1966 MK1 Cortina GT

This is going to be good 👍🏻😊

Sweet..another mk1 👍

I'll take you back to 2005, January 6th to be precise - I'd just passed my test.

I had a Triumph Herald 12/50 I ket at my grandparents house my grandfather would join me when I went over to theirs to learn how to set the ignition or tweak the carburettor.

The Herald was far beyond my abilities, bad rust and bodged front to back. I'd talked about this with my Grandparents once over a cup of tea, my Grandmother didn't understand the interest in something rusty and unsafe for a 19 year old but I replied that I like classic cars and I enjoy driving so why not get something that I enjoy driving. My grandfather wasn't a man of many words but agreed with me.

I had started to look for something retro and useable, the VW bay window van I looked at was a basket - Dork it to start and could see the engine though the rust on the rear panels,

The MGB's looked ok but had hidden issues for the money I just knew they would cripple me financially.

Whilst scrolling eBay a mk1 Cortina popped up, not too far away and almost affordable! I went to look at it and as soon I saw it I knew I was having it, I was taken out for a test drive and although I never got behind the wheel I was in love with it.

I rang my Dad and explained that I'd been to look at the Cortina, it looked good and drove well etc he seemed onboard so that evening we bid and won the auction! The majority of the money came from my Grandfather who had put money away for all of us to go to university or get a start in life.

This was an odd week, the pope had just died and my Grandfather was losing his battle with emphysema. They day after I won the auction we had planned to collect the Cortina but this was the day my Grandfather passed away, we were all there when it happened and I told him about the Cortina he smiled so I think I got his approval.

I'm sorry it's a tenuous introduction to a project car but it will help explain why the Cortina has meaning to me.

So how about some photos from the original listing...







A few weeks later on my parents drive.








I'll be back later with more.

2005 

Camera phones were new technology and well out of the realms of what a lowly student could afford! I've clubbed this together as this seemed like it went by in such a flash!

This was when the Cortina was road legal. I used the Cortina as my daily so commuting to college or Halfords where I worked and the odd car at the weekend.






As you can see the Cortina is in her natural state - Bonnet up!

The first MOT highlighted a few issues with the strut tops which I was lead to believe they had been done, one had but it was slapped on top of the rusted out. This lead to the wings bring replaced, the strut tops being rebuilt and a new front valance. We spent as much on this as we did buying the Cortina! 











The end result was worth it - I played a supporting role in a cousin's wedding.



 

I can't remember the specifics of what happened and when but in random weekends I'd head home to get some clothes cleaned and work on the Cortina. The plan was simple - take the underseal off and tidy up the floor, sort and engine then put it all back together - easy!
















it was caked in the stuff! I can't remember how long it took in total but it seemed never ending on my back scraping that awful stuff off!

Enjoying this.

Please keep the updates coming.

I hadn't realised how bad the shell was till it came off the road - in some respects the engine giving out probably saved me, the rear chassis leg had rusted out about 180 degrees around the rear leaf spring carrier bolt.

The worst thing was the bad repairs. Rust is forgivable but a bad repair isn't, the spare wheel well had the original rotten panel in position with a repair piece crudely welded at the seam but adhered to the original using body filler.

The rear wheel tubs had metal stuck in with filler and underseal gobbed on top, I know there was a time when they weren't worth much but if you're driving a car like this knowing it's not as good in an accident why do a crap repair and risk yourself more?!

the passengers side rear tub needed some work to get it right and the arch lip was looking pretty ropey in areas






























Generally the panels weren't in bad shape but needed work - not enough to replace the lot as some people do but work with what was there.