Mike Craig

Hi - have already put a post in the members car section but wondered if anyone knew anything about this Mk5 1.6GL? Seems to have been known to attend a few shows - have just bought it from a salvage auction with light front-end damage and am trying to put together any history. Cheers Mike

Some of you might vaguely remember me on here a few years ago. I had bought a 1.3 4 door from Tibbsy (?) which I unfortunately had to move on as I needed to downsize my workshop as I was being moved into smaller premises. Not sure where that car ended up (LUC367X) - do hope it's somewhere safe and getting the attention it deserved. Was gutted about having to move it on but circumstances at the time dictated. Since then, I've been able to relocate into some bigger space and some of my earlier projects have either been finished or moved on which meant led to the Cortina itch needing to be scratched again. As a wet eared 17 year old, I went through Mk4's and Mk5's almost weekly when you could pick them up for back pocket change and I've been keeping an eye out for something for a while, although the prices seem to have just gone crazy over the last couple of years as people have clearly seen these as a firm investment. However, whilst browsing through the salvage auctions online a week ago, my attention was caught by this 1981 1.6GL which has some front-end damage but otherwise looks to be a solid old girl. Some last minute frenzied bidding had to be done but I'm pleased to say it arrives next week. The reg no is VDX713X and seems to have been known to attend a few shows so I'm hopeful it's been well cared for. Will try and load up some more pics but wondered if anyone knew anything about this one? In the meantime, it's time to hunt down some panels - bonnet, slam panel, valance, grille and bumper look to be needed. Will update as things progress. Cheers Mike

Thanks - I'm honestly gutted as was about to get stuck in. Basically, I've had a workshop which was part of an old council tower block car park that was converted years ago. All fine until part of it flooded last week and the council have now asked me to vacate as they need to move their facilities from the flooded area into mine. As the lease has expired, there's not a lot I can do. I've agreed to move into a much smaller workshop on the same site but I need to downsize quickly and my other projects are dismantled and not easy to sell quickly. Ergo, the Cortina and Granada are the only ones that are movable right now. Storage space round here is pretty scarce and car repair workshops are even rarer now. Added to this is a change in work circumstances which means even less time to do fun stuff. Making a living has to come first though. Hopefully there'll be another opportunity to get another Cortina in the future. Just really disappointed not to be doing this one.

Am genuinely gutted as had made a start by stripping the interior out and assessing what needed doing. As I can weld it was all doable given time but sadly time and space just aren’t available. i don’t believe in misleading anyone - just creates bad feeling. Anyone taking this on needs to appreciate how much work is involved - hopefully it’ll be the right person who will restore it properly.

Sadly due to a sudden change in circumstances and a loss of workshop space, I’ve had to list the above for sale on ebay which is a hateful place to try and sell anything. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Cortina-MK5-Restoration-Project/203034048518?hash=item2f45c5b806:g:0JYAAOSwsJ1e-NjR You may well remember this belonged to Tibbsy on here / it does need a lot of welding - details are in the listing. I’m gutted at having to let this one go as I was determined to get going but sadly I’ve no real choice. I’d prefer it went to an enthusiast if possible. I paid £1300 last year and I’d like to try and get back as much as possible. Please message me if you’re interested or want any further info. Thanks. Mike.

Sadly due to unforeseen circumstances I’ve had to list the MK5 on eBay. Scorpio won’t be far behind either. Will also put in the for sale section. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Cortina-MK5-Restoration-Project/203034048518?hash=item2f45c5b806:g:0JYAAOSwsJ1e-NjR

Have you met my wife? Added to that I’m losing some storage space so I do need to rationalise. Will be getting Scorpio out today though - haven’t used it in 3 months so looking forward to giving it a bit of use.

Advice that I like. If I keep on like this I won’t move on any cars and keep them all...... hmmm....

Tell me about it. This is the scorpio - bought it on ebay completely blind last August as a cheap runaround for winter. Once I got it home I realised it was far better than I expected it to be. Not a mark anywhere on the leather interior, everything (including the Air Con) still worked and whilst it's the 2.0 DOHC, it pulls like a train. 135,000 miles but a new engine went in 10,000 miles ago with a receipt from Dagenham Ford for the genuine engine. It's relatively worthless but too good to be used daily so it sits in storage. I'm about to bung it back out for sale but I know all i'll get is wasters offering me £500. I love the bug-eyed Scorpio - it's still a lot of car for the money. A lot of blue oval stuff is fetching silly money, including Cortinas but the late 80's / early 90's stuff is stuck in the doldrums. Shame really as they represent usable serviceable classics but they're just not considered "cool" yet. If they ever will be.....

I had a V12 5.3 coupe 15 years ago when they were worth next to sod all. Loved it but 10mpg around town was a killer. Sold it for £2k and have regretted it ever since. I’ve had over 20 Jags including countless xj6’s, xjs and xk8’s. Agree in the rust though - I was handed my father in laws 2001 xj8 a few months ago. What started out as a bit of patching on the passenger floor has turned into a major weldathon. Jags are beautiful but bodywork can be incredibly complex to repair. I’ve got 4 here now and will happily move 3 on in the next few months as I don’t have the time to deal with them all. Thats before I even mention the absolutely mint Granada Scorpio tucked away. Worth absolutely bugger all but one beautiful example.

Christ alive - I didn't realise that it's been 8 months since this arrived here. I've got to upload some pics but the only progress so far has been removing the bonnet, stripping out the interior and then deciding to have a sit down and wonder where to start. Rust so far: Wing tops both sides are gone - wings not removed but suspect inners are next to non-existent. Front floors - big holes (as in put your hand through and have a good wave) Outer sills - look to have been replaced at some time but frilly at the ends. Inner sills - Oh joy - gone front to back on both sides where they meet the floor pan. Boot floor / Rear valance - big holes all round. Good job I can weld innit? To be honest, finishing my Jag has taken priority and a classic mini which has become my daily driver has taken up most of my spare time. Will upload pics once I've worked out how to resize. I've decided to move on my 2 XJ6's as I'm never going to get round to those and as I've had both as daily drivers previously, I'm relaxed enough to sell them. However I do want to get stuck into this Cortina soon as it's been nearly 30 years since I last owned one and as it's a 1.3 poverty spec, it appeals to my sense of loving the mundane versions.

Thanks - for the moment, it's in a queue behind an XJ8 I've been working on for much of this year (if you think Cortina's rot, take a look underneath most Jaguars!). All being well I'll be making a start early next year - there's more than a fair bit of welding needed so I'll be posting updates as and when i can.

As someone in their mid 40's, Cortina's were part of growing up friends and family owning god knows how many between them plus 3 previous MkV's myself. As a DIY restorer who's spent countless years under various Jaguars, the hankering for a Cortina has grown over the past 12 months into an itch that needed serious scratching. I'd been on the lookout on Ebay and had gone after a scruffy looking MkIV that hadn't turned a wheel in 20+ years only for the vendor to start playing around with the price - at which point a fixed price ad for a 1.3 Mk5 caught my eye and after further investigation it was also advertised on here with Tony (TIB3300) - couple of calls / text messages later, price agreed and delivery sorted. From a quick assessment, this is a total poverty spec 1.3 base model where the luxuries include a clock and....... er no, that's it. Not even an L badge - couldn't be happier! It's now safely tucked up in my unit with a couple of Jags for company. The car is entirely as Tony's description which couldn't have been more honest and accurate. Lots of welding to be done, non-existant brakes, crazy idle speed and a list which I'm sure will grow and grow. Who cares - it's great to have Cortina back in the fold after many years. Will update as and when things progress but big thanks to Tony - real pleasure to deal with from start to finish.