andy lowe

I took my interest in Cortina's after chancing upon an issue of CF in Sept 2000 and I first looked at a tired Mk3 in Nov 2000 at a local garage but it was up for stupid money even for then. I subsequently looked at a modified Mk1 4dr in May 2001 at another garage this time in Shepshed but when push came to shove I was never going to be able to insure it alongside my daily driver at the time being only 18 so had to leave it which was a shame because I quite liked it. I had to save for a further 18 months before I was in a financial position to buy and insure a Cortina and I found my first one, a 1600E, in Nottingham in Jan 2003. Like another poster I never had net access until 2004 so all my car hunting was at shows, CF classifieds or CCW paper.

Primary reason I gave up my subscription about seven or eight years back. I like a good read about a restoration of any car but the constant stream of Mk1 & Mk2 Escorts got plain boring with other models not just Cortina's but 100E's, 105E, Consul Classics/Capris just being dropped altogether even though there were dozens of cracking cars on the show circuit they can't have failed to spot. I still have a flick through in the local Asda if I see it on sale but little seems to have changed. It's a sad irony for me as it was a chance read of the August 2000 issue of CF that got me into Cortina's in the first place I still have every issue stored from 2000-2006 and a lot of back ones bought at autojumble that probably go back to mid-1998.

Not for a good few years now but do have this one photo from Billing in 2006. Again there was a story with it but details escape me- imported definitely- but where from I don't remember- certainly not Europe. South Africa rings a bell and was given a 72/73 plate possibly because it was a very late CKD build

I'd heard the story a number of years ago at a show which was something like the guy had a Mk1 GT possibly from new and run it a few years then when the time came to change (possibly it had been crash damaged can't honestly remember) he bought this Mk2 GT brand new and insisted the dealer have it registered on this plate. Too long ago to remember specifics but the plate definitely belonged to a Mk1 first

long time no see :) Can't believe it's 10 years already.

i'd only give £2K tops, very clean and i've always wanted one registered on the same day i was born which this is! sadly though no dice

:winner: Don't quite know what to make of that one. thought it would have been Silver as main colour.

you have a PM :blink:

one of my favourite phrases when sellers drag there heels "today i'm trying to buy the car from you, tomorrow you are trying to sell it to me again". I don't blame you Ghiaest

Have you any photos of it since you done the repairs? what is the current state of the exhaust blow back and the front brakes that you mentioned in your original post? cheers

2 year later.. Stuck clutch.. Rear brakes jammed.. Flat Tyres.. Flat batterys.. etc If I leave my shed longer than a few days she refuses to budge.. :cheers: To quote the Hoosiers song "Goodbye Mr A"

NOS? probably a small fortune. I bought a completely stripped and relaquered one in as near to new condition a few years back for.....£25 :cheers: great times!

I think this car would have been sold a long time ago and recomissioned by now if Mr A didn't make it such a pantomine to try and view it or give an indication of what he actually wants for it. I thought Ghiaests £2.5k offer was a very good one by 2006 mk5 prices.

Will contact him asap. cheers Howard.

Any particular colour Howard? i've a set of 4 black S2 1600E door cards and i may even be able to drop off in Kent as i'm in the vicinity on Fri/ Sun. £30 for the lot.