Ford Cortina Discussion Latest Topics

Parts comparability page

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 11:27:50 +0000

Hi Craig

can you remind me how I get to the parts compatibility section. I can’t remember if mk4/5 rear estate quarters glass fits mk3 estate rear quarters.

thanks

paul

Fancy another 1600e what do they go for

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 16:28:46 +0000

Sold my classic so cancalled my insurance.paid in full only did 4 months off my 12 months said i had no refund so took 8 months for nothing and it wasent cheap screwed me over dont use them robbers

When a Bakkie is Not a Cortina….

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 15:39:33 +0000

As I am sure many of you know despite appearing the same there are many differences that can be very frustrating (and possibly expensive) if you are not aware of them - this is one I was not aware of....

Today I undertook to replace the propshaft centre bearing support on my 1985 Bakkie – I had previously purchased a Cortina unit which on the face of it looked the same – after splitting the shaft and replacing the complete unit (carrier/rubber/bearing) when I came to bolt it up it didn’t fit! – the Bakkie carrier mounting holes are approximately 1” wider apart than the Cortina carrier – it was overcome by transferring everything into the original Bakkie carrier.

Hopefully this info may be of use to anybody undertaking a similar task and saving them doing it twice!

Keep up the good work on this site - it has been invaluable to me on my return to the 1980’s :-)

Vehicle movers recomnendation

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:55:50 +0000

Looking to relocate from Kent to Lincoln.

After recommendations to move two cars at once.
Thanks

Paul

Do not use lancaster insurance done me over

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 06:56:18 +0000

Sold my classic so cancalled my insurance.paid in full only did 4 months off my 12 months said i had no refund so took 8 months for nothing and it wasent cheap screwed me over dont use them robbers

Non Cortina... New brakes for the MOT

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 17:35:53 +0000

I took my Peugeot in for it MOT almost 12 months ago. Arnold Clark do/did a video assessment for my viewing pleasure. "The front pads are getting a bit thin and the discs are starting to 'groove'," He said, he also showed where the rear shocks were getting rusty on the bottoms. Finding a cheap pair is like looking for the Holy Grail, they are stupid money and GSF don't have any in stock anywhere! So, back to the discs and pads. "A bit thin" he said, I didn't know just how thin he meant the pads were/are!

Why can't I rotate my pictures? I have them the correct way up in my 'pictures' folder but here, they just go onto their side!

Spotties, what ones would you choose?

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 16:36:46 +0000

Long ago, in a galaxy far far away from here, there was a young lad with a 2000 GT Mk3 Cortina. His uncle, a builder, had a Mazda B1800 pickup truck and told him that if the lad would brush paint his truck he would pay him and gift him the Rallygiant spotlights on the front of it. Truck painted and he fitted the Rallygiants to his GT and everything was fine.

Many years passed, the GT was 'taken out' by nature and possibly a numpty in a Talbot Sunbeam (another long story). Years later, in the lads midlife crisis, he decides to revisit his youth and buys a 1600 XL Mk3 Cortina (he couldn't find another 1976 2000 GT at the time). He spotted another pair of Rallygiants on a VW forum and travelled far (28 miles to Salford) to purchase them. Now he had to fabricate mounting brackets, the same as the ones on his GT as the XL had pre drilled holes in the front valance, like the GT. To cut a long story short ("GET ON WITH IT!!") What would you go for?

These, which were 25 quid from a local friendly car parts shop?

The Salford Rallygiants?

With the covers just for a giggle, they won't stay on!

Or these, which I have stashed away in a 'safe place' somewhere, but exactly where? That escapes my aging mind at the moment!

spotted 1600E

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 21:08:56 +0000

popped in a mates garage today to drop off some spares and low and behold he was sealing the diff on this little beut, needless to say there went the entier afternoon chatting about xlows and 2 dr 1600Es

Car flippers

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 19:09:42 +0000

Did anyone else spot the MK5 estate on an auction web site that sold at the weekend for about £5.6K with fees. Within a day it's on eBay and already bids are up to £1K more.

Can someone please save the classic car world from flippers.

Cortina Mk1 Hobbs Mechamatic Automatic Transmission?

Sun, 21 Jun 2026 18:07:36 +0000

I was reading an article that Dieter Korp wrote for auto motor und sport magazine in 1963 and in there he says Ford UK was extremely interested in using the westinghouse "hobbs" mechamatic automatic transmission but later says that ford dropped out at the last second and did not offer that transmission officially. However he also later states that around 1963 the ford dealer network in UK grew so much that ford finally started offering that transmission on the cortina mk1, capri and the "ford classic". However i can not find any picture on the internet for any of these cars equipped with the hobbs automatic transmission. Another article about the hobbs gearbox stated that it retained the third "clutch" pedal but the pedals purpose was now to act as a lever for the override system to disengage the gearbox from the driveline or something like that. It would be amazing if anybody has a picture of one of those fords equipped with the hobbs automatic gearbox, im especially wondering the pedal era to see if it indeed has that third pedal as they said in the article.

Anyone got a two door Taunus they may sell ?

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 08:19:42 +0000

Hello all

Am on the look out for a two door Taunus a booted saloon one from 73 to 76 if anyone has one they would consider selling? Welding not a problem

Same as pick

MK4 V6 woken up from hibernation

Sat, 19 Apr 2025 12:10:20 +0000

I've not started this or even had it out of the garage since Cortina day in June last year. Only snag is the battery is knackered. Had a job starting it using a slave battery which is also as much use as a chocolate tea pot..

Just about managed it but I'll have to go out and buy another battery. Local show tomorrow.

VID_20250419_130457.mp4

Mk4 Spotlight brackets

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 08:51:19 +0000

i can't find the dimples to locate the bracket, probably under the Ziebart.... could someone tell me how far apart the brackets are located (either centre to centre of your brackets, or same measurement on the spots themselves would do. i hope to be able to find the right spots (sic) then. not to worry, i found them, theyre a bit faint but there...

Cortina PAS set-up for sale on FB Marketplace

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:02:38 +0000

Apologies if this isn't allowed. The sale is nothing to do with me, but these are scarce and there usually seems to be someone looking for one.

https://www.facebook.com/share/17VZfKYutp/

Not for me

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:30:10 +0000

I'll leave this here. Closest it's getting to my driveway. But each to their own.

https://www.facebook.com/share/176fTQh23m/

Oldest survivors

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 18:46:38 +0000

Was asked recently if I knew what the oldest surviving MK4 was & I realised I don't know, this autumn will mark the MK4 50th anniversary so I wonder if anyone knows of the oldest remain of each marque is?

I always kick my self that in the 90s I missed out on a maize yellow 2dr 1600 GT with an aug 70 build date.

Talk about 'original equipment'!

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 21:58:17 +0000

I think that I can safely say that all the rubber parts on my 76 (EDIT: it's a 75 not a 76, N reg not P reg doh!) F/L came from Dagenham!

Void bushes were all a bit tired and replaced with FloFlex polly bushes.

Tie bar rubbers were wafer thin sponge, resulting in a CLUNK at every speed bump, regardless of speed. I can't find a pic sorry.

The timing belt stripped a few teeth, fortunately no engine damage done. Sorry again for the dodgey focus.

Today, I fired up the engine and whilst revving it, the charge light started to dimly flicker but, it went out again at tickover. I noticed it giving a little squeel last time I was at the lockup and the fan belt looked a bit er,... thin, shall we say?

Down to the stitching at parts.

Getting a bit thin I think!

Fortunately, I had a NOS fanbelt knocking around back from my Mk1 Fiesta days and it fitted perfectly. Apparently not much difference between a Valencia OHV and a SOHC, if anyone is looking for a cheaper alternative. In fact, when I searched and checked the part number (I have since chucked the motorcraft card cover away so don't ask), it came up as mk3/4/5 Cortina and mk1/2 Fiesta compatible. I've STILL not bled the brakes yet though!

MK4 Estate with an Essex V6

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 19:57:43 +0000

A friend of a friend rung me today. He is clearing his late Uncles house and in the garage there is a Cortina Estate MK4 with an Essex V6. He knows it has not been on the road for at least 20 years but he seems to think it was purchased new with this engine by his Uncle as a retirement present to himself. Did they ever make them like this or was it a conversion ?

I have no idea of its condition and I am due to have a look at it after work tomorrow.

I must say it has got me interested even though I promised the wife I would not be buying any more cars.

I am not expecting much but fingers crossed.

MK1 super Trim

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 14:28:12 +0000

Hi Folks, i am going to do an autojumble in March, I have sold most of my bits & bobz over the years, and gave up buying/selling a few years ago, I have found some odds & sods that looks to be enough to do one last jumble, I have found what looks to be a set (no arrow pieces) of outer chrome trim for the 4 door mk1 super. I am finding it difficult finding anything at all to give me an idea of what to sell it for? Obviously i don't want to get into a debate with a potential buyer of what it's really worth and have them try to con me, so can anyone give me a ball park figure? as mentioned, no pointy bits, but the rest is there, pretty straight, some marks but considering how long I 'think' i've had it (25/30 years?) it's certainly useable.

Thank you for your time.

Roof mounted clock

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 18:26:44 +0000

Hi, just been reading an item regarding fitting a fiesta/escort/orion roof mounted clock.

Question is dies anybody have one It doesn't matter if the clock works as I'm after the casing. I've fitted a roof mounted ariel and the bulb holder won't fit back in flush! Rookie mistake!! Cheers Paul

Clutch pedal ratchet assembly

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 13:52:23 +0000

Hi my clutch pedal seems to have gone straight to the foor with no resistance I'm I right thinking it's the plastic ratchet part ??

Where's the best (cheapest?) place to get a starter motor from?

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 22:51:47 +0000

Preferably not too far from the Merseyside area, so that I can go and collect it and part ex my old one. I've looked on fleebay and there's a place in Oldham selling one for £69 plus change but his reviews are not the greatest. GSF did list them the other night but I think their website was having a wobbler 'cos now it doesn't. (that was a stab in the dark) Also when it said they were available they listed them with 9 teeth, not 10! Today, it says "fits VW this Beetle, that bus/van" etc etc. I don't have a VW anymore! So any suggestions? Oh and Euro car parts don't seem to have one in stock anywhere! Hellfrauds are usless unless you want to buy some polish, or a bike!

P21 ford radio fitting

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 11:05:46 +0000

Bought p21 radio to put my back to original never use it.but be nice see if did work i can see earth with is postive small or bigger connector

ybb371h the get carter cortina

Tue, 03 May 2005 20:56:01 +0000

i was watching the brilliant michael caine film get carter and wondered if his mk2 corty in film still survives YBB 371H sorry if this topic has been discussed before.

MOT exemption

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 00:32:15 +0000

So, I went to the post office a fare few years back with my tax renewal form and a V112 form and log sheet. I gave them to the woman behind the counter who went through everything and then asked for payment. "What?" I said. Then with the help of her colleague, we managed to get her to understand that a 1975 Cortina is TAX EXEMPT, hence no payment. So for every year since, I've taxed it on line for free. But, the DVLA site STILL shows 'No results returned' for the MOT, even though I knew a guy who had a 55 Chevy which used to show 'MOT EXEMPT' but now also shows 'No results returned' . How do I get my Cortina to show MOT exempt as well, or have they stopped doing that now?