wanted Looking to buy Mk3 cortina

[LukeM 2]

Looking to buy a mk3 cortina as a first project car to fully restore if anyone has one for sale or has any suggestions where to look let me know. The more run down the better!

[TIB3300 455]

Hello Luke

What are you looking for?

 

2 Door 4 Door Estate ?

You probably know already Ebay is a good place to start  

[sheffieldcortinacentre 763]

It's surprising where they can crop up, there are still plenty about so don't get over charged.so look all over.

The most expensive part of a resto is interior trim (especially prefacelift GT/GXL) mechanical stuff is plentiful, panels too ( new wings can be expensive as can upper front valance) otherwise no bad.

Prefacelift drivers rear lense & light switches are getting hard/expensive too.

A good fitting carpet (aftermarket ) is hit & miss especially the 2 piece type (original is one piece).

The flat rear parcel shelf (base/L/GT) are only available through MK3 oc as if they haven't been hacked up then they'll have fallen apart as there a sort of pressed hardboard.

There are no specialist for MK3/4/5 cortinas, expressed panels do some but while there good quality there not cheap, east Kent trim do some seals & 2000E door cards (tan only) & now GT again expensive.

More likely it's searching & word of mouth, there's plenty of info/expertise on here re resto & uprating.

Parts interchangeability can save you alot of time & money check my list in the tech section, I'm on here each evening & happy to help with info, parts, etc ( nearly 40 years of working on them) currently a bakkie &4dr GT.

 

[LukeM 2]

On 8/29/2024 at 8:36 PM, TIB3300 said:

Hello Luke

What are you looking for?

 

2 Door 4 Door Estate ?

You probably know already Ebay is a good place to start  

Honestly either I’m happy with would prefer the 4 door but it’s the shape and style of the car I love so either are great!

[LukeM 2]

On 8/29/2024 at 9:15 PM, sheffieldcortinacentre said:

It's surprising where they can crop up, there are still plenty about so don't get over charged.so look all over.

The most expensive part of a resto is interior trim (especially prefacelift GT/GXL) mechanical stuff is plentiful, panels too ( new wings can be expensive as can upper front valance) otherwise no bad.

Prefacelift drivers rear lense & light switches are getting hard/expensive too.

A good fitting carpet (aftermarket ) is hit & miss especially the 2 piece type (original is one piece).

The flat rear parcel shelf (base/L/GT) are only available through MK3 oc as if they haven't been hacked up then they'll have fallen apart as there a sort of pressed hardboard.

There are no specialist for MK3/4/5 cortinas, expressed panels do some but while there good quality there not cheap, east Kent trim do some seals & 2000E door cards (tan only) & now GT again expensive.

More likely it's searching & word of mouth, there's plenty of info/expertise on here re resto & uprating.

Parts interchangeability can save you alot of time & money check my list in the tech section, I'm on here each evening & happy to help with info, parts, etc ( nearly 40 years of working on them) currently a bakkie &4dr GT.

 

Thank you so much for the response this is a lot of very useful information I’ll be sure to check your list!

[sheffieldcortinacentre 763]

Rust areas to look at are upper bulkhead corners ( dash out, harder on facelifts models as the frame is welded in).

Upper front valance is very expensive ( I've a couple of outer end repair panels).

The triangular piece of inner sill ( rear end) which is actually outside can be awkward to repair due to restricted access caused by chassis rail & rear arms.

Easy with sill removed.

Scuttle corners can rot bad & be full of filler. Patch panels are avl.

Kick panels can rot badly  I can supply repair pieces or full panels at times.

Spare wheel wells rot but if not fussy, I've cut them out of other cars sierra & escorts used to be ideal.

Front corners of roof skin are starting to show rot nowadays same for rear screen scuttle corners no repair pieces ever avl for these two.

Front cradle lower mounts can rot badly now repair pieces never avl ( pre & post facelift have a different size mounting hole) MK4 is I think same as facelift, Mk5 the panel is taller can be trimmed to fit.

I have used prefacelift ones & a pattern avl for both MK3 versions.

Most other rot is of the what you see is what you get variety.

The bulkhead can be the deal breaker depending on your skill level/patience.

I'm the patron saint of lost causes when it comes to this stuff lol.

Some prefacelift parts are unique/expensive switches etc.

Some stuff can be swapped for complete later units ( wiper mechanism, steering column).

Couple of worthwhile mods are ohc efi, 5 speed box.

After that the world is your lobster I've done all sorts from convenience type stuff Lecky windows, seats(Inc heated), folding rear seats (saloon) uprated brakes Inc rear discs., through to 4wd,,super  or turbocharged to V8.

Always happy to help with parts,hints,tips etc if/when I can.

 

Mechanically the only engine that's uprated is the 1600 ohc GT/GXL rare even when new (a twinchoke &/or 4 branch on a 1.6 is not proof  they had bigger valves & cam) one of these especially a 2dr 1.6 GXL is best restored std.

Beware of fake GT/GXL it should plainly say so on the pass side I'd plate.

Gts always had tombstone seats( except M/N reg facelift) they were reintroduced on late N/P reg when cloth became std.

All others are same spec 2.0 especially (efi & RS 2000 aside extra 10-15 hp).

There is no difference in body shell irrespective of eng/trim level.

MK3 crayford where the easiest to fake & hard to distinguish.

These & genuine savage,superspeed are the only versions really worth a price premium along with prefacelift GT/GXL these less than the former.

One other rarity is a 1.6 GT/GXL with ohv eng.

Facelifts are less valuable.

There were no facelift GXL 's, never any GT/GXL ests,2dr 2000Es, or RS/S versions.or factory 3.0 V6 UK versions.

 

The only limited edition MK3 was the 2000E olympic special only 500 saloons all in gold (all late P/R reg) to my knowledge non survive.

ALL south African versions say so on the id plt & 2 Dr versions were NEVER made (all bakkies used longer 2dr doors)  ALL had the raised bonnet (except 1.6 bakkie).

 

All cortinas were 4 stud, all versions except 1300 were avl with auto. Column change was never avl.

Rear seatbelts, Pas,5 speeds, steel sunroofs (UK market) tinted glass on 2drs ( 4dr /EST only always green ) were never factory fitted.

Very early 1.3/1.6 base/L 4dr & estate ( no 2drs)were avl with bench seat floor change rare then & I believe only one of each survives.

Colourwise all were avl across the range ( black was special order extra cost & would originally have had a sticker on the slam panel saying so).

Cloth interior was optional on all prefacelifts & slowly crept down the range from N reg becoming std on all models late 75/6. Saloons always had rubber boot mats ( very hard to find undamaged now, only 2000E EST had loads area carpet & some late XLversions

[Donncha 19]

Your description is a pretty good account of my project one there Craig

 

Rust areas to look at are upper bulkhead corners ( dash out, harder on facelifts models as the frame is welded in).

Upper front valance is very expensive ( I've a couple of outer end repair panels).

The triangular piece of inner sill ( rear end) which is actually outside can be awkward to repair due to restricted access caused by chassis rail & rear arms.

Easy with sill removed.

Scuttle corners can rot bad & be full of filler. Patch panels are avl.

Kick panels can rot badly  I can supply repair pieces or full panels at times.

Spare wheel wells rot but if not fussy, I've cut them out of other cars sierra & escorts used to be ideal.

Front corners of roof skin are starting to show rot nowadays same for rear screen scuttle corners no repair pieces ever avl for these two.

Front cradle lower mounts can rot badly now repair pieces never avl ( pre & post facelift have a different size mounting hole) MK4 is I think same as facelift, Mk5 the panel is taller can be trimmed to fit.

I have used prefacelift ones & a pattern avl for both MK3 versions.

Most other rot is of the what you see is what you get variety.

The bulkhead can be the deal breaker depending on your skill level/patience.

I'm the patron saint of lost causes when it comes to this stuff lol.

Some prefacelift parts are unique/expensive switches etc.

Some stuff can be swapped for complete later units ( wiper mechanism, steering column).

Couple of worthwhile mods are ohc efi, 5 speed box.

After that the world is your lobster I've done all sorts from convenience type stuff Lecky windows, seats(Inc heated), folding rear seats (saloon) uprated brakes Inc rear discs., through to 4wd,,super  or turbocharged to V8.

Always happy to help with parts,hints,tips etc if/when I can.

[LukeM 2]

This is like the holy grail of information. Thank you all I’ll definitely be using this information to hopefully make a good pick and good choices while restoring

[sheffieldcortinacentre 763]

No problem glad to help.

I can decode the drivers side Id plt & some of the passenger side one ( only have some of the codes for that one) but the trim level & paint colour are always legible just abriviated ie day yel = daytona yellow.

 L=L etc

GXL = GXL ( 2000E on a facelift).

Get InTouch if you think something doesn't tally /make sense.

Also chassis number on a UK MK3 is stamped on middle of drivers inner wing & on chassis rail below slam panel on south African ones.

God the pains of having a pornagraphic memory when it comes to MK3/4/5/p100's

Edited September 3, 2024 by sheffieldcortinacentre

[LukeM 2]

Thank you so much this is going to be very handy on my hunt for a mk3 4 door

[WS1 13]

Reading the posts above are like walking into a library.... excellent....

bearing in mind you guys could just keep this info for your own gain but choose to share is fantastic, its just what LR4x4 is to Defender owners.

[sheffieldcortinacentre 763]

I'm happy to help in anyway I can, I've been doing this since circa 1984.

I've lost count of how many I've had/broke , unless I win the lottery my fleet consists of 5 1/2 mk3's ,2 mk5's & an Australian falcon Ute.

I passed obsessive years ago.

I'm especially interested in overseas versions of UK vehicles ( especially cortinas) aswell as versions modified for specific purposes emergency services, Motorsport, etc.

To say it was the best selling car in the UK there's very little backup for the MK3 onwards as it wasn't used in Motorsport etc.

Information is very hard to find, I've been trying for years to get body dimension info that would've been used in crash repair with no success ( this would be useful for people doing restos)even the ford manuals only give you the jig mounting points, there must've been reference material ( I'm sure they didn't nip out to the carpark & measure one to check against), same goes for the Mk5 works rally car in all this time I've managed to acquire roughly a dozen photos & an A4 page of info ( ford were totally disinterested in the subject I managed to trace one ex codriver) if this had been a MK1/2 escort there'd be chapter & verse on it down to who aired up the tyres in the middle of a forest on even numbered days.

 

I've stuff from all over the world but for some reason south Africa is the most difficult Australia is very good.

I've even got factory manuals (& a brochure )for north America were the MK3 was only sold for 3 years, same for MK3/4/5 in Australia plus the microfiche for them ( I've a nearly full set of UK ones only missing the RS & a few obscure commercial ones)  I've paperwork for RS parts for the MK3/4/5 (Inc part numbers) copies of the Motorsport homologation paperwork for them to race ( you could fit a 2.0 16v holbay pinto ( if you can find/afford one)with fuel injection in one & be legal) along with vented discs & quick rack amongst other things.

 

I'm even in an online video game (GT LEGENDS) due to supplying this info, yet I've been scoffed at by some because "  your not on social media, you can't know that much, I've never heard of you" lol course im effing not I have a life , the amount of crap talked on there I here about is staggering, especially from the classic press I can't be bothered with it.

But I'm still learning, expanding as much as I can. The amount of info in my head often amazes me ( it's a trait of my autism)  .

[Donncha 19]

It's a brilliant gift Craig,

 

I have a work colleague with Autism and his facts and figures are remarkable and an incredible memory also.

 

I also know have the pleasure of knowing a schoolboy who is a neighbour here close to me with the same gifts.

 

Your knowledge of cortinas is a great benefit to this site and everyone on it.

 

Thank you.

 

Denis.

[sheffieldcortinacentre 763]

Lol can be a curse with something's ( especially stuff you don't want to remember cruelty, sadness etc).

[Kenworth W900 43]

On 9/3/2024 at 1:42 AM, sheffieldcortinacentre said:

The only limited edition MK3 was the 2000E olympic special only 500 saloons all in gold (all late P/R reg) to my knowledge non survive.

ALL south African versions say so on the id plt & 2 Dr versions were NEVER made (all bakkies used longer 2dr doors)  ALL had the raised bonnet (except 1.6 bakkie).

 

All cortinas were 4 stud

 

The only things I would add to Craig's info dump, is that 2000 V4 Bakkies also came with standard profile bonnets. Also, since SA has been mentioned it is worth pointing out that late Cortina MK5 bakkies came with 5-stud wheels and the South Africans did also have special limited edition 'Springbok' cars and pickups in the green and gold livery.