THE FORD CORTINA. A household name in the automotive world during the 60s 70s and 80s, around the world and especially in South Africa.
This is a South African tribute to one of Ford's most iconic creations. At the end of this video, we share some songs and videos - true South African pop culture. So stay tuned for a few surprises.
In 1962, shortly after the first Cortinas rolled off the production line in Britain, South Africa received its first batch of freshly made MK1s. Little did we know about the successes that would follow.
The first models available were the 1200 and 1500 units. A station wagon was added in 1963. The 1963 GT model was furbished with a twin carb and port head to improve airflow and kicked out 58kW. With a starting price of less than R1400, the Cortina GT was more affordable than the Alfa's of its time, which made it more appealing to the buyer who wanted more.
In 1966 the Mk2 was introduced. Two and four door models were again followed by a station wagon, powered by 1300 or 1500 engines before the arrival of the Lotus and GT models. In 1967 the engines were upgraded with new cross flow cylinder heads. The 1968 Lotus Special kicked 94 kW and reached a top speed of 170 km / h. All wrapped with a price of R2600.
In 1970, the muscular muscle MK3 burst through, which offered more space than its predecessor, and was better known as the Coke bottle or 'Big Six shape'. The 3L XLE was the flagship model that offered luxury at a premium price. In 1972 the first bakkie that was developed locally was released. The Mk3 series received a renewal in 1973 - the slanted panel was replaced with a more modern finish, with the 2.5L Essex V6 also introduced at this time. In 1976, a special Bokkie edition of the bakkie and sedan was offered to commemorate the All Blacks Rugby Tour to South Africa from June to September. The Springboks beat the series against the All Blacks 3-1.
The Mk4 was basically a rebuilt Mk3 with a similar interior and identical instrument panel. The Ghia option was introduced for the sedan and station wagon with automatic transmission. The bakkie was limited to a 1600 Kent and 3L Essex. The Leisure bakkie was introduced later, with a rev counter, carpets and the same upholstery as the 30S sedan.
At the beginning of the eighties, the Mk5 was introduced, which was probably the most successful of all the Cortinas since its launch. It was seen as an Mk4 with some change but was anything but. Exterior changes included larger taillights, grille, reversed side indicators, expanded bumper and improved roofline to give it a smoother, more supple and fresh look. The bakkie was similarly upgraded and boasted two-tone paint finish. A diesel pickup truck was also available but was unpopular due to its sluggish performance. The XR6 sedan, equipped with a 3L Essex V6 engine, was the cream of the crop, favored by many buyers, including the flying squad and of course - the famous Stander gang. The Stander gang and their choice of transport only made the XR6 even more popular with South Africans. In 1981, the XR6 Interceptor was introduced. This red trip carb monster kicked 118kW and was able to reach the 100km / h mark in less than 8.6 seconds. Only 250 models were manufactured and are very scarce today.
An XR6 TF Special was also introduced in limited numbers, with white and blue color strips, XR6 finishe and special TF wheels to celebrate TF’s successes. Legends of the group 1 series that slipped behind the wheel of the Mk5 include Sarel van der Merwe, Serge Damseaux and Geoff Mortimer, among others.
The Cortina is truly a South African icon like Table Mountain, Mc Cully Workshop, biltong and a lekker braai. There are far fewer Cortinas on our roads these days, but you might see Oom Frik in his bright XR6 showing off on a sunny afternoon in Vasco Boulevard, or a busted up bakkie on the side of the road selling snoek and still driving with 600 000 kms on the clock. You can even find a good 2L model for around R60 000 on the internet. Either way, the Cortina left its mark on our roads in a way that no other car could. Long live the Ford Cortina.