Ford P100 Pick-up

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The original Cortina-based P100 pickup was designed and built in South Africa and introduced into their home market in 1971.

The potential for a handy ‘Ute’ was not spotted by Ford in the UK until the early ‘80s by which time the front of the car was using the Cortina MkV as a basis and a ladder chassis extending backwards from underneath the front seats. For Europe the tray was lengthened and shorter front doors from the 4-door saloon were used along with multi-leaf rear suspension, 5-stud Transit wheels and rear axle which allowed a payload of 1,000kg.

By 1988 European versions were being built in Portugal using the latest Sierra front-ends and fitted with a low compression 2.0-litre Pinto engine taken from the Sierra Cosworth, although in un-blown single carburettor form the output was limited to 73bhp.

This nicely presented 1991 model has clearly been well cared for, retaining a clean and tidy interior and straight panel work. The rear deck is checker plate-lined and has a full load cover. Unfortunately we have been unable to speak to the owner due to illness, so information about the vehicle is limited. We have been advised that it has worked on a caravan site in Essex and the V5C shows that it has had six previous owners. It comes with its original service book which has eight stamps and is MOTd until January 2017.

P100s were originally bought for hard work and were generally abused. This example seems to have escaped that fate and is one of only 586 that are still road licensed according to DVLA figures. They have recently become the car of choice amongst the ‘drifting’ fraternity, their Cosworth based engines and parts interchangeability with ‘performance Fords’ making them a cool choice amongst the ‘yoof’ – bizarrely a P100 even has an entry in the Guinness Book of Records as the fastest vehicle (at 65.5mph) to run on coffee....anyone fancy a cuppa?