Ford Cortina MkII 1300 Deluxe

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The Ford Motor Company had plenty of resources and a firm belief that it needed to introduce new models every four or five years to keep their cars fresh and at the top of the sales charts.

By late 1966, the Cortina MkII had been unveiled, just four years after the original and highly successful MkI had made its debut, with a fresh squared-off look from the pen of Ford UK’s chief stylist Roy Haynes. A fraction wider and shorter than the MkI it replaced, it incorporated a number of day to day improvements such as a tighter turning circle, more compliant suspension and most importantly, significantly more interior space.

For the home-market, a new five-bearing 1,300cc engine and carry-over 1,500cc unit were the offer of the day, the capacity of the larger engine being increased to 1,599cc in August ’67 along with new crossflow heads for both. The new models were simply badged 1300 or 1600 and were available as two- and four-door saloons in base, Deluxe and Super trim levels, the 1600 also being sold as a GT and subsequently with lashings of wood trim and chrome embellishment as the 1600E. Not long after launch, a roomy estate version joined the price list.

Produced in 1969, this MkII 1300 Deluxe spent the first 46 years of its life in sunny South Africa which no doubt accounts for its beautiful rust-free bodyshell. Even the spot welds are as they left the factory. Imported into the UK in early 2015, it was registered JSA 350G in April of that year and has provided its owner with time-warp motoring ever since.

MOTd until April 2016, this mid-range Deluxe spec Cortina uses the sweet-running five-bearing 1,300cc engine with crossflow head mated to Ford’s delightful four-speed gearbox.

Enthusiasts from other countries never fully understand why we Brits get so excited about cars with original and rust-free body shells, but that's only because they haven’t had the dismal experience of trying to patch up a car that has been exposed to decades of salt and damp.

Economical, cheap to run and pleasant to drive, this lovely original Cortina just needs some regular exercise to keep it fit and healthy – don’t we all.