1965 Lotus Cortina Mk 1 FIA HTP
Originally built in 1965 as a Ford Cortina GT, this car was subsequently converted to full Lotus Cortina specification and extensively used in Norwegian and Swedish national rally competition by its first known owner. Acquired in 2009, it underwent a comprehensive bare-shell rebuild to FIA circuit-racing specification over the winter of 2009–10, fitted with a rebuilt twin-cam engine, close-ratio Quaife gearbox, Salisbury limited-slip differential, and Leda adjustable suspension, finished in Venetian Red with a silver stripe. Estimated expenditure on the build approached £90,000.
Ownership
- 2017-02-24Auction saleSold £28,000 (≈ $35K)
- 1965 →Acquisition unknownRalph Stenbeckpartial documentation
Used the car extensively in Norwegian and Swedish national rally championships; some period FIA paperwork accompanies the car from this era.
- → 2009Acquisition unknownMorgens Christensenpartial documentation
Carried out the conversion from Ford Cortina GT specification to full Lotus Cortina specification before selling the car in 2009.
- 2009 →Private saleCurrent vendorpartial documentation
Acquired the car to join a three-car Lotus Cortina team competing at circuits in Denmark and Sweden; commissioned a full FIA-specification rebuild and estimates total expenditure on the car at approximately £90,000.
Competition
- —Norwegian National Rally ChampionshipNorwegian National Rally ChampionshipDriver: Ralph Stenbeck
Car was rallied extensively in Norway during the period of Stenbeck's ownership; precise dates and individual results not recorded in the prose.
- —Swedish National Rally ChampionshipSwedish National Rally ChampionshipDriver: Ralph Stenbeck
Car was rallied extensively in Sweden alongside Norwegian events during Stenbeck's ownership; precise dates and results not given.
- —U2TCU2TC circuit racing (Denmark and Sweden)
Car was prepared as a front-runner for circuit events in Denmark and Sweden as part of the vendor's three-car Lotus Cortina team; no individual race results specified.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2010Restoration
Full bare-shell rebuild to FIA circuit-racing specification carried out over the winter of 2009–10: alloy bonnet and doors refurbished, bodywork finished in Venetian Red with silver stripe, all glass except windscreen replaced with polycarbonate, transponder and lap-timing display fitted, Leda adjustable suspension installed, Parnasport wheels fitted.
Vendor estimates total expenditure on the build at approximately £90,000; Danish national registration documents held and an FIA Historic Technical Passport was to be in place by the time of the auction.
- 2010Engine rebuildRoger Svensson
Twin-cam engine rebuilt by a respected Swedish tuner; Quaife close-ratio gearbox with alloy bell housing also rebuilt; Salisbury limited-slip differential with 4.44 crown wheel and pinion fitted.
Work carried out as part of the wider winter 2009–10 FIA-specification rebuild programme.
- —ModificationMorgens Christensen
Car converted from Ford Cortina GT road specification to full Lotus Cortina configuration by previous owner Morgens Christensen prior to the 2009 sale.
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