THE FORD CORTINA AT SIXTY

On the 20^th September 1962, Ford of Great Britain unveiled the ‘Consul-Cortina’. And so, to celebrate its 60^th birthday, here are 20 facts about “The small car with a big difference” -

1. Work on ‘Project Archbishop’ began in 1959. It had to weigh less than 1,700lbs and bridge the gap between the new Anglia 105E and the forthcoming Consul Classic.
2. A limited budget meant Ford GB primarily sourced the running gear from their existing line-up; the 1.2-litre engine was an enlarged version of the 105E’s 997cc ‘Kent’ unit.
3. The Chief Designer of the Archbishop was Roy Brown, who was responsible for the Edsel.
4. Sir Patrick Hennessey, the Chairman of Ford GB, was determined that the Archbishop would be superior to Ford of Germany’s ‘Cardinal’, which became the Taunus P4.
5. The development costs were £12 million.
6. As late as May 1961, Dagenham planned independent rear suspension for the Cortina, but this was eventually ruled out on financial grounds.
7. A year before launch, Dearborn ordered the original tail-light design with ‘Ban The Bomb’ tripod units.
8. The new Ford was to be the ‘Consul 225’, but only months before launch, management decided to name it after Cortina d’Ampezzo, the host resort of the 1956 Winter Olympics.
9. Sir Patrick told the press, “This is the missing model, for which thousands of growing families have asked”.
10. The initial range consisted of two-door saloons with Standard or De Luxe trim levels.
11. The Standard cost £639 3d while the De Luxe was nearly £667.
12. A steering column gear change and a front bench seat were an additional £13 15s. Dagenham’s market research discovered that 60% of overseas customers preferred this set-up as opposed to 5% of home buyers.
13. Major Consul-Cortina selling points were the 21 cu ft. boot and the all-synchromesh four-speed gearbox.
14. Autocar thought the Cortina would strongly appeal to “the family man”, and The Guardian thought it drove “sweetly”. The Daily Telegraph found their test Ford “as quiet and smooth as any 1-1/2 litre car, and better than most”.
15. Motor Sport found the Cortina’s engine “smooth and willing, if noisy”, the transmission “delightful”, but the seats were “not particularly comfortable”, and the interior decorwas “depressing”.
16. The gentleman for Motor Sport also, extremely rudely, believed the Cortina was “an acceptable vehicle for the easily-satisfied masses”.
17. Few potential buyers would fail to be impressed by this Ford PR film, complete with obligatory 1962-vintage ‘cocktail jazz’ accompaniment - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckdSll5iUcE
18. De Luxe buyers still had to pay another £17 3s 9d for a heater and £1 15s for windscreen washers.
19. Four-door versions became available in October, at £657 for the Standard and £687 for the De Luxe.
20. The most famous Consul Cortina appearance was in Carry On Cabby, released on the 7^th November 1963, with ‘Glamcabs’ provided by H. Peacock & Co of 219 Balham High Road. But that is a story for next year…