Lotus Cortina Mk1
The Lotus Cortina — officially the Ford Cortina Lotus, though enthusiasts universally use the reversed name — is one of the most important homologation specials in British motorsport history. Born from a collaboration between Colin Chapman's Lotus and Ford of Britain, it transformed the workaday Ford Cortina into a giant-killing racing saloon that dominated touring car competition throughout the mid-1960s.
The partnership came about because Ford wanted to win in motorsport and Lotus needed a reliable engine supply. Chapman took the Ford Kent 116E block and designed a twin-cam aluminium cylinder head with hemispherical combustion chambers, creating the legendary Lotus-Ford Twin Cam engine. In the Cortina, this unit produced 105 bhp — roughly double the output of the standard Cortina's pushrod engine.
Chapman's modifications went far beyond the engine. The bodyshell was lightened wherever possible, with aluminium door skins, bonnet, and boot lid on early cars. The rear suspension was completely redesigned, replacing the standard leaf-spring live axle with a Chapman strut arrangement using coil springs, an A-frame, and trailing links. The close-ratio four-speed gearbox, front disc brakes, and lowered suspension completed the transformation.
The Lotus Cortina was instantly and devastatingly competitive. Jim Clark won the 1964 British Saloon Car Championship in one, and the car dominated its class in touring car racing across Europe. Sir John Whitmore, Jack Sears, and Bo Ljungfeldt were among the star drivers who campaigned Lotus Cortinas to countless victories.
Early Mk1 cars (built at Lotus's Cheshunt factory) are the most sought-after, featuring the A-frame rear suspension and lightweight panels. Later Mk1 production was transferred to Ford's Dagenham plant, where some of the more exotic Chapman modifications were simplified for production efficiency.
The classic livery of white with a green side stripe has become one of the most iconic colour schemes in British motoring. The Lotus Cortina remains a hero of historic racing and one of the most desirable small saloons of the 1960s.
Authenticity is the key concern. Many standard Cortinas have been converted to 'Lotus' specification, so verification of the original identity is essential. Check the VIN plate carefully — genuine Lotus Cortinas have specific prefix codes. The Lotus twin-cam engine is a known oil consumer and requires careful maintenance of the timing chain tensioner. The A-frame rear suspension (early cars) can develop geometry issues. Rust affects all Cortinas severely — check the inner wings, floor pans, sills, and A-posts. The aluminium panels on early cars are valuable and difficult to reproduce. Prices have risen sharply, reflecting the car's motorsport heritage and rarity.
Total Mk1 Lotus Cortina production: approximately 3,306 units (1963-1966). Early cars were assembled at Lotus's Cheshunt factory; later production moved to Ford's Dagenham plant. The Cheshunt-built cars had aluminium panels and the more sophisticated A-frame rear suspension. Dagenham cars reverted to steel panels and eventually to conventional leaf-spring rear suspension for reliability. Competition versions were further lightened and tuned to around 145 bhp.