1966 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk1 (FIA)
A right-hand drive, UK-market Lotus Cortina, first registered in February 1966 and subsequently converted to FIA Historic Touring Car specification by TWJ Motorsport during the winter of 2008–09. The car has been actively campaigned on European historic circuits over multiple seasons, with documented expenditure exceeding £100,000 across preparation and refinement work. It carries a current FIA Historic Touring Car Passport, a UK V5C, and a substantial history file, and retains eligibility for both circuit racing and historic road events.
Ownership
- 2024-02-23Auction saleEstimate £55,000 – £65,000
- 2024-02-23Auction saleEstimate £55,000 – £65,000
- 2024-02-24Auction saleEstimate £55,000 – £65,000
- 1966-02-08 →Factory deliveryFirst registered UK ownerpartial documentation
Car first registered in the UK on 8 February 1966. No further details of early ownership are provided in the catalogue.
- → 2014-02-01Acquisition unknownPrivate historic motorsport privateer owner/driverpartial documentation
A well-known and respected privateer who commissioned the FIA-specification conversion in 2008–09 and developed the car over five racing seasons at significant cost before consigning it to auction in February 2014.
- 2014-02-01 → 2021AuctionLong-standing customer of auction housepartial documentation
Purchased at the Race Retro 2014 auction, enjoyed the car, and then commissioned John Smirthwaite Motorsport to fully prepare it for onward sale before consigning it to the Race Retro 2021 auction.
- 2021 →AuctionCollector of British race carspartial documentation
A valued client of the auction house who acquired the car at the Race Retro 2021 sale and added it to a notable collection of British competition vehicles. Campaigned it actively from 2022 onward and is now selling due to advancing age.
Competition
- 2022Silverstone Festival
The car participated in the Silverstone Festival (formerly Silverstone Classic) and various other events during the 2022 season under the current vendor.
- —Historic touring car racing, European circuitsRace Retro 2014 auction consignment period racing
The car was campaigned over approximately five seasons on European historic circuits prior to its 2014 auction sale, with the privateer owner/driver developing it into a front-running competitor.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2008RestorationTWJ Motorsport
Full professional conversion to FIA Historic Touring Car specification carried out over the winter of 2008–09 at a cost exceeding £41,000.
An FIA Historic Touring Car Passport was later issued in August 2020, presumably renewing or formalising the homologation documentation for this conversion.
- 2020Inspection
Current FIA Historic Touring Car Passport issued, formally certifying the car's specification.
- 2021Engine rebuildJohn Smirthwaite Motorsport
Engine rebuilt around a replacement block; brakes and gearbox also attended to, with a detailed invoice retained on file.
Work carried out in Coventry in preparation for the car's consignment to the Race Retro 2021 auction.
- 2023Engine rebuild
Engine refreshed and brakes and suspension rebuilt by the vendor's professional race technicians.
- 2023MechanicalJohn Smirthwaite Motorsport
Gearbox rebuilt with entirely new straight-cut gears; limited-slip differential overhauled.
Carried out during the same period as the engine refresh and brake/suspension rebuild.
- —Mechanical
Chassis refinement, engine development, and transmission improvements undertaken across five racing seasons to bring the car to front-running standard on European circuits.
Documented by a large file of invoices totalling over £59,000 in additional expenditure beyond the initial conversion.
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