded and survived in numbers though the 70's. The MKI rear lights were used on ice cream vans and I though of MKI Cortinas as happy cars because of this.

[@jonathangriffin1120]

TVR used those rear light clusters as well.

[@paulbennell3313]

I love mk1 and 2 Escorts but I ADORE Cortinas of all types! That car has had a lot of work done and a lot of money spent on it. It's been very well done too, not over-restored, it looks like it could be a very good unrestored car. They were known for their easy gear shift and general ease of handling. They were very light for their size. I remember when they were everywhere and worth very little. Then again I remember seeing very tidy original examples well into the 80's because some people looked after their toys. The mk1 Cortina was a simple, superb package and we won't see it's like again.

[@RoyCousins]

I went with my uncle to buy a Cortina Mk1 1200 de Luxe in 1966 (D-reg) from Dagenham Motors. The Mk2 was in production and about to be launched, but Ford made these discounted late Mk1s to fill in the gap while Dagenham was re-tooled for the new car.

[@markmiwurdz202]

If a model was due to be changed (Mk1 to Mk2), they would load on all the incompatible "options/goodies" to clear out the stores ready for the new model components.

[@jimbuilds]

A great review and good to see another 4 door! It's good timing as I've just got my 1966 mk1 cortina GT back on the road for the 1st time since 2006.

[@leeallen623]

A lady with my way of thinking...i also hate people smoking in cars....To be honest i hate smoking full stop.....Everything stinks...THough i do like the smell of piped tobacco and cigars lol.....but not in the car

[@idriveaclassic]

Smoking in homes and cars. Eurgh. The smell! Does my head in.

[@peterowen4456]

Great video. In 1971 I bought a 5 year old Cortina Mk1 in a light blue (lovely colour, almost turquoise ). It replaced a 1957 Ford Anglia (my first car) with the boxy shape, 3 speed box with no synchromesh on first and vacuum windscreen wipers - a pig to start as well. When I got the Cortina it was like a completely different generation of car - I loved, really loved, that car. I used to drive around for the sheer pleasure of driving. I remember it had cross ply tyres and when I changed to radials it was even better. Great functional design as well. I'm getting quite emotional!

[@keithjones6023]

This Cortina must have been one of the last of the mk1. The mkll came along in 1966 on a D reg, the Lotus version was fantastic , but all models were a lovely stylish car.

[@levelcrossing150]

I remember seeing a few "E" reg Mk1's.

[@alanharvey9720]

I Had a 1967 late reg'd Mk1 GT Cortina .. split front bumpers very slightly lowered suspension .. navy blue .. . paid £450 in 1969 .. sold for same in 1973 ... it was a fantastic car, never let me down! One of my favourite cars ever! Reg was OHM 732E ... WISH I'D KEPT IT!

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

'65 GT 500 Mk I for sale here in Au for £75,000 GBP.

[@geoffmower8729]

I was only talking to a mate the other day about carry on cabbie and the glam cabs. Well I must say seeing you drive it has transformed this beautiful car back into a very glamorous cab indeed.

[@idriveaclassic]

❤️

[@KiwiStag74]

My first car was an A30.....and it was traded on a 65 Mark 1 Cortina GT. It was Oxford blue with a light blue vinyl interior, had all the chrome / aluminium trim on the sides, chrome bumper over-riders and (very rare for 1965) factory-option Lucas reversing lights. These were activated by a module attached to the rear of the speedometer that completed a circuit when the cable turned the opposite way, meaning that even if you just rolled backward, the reversing lights came on, but they were cool anyway as none of my mates had a car with them on! I loved that car - it was everything a 16-year-old young bloke could want. She had the 28/36 DCD Weber carb, extractors (known nowadays as headers) and a straight through exhaust with one Coby resonator (so plenty of noise to annoy the old folks), disc front brakes, close ratio gearbox, racing steering wheel and a plethora of gauges on the dash to really get those boy-racer juices flowing and be the envy of meet-ups anywhere! It had a competition clutch which required a very strong left leg to push in and superior muscle control to let out without looking like a learner driver and bunny-hopping the car down the road. I tortured that car for two years and 20k miles. She was thrashed over loose metal roads as well as winding tarsealed ones so often that it began to toll on every part of the car and maintenance costs were getting high. One cold and wet morning in August of 1985, I was heading to work at 4:30am and a truck pulled out of a side street right in front of me. I locked all four wheels of the GT up and all she did was aquaplane and slowly drift sideways, so I took my foot off the brake and she shot forward head-on into an old Oak tree on the side of the road at 50mph. I only had a few bruises and strains, but the GT was a mess. She was twisted to the right and opening the front passenger's door caused her to sag. Both rear doors would not open and the driver's door - once opened - would not shut. The radiator cap was further up the tappet cover than the oil filler cap and the water pump, generator and timing cover were smashed, along with a heap of bent steering and suspension parts. The insurance company put her back on the road, but she was never the same. I sold it soon after. I still miss the car now as it was the first car that really gave my young self the independence that we all strive for at that age. She was a very straight car before the prang and the repair put her back to looking how she was - even if she never drove the same. I checked up on the local registry and she's been off the road since about 18 months after I sold her and since that is over 30 years ago, I have a feeling it's probably for a permanent reason. Occasionally I still dream that I own the car and take her out for long drives in the countryside, remembering the sounds and smells and sights of a time long gone and the GT still sings her song as she always did. She had 91k miles on her when I bought her and 113k miles when I sold her. Wish I knew where she ended up.......

[@robertmowbray4566]

Thanks for this video, my Dad died in 69 in a work accident and had this colour Contina Racing Green ,its so great to see as it brings back great memories. Dad's wasn't the GT but it was the same year and colour, many thanks

[@volvo480]

What would a Sunday morning be without an idriveaclassic review! Especially with cars like the Cortina that weren't sold here in numbers. Though the Cortina was assembled locally in Amsterdam and subsequently exported to the UK as demand outgrew Dagenham production, German-built Taunus outsold the Cortina by 4 to 1 if I look at the number of survivors (not counting later imports, pre-1970 Cortina: 62 and pre-1970 Taunus: 251)

[@mattw8332]

Lovely. Note how the pattern of the eyeball air vents match the tail lights! 😎 A big hit for Ford 59 years ago. I'm more nostalgic about the post 1970 Cortinas. I'd love to see one of those on the channel. 🙂

[@mikeymike3240]

Hi there, it’s a tribute to the 60s peace symbol ☮️, i love the cortina and of course the escort, i served my time/apprenticeship as a spray painter for the Belfast main Ford dealership in 1971, they were the day’s.

[@martinevans1256]

What an absolute beautiful car I love old fords thanks for sharing this Steph.

[@idriveaclassic]

Thank you!

[@rogerdonaldsullivan1424]

@@idriveaclassic great cars for mini skirts and knee boots in its time 👌

[@Davo_enchilada]

I'm 57 now, when I was a kid in the early 70s my dad bought a used Mark 1 GT, it was a lighter shade of green than this and had a vinyl roof and a yellow side stripe, but the upholstery was a dead ringer for this. At the time I wished he could have bought a 1600E, but we couldn't afford it. As I grew older I preferred Escorts and Datsun 1600s (510s) but I've grown to love the Mk1 Thanks for evoking such great memories.

[@jeremytravis360]

One of my friends Richard Humphries had a 1600E in Aubergine. It had beautiful wood trim on the dash and door tops. It was an incredible car. When I hitch hiked down to Southampton he drove me and my brother back to Norwich. He hit 100mph when driving back on the A11 which had no motorway. Naughty but exciting.

[@idriveaclassic]

If it wasn’t illegal and it was my car, I’d have a punt at 100 too 😂

[@jonathangriffin1120]

The 1600E in Aubergine was a well cool car, especially if you had the 'traditional' black/silver number plates instead of the reflective one which were just being introduced at the time.

[@bard5417]

Your attitude and your personality are absolutely fantastic! Can't believe i've only just found this channel.

[@svcten]

I had exactly the same one, 1966 Green. RBH 281D. For some reason, never ever forgot the regn number. Loved it. Later, "upgraded" to the 1600E.

[@replevideo6096]

I had a 1963 Cortina 1200 Mk.1. Previously I had a 1955 Oxford which I loved, but when my wife passed her test, she felt nervous driving that big lump, so I looked out for a smaller car. A young chap down the road expressed interest in buying the Oxford, then mentioned he had a Cortina, so we did a swap with me paying some money because it was worth more than the Oxford. My wife tried the Cortina out and felt confident with it so the deal was done. I can't say I loved the Cortina, but it was alright. I preferred large ugly cars with space for 6 and steering column change and bench seat. I replaced it later with a Mk.3 Zephyr as my wife was a far more experienced and confident driver by then.

[@endeavour356]

In June 1962 at Montlhery I was standing near Henry Ford II, when as he climbed out of the prototype Cortina GT, he said "We gotta build that"

[@marciabaldwin2506]

Thank you Steph a stunning. Example of a MK1 Cortina never owned one myself I love the styling them rear lights are fantastic I have owned a mk2 Cortina 1500 super manual column change miss it like mad. I'm an mk1 escort fan too have owned so many wish I had mine now

[@tobeycat2007]

Wow that is what I call a classic car, it looks fantastic.

[@neilpye6089]

The mk1 cortina was designed by the same bloke who designed the original edsel (Roy brown Jr)

[@Witheredgoogie]

..and the MK2 was designed by the bloke who designed the Allegro ..what a contrast.

[@andrewamidala]

Takes me way back to the early 1970s where our father would drive us to Hastings for a day trip from Dunstable. Picnic basket and flask in tow. We would all cheer as we went through the Black wall tunnel. Sheer bliss

[@85waspnest]

My dad bought a new 'Consul' Cortina 1200 in Ascot Grey when they came out. This was traded in 1965 for a new 1500 Super (AUB 165C) in Goodwood green with a bench seat and column gearchange. Other than the dreaded rust bug eating the front wings after 3 years, the car gave 8 years trouble free motoring. I often borrowed the car after passing my driving test in 1971 and was sorry to see it sold.

[@jameswithington3406]

I love your videos! My dad had a humbler version, a two door 1965, and when I saw the huge boot lid open, I graphically remember my brother's trapped finger.. and as a direct result my kids have always been warned away and watched carefully, despite the far less danger from modern designs. The rear lights were sort of copied from US cars, but I was fascinated by them as a small child, and looking at them now, they're still fantastic

[@christoguichard4311]

I had one of these in about 79. Loved it.

[@mikethebikemt07tracer]

I started work in a Ford garage as an apprentice mechanic in the summer of 1966. I actually loved going to work and not everybody can say that. I still love all of the Ford cars from that decade including the Cortina GT. The thing about the Escort was it handled a lot better. I have had Escorts, Cortina's and Capri's but my favorite was the MK2 Cortina 1600E. I wish that I still had some of them as they would be worth a lot more than I sold them for back in the day.

[@paulusarnhelm704]

That takes me back.My first car was a 1966 Cortina 1500 de luxe.Two door in Spruce Green.And yes the previous owner painted on the obligatory black side stripe.....to give the Lotus look,Happy days.After many cars,and years later,it still remains one of my favourites.

[@MTSVW]

Agree, this is my favorite English Ford. Love that the dash air vents match the tail lights. Love those ‘60s greens in the interior.

[@Mortimer50145]

It *does* have an indicator stalk on the right of the steering column - you see it at about 2:58 in the video. The pre-Aeroflow Cortinas (eg the ones used as Glamcabs in Carry on Cabby) had a huge metal housing that came out of the column with various tab switches for indicators, lights, maybe wipers, and a button on the end for horn. That apparently caused a lot of kneecaping injuries in crashes, so was replaced with a stalk. The same was true of the original *Consul* Corsair: metal housing on early models replaced by stalks after a few years.

[@paulbennell3313]

The blinkers are on a stalk.

[@aintme2]

Great video Steph, I own both a MK1 Cortina 1500 deluxe in Goodwood green, and a white MK1 Escort that you saw me arrive in at the hubnut social, I agree with you about the Cortina and Escort, my Escort feels much more modern to drive, however, the Cortina is more spacious, personally I think it's more stylish, and puts a bigger smile on my face!

[@1L6E6VHF]

10:04 I wish that we could have triband radios in the dashboard in the USA.

[@terryroberts505]

Had a 1965 2 door 1200 had it in 1980 for a few months and the front suspension leg started to come through the inner wing so down the scrappy £10

[@wrightmartin5157]

My dad bought me a Mk11500cc 1966 Estate in 1969. It was an export model and just as the car shown in this video it was a ``D`` Reg in Alpina Green. Earlier Mk 1`s were Goodwood Green. I lived very close to the Ford of England offices at Brentwood in Essex. I got to know every nut and bolt of that car and really looked after it and apart from all the mechanical attention , I used to wash and clean it every week with a daily leathering off of the bodywork and wow did the bodywork shine. my car did have the metal embelishments in the interior door panels and the original owner- a Canadian immigration officer had put in a remote gear change unit as the original long gear lever was known to put out an annoying zzzzzzzzz sound. He`d also replaced the plastic steering wheel with one very similar to the GT`s. Ford wanted to celebrate some anniversary of the Cortina MK 1 and my estate car was apparently the second best looking Cortina and the competition was won by a grey Mk1 as the Ford management wanted a saloon Cortina that had been ``immortalised`` by some song around at the time. My airflow ``eyeball`` outlets on the dash were chromed plastic from new unlike the bare ones on the car shown. I have quite a few stories I could relate about my car but after being made redundant in 1983 I moved to South Dorset from Essex to be with my dad who was developing a small garden nursery business and my precious Cortina rusted away within a year or two. I was forced to get rid of it by my dad and I sold it for £100.

[@malcolmgreenway8486]

Great car Stepth my first car when i passed my driving back in 1973 i had a mk1 cortina mine was 1.2 lovely car great video Stepth

[@MrJerry1902]

Hi Steph,really good reviews u do and comprehensive knowledge of your subject cars.i own the prior to the cortina and could be argued the forerunner for the cortina and that is the 315 classic.didnt really catch on in 62 when launched the styling was a bit radical for its day.But for me today I like the classic American style of the car and it brings a lot of smiles to people's faces when they c it.

[@kevthedynamo]

Always loved these cars. I remember my mother pointing out the unusual rear lights when I was a toddler. Don't know why she did as she wasn't a car fanatic. I just think the Cortina MK1 was the most beautiful designed car ever! I envy you Steph, getting a chance to drive one.

[@idriveaclassic]

I agree, a work of art!

[@1mgvideo]

The same friend I mentioned in my comment on the Ford Anglia 105e, his father owned a Cortina with the registraion BOO. This registration number would fetch a great deal of money but folk back then weren't really interested in cherished numbers as they are today.

[@phil3924]

My mom had one in the 60’s her dad got her to use for college in New England. She always spoke fondly of it but it didn’t last very long. An oil change place didn’t put the plug in right and the engine fried. She wasn’t a car person and I can’t imagine a lot were sold here.

[@Pickchore]

Nice... so shiny. I knew someone with a ratty but solid mk2 GT. He towed me in a mk2 Golf that had no gearbox from Woolwich to Dulwich. ... scary but fun.

[@martinihrck2704]

Hello Steph, my dad had one in 1968 we all love the car dearly...done many holidays with long distance driving in it.

[@adrianstricklandhyde3638]

Brings back allsorts of memories for me as a lad in the 70's and 80's with my older brother working on his two MK2 Cortina's. He also bought a crashed Mk2 Lotus for spares, minus engine and gearbox unfortunately. we also had two Hillman Hunters, both I think had four speed with Overdrive. they were beautiful cars fantastic to drive. Have you had the chance to test one?

[@paulbennell3313]

Yes, Arrow Hunters and their derivatives were superb cars.

[@horsenuts1831]

Ohhh, I can already feel the burning on the back of my legs from when I would sit on the vinyl seats wearing shorts on a boiling hot day. My granddad used to have a 1962 1200 Consul Cortina which he absolutely loved (it didn't really get used that much because he had a scooter to get to work on). It would have been one of the first ones because it didn't have a suffix registration plate (indeed, Grandad had been driving so long that he never took a driving test as he started driving before tests were introduced, and simply applied for a licence). I still remember a long drive as a kid from Coventry to a static caravan site at Minehead.

[@simonwebster6855]

Another great video Also pleasure to finally meet you in person at the motorist hub I was the man with the Rare Mini Rio

[@nigelrobinson3077]

I had two mk 1's, both 1200cc, both spruce green, both column gear change. I paid £55 for a 1965 C reg (DOM 349C) in 1974. A year or two later I bought a 1964 (7097 FM) for £25 that ran on three cylinders and swapped over the engines as I had bent the first one. Great cars!

[@andygreen1a]

Hi Steph, great view and what a wonderful car. Hello love the history of it and how it’s been in the same family all these years. Great to enjoy a car that’s used regularly and is looked after and cherished. Well researched by you as always. About love your channel, I can’t wait to see what you have for us next. You cheered me up at a time I’m really struggling, thanks again.

[@paulbennell3313]

Sorry to hear you're struggling mate.

[@andygreen1a]

@@paulbennell3313 Thank you Paul, I hope all is okay with you.

[@paulbennell3313]

@@andygreen1a I'm alright thanks. Hope you are too before long.

[@michaelhalsall5684]

The Cortina Mark 1 is now a very collectable! So many variations were made through its production. In Australia there was a limited production version called the Cortina GT500 which was specially built and sold in enough numbers to be eligible to enter the Bathurst 500 mile production car race in 1965. It won that race.

[@robertlambert8719]

My word, that takes me back to my childhood! Dad had a Cortina mk1 in a fetching shade of grey with white roof; sadly not a GT! What a lovely car, and such a history! Obviously you have twigged the deliberate mistake in the driving wheel department! (A front-wheel drive Cortina? How about it Ford ?) Thanks for another superb video, Steph!

[@levelcrossing150]

This air-flow modeled GT is one of my all time favourite cars that I have always regretted not having owned. This perfectly sized family car feels part of you when you are driving it and you would be comfortable driving it for long distances too. The Mk1 was the first of a great family of models that Ford produced for may years after.

[@davidlivermore7481]

One of the common mechanical problems of the 'genuine' GT Cortina over the lesser models was that umbrella handbrake fitted to the underside of the dash (to accommodate the remote gear change and its centre console). This handbrake relied on the cable being taken over pulley wheels welded to the bulkhead in the engine bay. As such the cable would frequently excessively stretch and/or the pulleys brackets would often break off there welds. Great roomy, airey, nice to drive, simple mechanic's cars though, especially if you got a good rust free one. Had a few back in the seventies. A true d.i.y. mechanic's car to cut your teeth on. Would just love to go back to that cars simplicity and get as far away as possible from today's current crop of overly complicated and ultimately boring samey vehicles.

[@vulgivagu]

My first car in 1968. Very economical and for its time relatively large. At the time Ford kept spares for many of their models a long time after production ended. Loved the parts departments , stores assistant seemed to know the long code numbers for every part by memory. Happy days.

[@gregjarvis3288]

Great video. I had a 1963 cortina GT, the series 1 with the revcounter on the steering column. Traded my frogeye in for it. Was disappointed with the performance until I discovered the twin choke Weber needed a bit of a heavier right foot!! Great car...lowered it a bit and put 5 and a half inch rims on it. Happy days😊

[@paulday6875]

Hope your feeling better 🐱. You released this at just the right time. Today is a month since I lost my beautiful wife Vickie. Thanks for the pick me up 😊

[@musicismytherapy4936]

Sorry to hear about your wife dude. 😕

[@paulday6875]

@@musicismytherapy4936 thanks it's been rough everyday.

[@idriveaclassic]

Paul you must be having such a hard month. Have been thinking of you. Your Vickie was a lucky lady to have such a sweet man, please try to look after yourself at this hard time xx

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Excellent Review as always Steph.

[@bigsquatchsasfoot1964]

What a lovely storey Steph it’s nice when the car really is part of the family I remember my grandad had a primrose yellow one I was incredibly young 5 ish I suspect so 55 years ago but I actually do remember it ..ish . I love cortinas and that’s a Beauty , brilliant vid thanks 👍

[@markmiwurdz202]

@idriveaclassic. Thank you for this excellent review of the Cortina Mk1. Great work! When you were showing the various features of the dashboard - especially those switches, I remembered that back in the day you could buy "extension levers" to push - fit on to them. So it brought the switches closer to the driver. It would be a bit of a stretch to reach the switches with the "extensions" anyway. But when you were out on your road test, I realised just how much more of a problem it would have been, especially with the old style fixed adjustment seat belts from those days! Stay safe and well.

[@craigmclean8260]

Great road test, Steph! Loved that look you got at 14:04 after engine start, followed by, "Why does this sound so much better than any of my cars?!"

[@alastairwatson3201]

I love your passion for cars of this era, Steph! The way the Cortina’s dash vents mimic its tail lights is also very, very cool.

[@Travatain]

Loved the video, it reminded me of happy days back in the sixties when I had my own GT Cortina. Mine was white with a green stripe down the side, I think they all were at the time? I had traded up from a modified Anglia that I had fitted with the same 1500cc engine and twin carbs. It was great, but the Cortina was a bit more classy! The engines were very good and these cars were so easy to work on then, you could do almost anything yourself. They are making modern cars with computer controlled engines, etc which makes it impossible to repair them yourself and I hate this, You have to go to the main dealers for repairs and they can charge as much as they like, knowing that you can't go elsewhere. Thanks for putting this on KZbin Steph.

[@philtaylor9038]

Steph I agree with your pinnacle statement it just seems to glide in the video.

[@WankerZoff]

I had one of these in the mid 70s. Bought it as a non runner for £50 and it needed one wing welding. Got the wing welded and when I checked the engine over I realised the mechanical fuel pump had failed. Got one from a scrapyard for £1 and hey presto! It fired up and drove like a dream. It's the only car I've ever owned (and I've had over 50) that was a police magnet - I was stopped 3 times in it (none of them for speeding)! I eventually replaced it with a Triumph GT6 (poor man's E-Type) that I bought for £265.

[@manfacilitymetalworks1296]

That dashboard 😍

[@lotuscortina63]

Great review, you really do need to drive these cars to really appreciate them. They were way ahead of their time , and as you said in your film they are still good enough to keep up with modern day traffic without holding anyone up. I’ve owned all marques of the Cortina from MK1 to Mk5 and they were all great at what they were designed and built for, but it’s the MK1 that I have my greatest affection for. Such a great all rounder..

[@petersaunders747]

I bought one of these in the late 60's but with an Automatic Gear Box. I bought it so that I could encourage my wife to drive. In which she did passing her test at the first attempt. It was great motor, but I had to change the bendix gear on the starter several times because an earlier owner had replaced the gear with a 20 tooth gear, consequently the gear would wear out. The bendix should have 19 tooth gear. Anyway, great motor. Motors in the 50's & 60's were at least individual in design unlike todays models.

[@wattck]

I Passed my Driving Test in a Cortina Mk1 1500cc GT. A lovely car. Took my test with snow on the Ground and had to leave the Drivers Window open in Freezing weather to do hand signals!! Brrrrr! It had a Fabricated Exhaust Manifold, all pipes same length, if memory serves.

[@Mortimer50145]

You. Jammy. Bugger. ;-) I am so jealous. I remember when I was little, in the 1960s, a friend's dad had two Cortina Mark 1s. First of all a pre-Aeroflow one with white oval front lights (with amber indicator bulbs), a very long gear lever that came out of the transmission tunnel somewhere under the dashboard, and a metal arm sticking out of the steering column (guaranteed to kneecap you in the event of an accident) with tab-switches for indicators, lights and wipers. Then he changed it for an Aeroflow Cortina (it may even have been a GT) with a short gear lever that came out of the tunnel further back near the seats, as on a modern car; the kneecappers had been replaced by an indicator stalk and switches on the dashboard.

[@reallyrandomrides1296]

I like how the shape/design of the air vents is the same as the taillights. The green exterior and interior look great! This MK1 Cortina GT really stands out in traffic with all of the modern cars. Looks like a well equipped car for its time. As for the cigarette lighter being used and you finding it vile for people to smoke in a car, it's important to remember that the smoking rate peaked around this time. In 1962, over 70% of British men and 40% of British women smoked, so finding a classic car that was never smoked in would be a rarity.

[@lewisgardner1660]

My first car was. Mk 1 cortina 1200cc, I bought it off my father for £15 it was a two door, the same green as this one, I still have a brand new front exhaust pipe in my shed

[@visionsofhere3745]

That stereo radio is almost certainly an aftermarket fitting. The BBC only started experimenting with stereo radio in 1962, and radios 1, 2, and 4 didn't go stereo until 1973. Commercial radio barely existed at that point. Well into the '70s, factory fitted car radios were almost invariably mono, with a single speaker.

[@Maddpunx]

Rear wheel drive 🙂

[@idriveaclassic]

Whoops 😩😩😩. Honestly I haven’t made a mistake on a script read in ages.

[@Maddpunx]

@@idriveaclassic Happens to the best of us, excellent video anyway.

[@johnd8892]

A big seller in Australia. I was just talking to a friend a few hours ago how the local Cortina GT won the first 1963 Bathurst 500 race for locally assembled cars in showroom condition. Then followed up, winning in 64 and 65. Part of the success was the front disc brakes in a light car changing the mind of local racing driver Bob Jane who thought V8 cars like the local Studebaker and Dodge Phoenix speed on long uphill and downhill could not be beaten. The Cortinas 500 mile ability and braking converted his thinking. 1964 race and the cars it beat : kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWSaoK2pjr5-d8U

[@terrywalker348]

Nice Video. I grew up with these cars. I used to have a Consul Classic in the same colour with a three speed column change and a bench front seat, and my mate had a Consul 375 with a white soft top, again with a 3 speed column change both in British Racing Green. Lovely motors, better than all this same looking c**p we have on the roads today. The cars and the music, beam me back there Scotty.

[@rogeruk9263]

Now in my mid 60 s my dad had a cortina mk1 super deluxe light green with white roof 1600 engine it went like a rocket lovey and smooth. Of course at the time my dad hardly used it because I was driving it every where.

[@Grimwriggler]

looking at those air vents and rear lights i can now see that someone at the design department of blake's 7 Liberator got their design from

[@robertmaitland09]

My dad had a 4 door one back in the day, two tone blue and cream, lovely car.

[@stepheng8779]

Loved the MK1 and at the time (as a young lad) hated the MK2. Now absence has made the heart grow fonder and I love em both 👍