Ford Cortina Lotus Mk2
The Lotus Cortina Mark 2 represented the evolution of one of the most successful partnerships in British motorsport history. When Ford and Lotus first collaborated on the original Cortina Lotus in 1963, they created a giant-killing sedan that rewrote the rules of touring car racing. The Mk2, produced from 1967 to 1970, continued this tradition with a more refined package that sacrificed nothing in terms of performance.
The heart of the Mk2 Lotus Cortina remained the Lotus-Ford twin-cam engine, a 1,558cc four-cylinder unit derived from Ford's Kent crossflow block but fitted with a Lotus-designed twin-overhead-cam aluminum cylinder head. Fed by twin Weber 40DCOE side-draft carburetors, the engine produced 109 horsepower in standard road tune, a remarkable specific output of 70 hp per liter at a time when most family saloon engines struggled to produce 50 hp per liter.
The Mk2 differed from its predecessor in several significant ways. Ford assumed more control over the production process, building the cars at its Dagenham plant rather than at Lotus's facilities. This resulted in better build quality and more consistent standards. The rear suspension was changed from the Mk1's complex Chapman strut arrangement to a more conventional live axle with coil springs and trailing arms, which proved more durable while still providing excellent handling.
The styling followed the standard Mk2 Cortina's more modern lines, with the Lotus variant distinguished by its distinctive green side stripe on a white body, Lotus badges, and wider wheel arches to accommodate wider wheels. The interior received a wood-rimmed steering wheel, additional gauges, and better seats than the standard car.
In competition, the Mk2 Lotus Cortina continued to dominate. It won the British Saloon Car Championship in 1968 with Frank Gardner behind the wheel, and was a formidable presence in rallying across Europe. The car's light weight, responsive engine, and excellent balance made it the benchmark against which all other small touring cars were measured.
The Mk2 also served as a homologation special for Group 2 touring car racing, where manufacturers needed to produce a minimum number of road cars to qualify their racing versions. This requirement ensured that Ford and Lotus built enough examples for the road to satisfy the governing body, creating a genuine production performance car rather than a mere racing prototype.
Approximately 4,032 Mk2 Lotus Cortinas were produced during the car's production run, making it considerably rarer than the roughly 3,300 Mk1 cars built. Today, the Lotus Cortina in both Mk1 and Mk2 forms is one of the most desirable British performance cars of the 1960s, with racing-provenance examples commanding particularly strong prices.
Verify Lotus provenance through the Lotus Cortina Register. The twin-cam engine requires specialist knowledge for maintenance. Check for bottom-end bearing wear and oil leaks. The Weber carburetors need proper setup by an experienced tuner. Bodywork rust is the biggest concern, particularly in sills, floor pans, and around the rear spring mounts. Many non-Lotus Cortinas have been converted with twin-cam engines, so documentation is essential.
Unlike the Mk1 which was partially assembled at Lotus, the Mk2 was built entirely at Ford's Dagenham plant for better quality control. Total production was approximately 4,032 units from 1967 to 1970. The Mk2 used a simpler rear suspension design than the troublesome Chapman strut of the Mk1. Engine assembly was still performed by Lotus at Hethel.