Lotus Cortina
A high-performance sports saloon from Ford and Lotus.
The Ford Cortina Lotus, also called the Lotus Cortina, was a high-performance sports saloon built in the UK from 1963 to 1970 through a partnership between Ford and Lotus Cars. The first version, based on the Ford Cortina Mark 1, was initially sold by Ford as the "Consul Cortina developed by Lotus," but the "Consul" part was soon dropped. The second version, based on the Ford Cortina Mark II, was marketed as the "Cortina Lotus." Lotus internally designated the model as the Type 28. A total of 3,306 Mark 1 and 4,093 Mark 2 cars were produced.
The project started in 1961. Colin Chapman wanted to build his own engines for Lotus because the Coventry Climax unit was too expensive. He asked his friend Harry Mundy, who had designed the Coventry Climax engine and worked as technical editor for Autocar, to create a twin-cam version of the Ford Kent engine. Early development used 997cc and 1,340cc bottom ends, but in 1962 Ford released the 1,498 cc five-bearing 116E engine, and work shifted to that. Keith Duckworth of Cosworth helped tune the engine. It first appeared in 1962 at the Nürburgring in a Lotus 23 driven by Jim Clark. Soon after the engine went into production cars like the Lotus Elan, it was enlarged to 1,557 cc (by increasing the bore to 82.55 mm) to better suit the 1.6-liter motorsport class.
While the engine was being developed, Ford’s Walter Hayes asked Chapman if he would fit it into 1,000 Ford saloons for Group 2 homologation. Chapman agreed, despite the busy schedule at the Cheshunt plant with the Elan launch approaching. Ford supplied two-door Cortina bodyshells and handled all marketing and sales, while Lotus made the mechanical and cosmetic changes.
Key modifications included installing the 1,557 cc engine producing 105 bhp, paired with the same close-ratio gearbox used in the Elan. Suspension was heavily revised: shorter front struts, forged track control arms, and 5.5J by 13 steel wheels. At the rear, leaf springs were replaced with vertical coil springs and dampers, and an A-bracket connected the differential housing to brackets near the trailing arm pivot to locate the axle. Stiffening braces were added behind the rear seat and from the rear wheel arch down to the chassis in the boot. This forced the spare wheel out of its usual well; it was bolted to the left side of the boot floor.
Quick Facts
- Manufacturer
- Ford
- Production
- 1963–1966
- Class
- Compact Sports Car
- Engine
- 1557 cc Twin-Cam I4
- Length
- 168 in
- Height
- 54 in
- Wheelbase
- 98 in
- Related
- Ford Cortina Mark I
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The history of the Cortina Lotus began in 1961 when Colin Chapman commissioned Harry Mundy to design a twin-cam version of the Ford Kent engine. Keith Duckworth from Cosworth played an important part in tuning the engine. The engine first appeared in 1962 at the Nürburgring in a Lotus 23 driven by Jim Clark. Walter Hayes asked Chapman to fit the engine to 1,000 Ford saloons for Group 2 homologation. Ford supplied 2-door Cortina bodyshells and handled marketing and sales, while Lotus performed mechanical and cosmetic changes. The Mk1 featured a 1,557 cc engine, close-ratio gearbox, extensive suspension changes including rear coil springs and an A-bracket, stiffening braces, relocated spare wheel and battery, and Girling brakes. Lightweight alloy panels were used for doors, bonnet and boot. Factory cars were painted white with a green stripe. Early cars had teething problems including differential housing failures and overly close gear ratios. Four main updates were made to the Mk1, including changes to the prop shaft, gear ratios, rear suspension, and brakes. The Mk2 appeared in 1967, built at Dagenham alongside other Cortina models. It had a more powerful 109 bhp engine, different colours, no stripe (though most had stripes fitted at dealers), a black front grille, and a 3.77:1 final drive.
Reader's Guide
The Lotus Cortina earned an impressive competition reputation. The Mk1 had done all and more than Ford could expect in competition, but the public linked its competition wins with Lotus and its bad points with Ford. Ford wanted to continue competing with the Mk2 but were concerned with the unreliability of Lotus-built cars, so they decided to build the Mk2 at Dagenham themselves to make it more cost effective and easier to build alongside Mk2 GT production. The car was too specialist for some Ford dealerships who did not understand it, leading to stories of incorrect parts being fitted at services. The early cars were very popular and earned rave reviews; one magazine described the car as a tin-top version of a Lotus 7. It was 'THE car' for many enthusiasts who before had to settle for a Cortina GT or a Mini-Cooper, and it amazed the public who were used to overweight sports cars like the Austin-Healey 3000. The Mk2 was also made in left-hand drive from the start of production.
Did You Know?
- Factory Mk1 cars were painted white with a green stripe, though Ford built some for racing in red.
- The Mk1 had lightweight alloy panels for doors, bonnet and boot, but from 1964 standard steel panels were used.
- The Mk2 was built at Dagenham alongside other Cortina models, not by Lotus.
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