Equipment
1588cc/ 115hp Lotus twincam four, hub caps, Pirelli tires, woodrim steering wheel, wood shift knob, pushbutton radio.
Condition
#3 Good
Runs and drives well. Flaws not noticeable to passersby. Most common condition.
Sold new in Texas and One owner until 2013. Lots of recent mechanical sorting. Fading original paint with chips on the hood. The green bits of the paint are fading. Very light surface rust in the drip rails. Light surface rust poking trough the wheels. Sorted but totally unrestored underneath. Very well preserved original interior, although it's hard to believe the seats aren't new. With the recent mechanical work, that takes a lot of the worries away from this otherwise aged but preserved genuine Mk I Cortina. It would make a neat driver or vintage rally car as it sits.
Market commentary
Most Cortinas are either restored or in much worse shape than this. The bidders appreciated the combination of reassuringly thorough mechanical work underneath and originality on top, and bid the car to a price that would ordinarily buy a fresh restoration. But it was sold by Gooding here four years ago in comparable condition for $107,250, a $30,000+ hit for the consignor ... or someone along the way.