The Ford Cortina: Genesis. The first chapter in what is easily the most important book in British motoring history. | The Grand Tour

Very Early Mk1 Ford Cortina Deluxe 1500 Hidden away for decades behind a Mk2 Ford Transit, this Mk1 Cortina Deluxe 1500 has been waiting patiently for someone to find it. Years of sitting idle and coastal exposure have left it a proper rust bucket, but every original piece from the factory is still here. The stainless steel trim, the grille, everything except the front badge, which has clearly been taken. This car is a testament to how cars used to be built: proper metal, proper engineering, not

A Thrilling Stunt: Ford Cortina's Bobsled Run By winter 1964, the Ford Cortina had already made a name for itself in European motorsport, with an impressive 200 Cortina-related victories. To capitalize on this success and generate buzz around the car, Ford orchestrated an unconventional publicity stunt. In December 1964, 19 brave drivers, including renowned champions Henry Taylor, Jim Clark, Vic Elford, Jack Sears, Colin Chapman, and Sir John Whitmore, gathered in Italy. Their mission? To naviga