Lot Ended
Description
Lovely 1600E fully restored a few years ago to replicate a Lotus
Cortina MkII; 140bhp Lotus Twin Cam race engine by BRM of Bourne; Minilite
alloys; original interior; for recommissioning following a period in
storage
This car started
out in life as a regular Ford Cortina MkII 1600E (chassis prefix BA97). First
registered in London in February 1970, it must have cut quite a dash on the
streets back then, the 1600E being one of the most desirable sporting saloons of
the day with Lotus Cortina suspension, a high-tune GT 1600 Kent engine and a
sumptuous Executive interior with a wooden dash stacked with instruments, bucket
seats and a sexy sports steering wheel.
Nothing
is known of the car’s early history but the V5C records four former owners, the
current keeper acquiring the car back in 2017 by which time it had already been
transformed into the fine specimen you see today.
Although there are no invoices to show exactly what was done, an
album of photos and some notes on file show that the car was fully restored over
a period of several years. Built as an homage to the Lotus Cortina MkII (a real
one of which would set you back well over double the guide price suggested
here), the heart of the car is the Lotus Twin Cam powerplant that lurks under
the bonnet.
A plaque on the engine shows that it
was modified for racing by BRM Engine Development Division of Bourne, Lincs,
with a Phase 4 tune. Running on twin Weber 40 DCOE carbs, an undated dyno sheet
shows that it was pumping out some 140bhp compared to 109bhp as
standard.
Stripped to a bare shell, the bodywork
was restored as required and repainted in classic Lotus Cortina white with green
stripes, Lotus rear wing badges and Cortina Twin Cam boot badge. The interior is
original 1600E and looks to be in great shape. It rides on a set of 15” x 7”
Minilite alloys with Lotus centre caps and Yokohama tyres.
Flying through its MOT in August 2017 with no advisories recorded, it
has only covered 30 miles since, the odometer currently showing 27,207 miles.
Classed as a Historic Vehicle on the V5C, it is now MOT-exempt and free to tax.
Kept in storage as part of a collection for the
last few years, it will now require a new battery, some fresh fuel and doubtless
a degree of recommissioning and fine-tuning before it ventures forth once
more.
On offer here at a modest guide price
(considerably less than a standard 1600E in comparable condition) it is now
crying out for an enthusiastic new owner who can get it back on the road where
it belongs.
For more information contact
James on 07970 309907 or email [email protected]