A 1977 Ford Cortina Estate in a rather rare pristine condition will be going up for auction in the UK. The car was sourced from Lisbon, Portugal where it served as a family car from the day it was purchased.
The fourth-generation Ford Cortina Estate is powered by the brand’s 1,6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with just over 7 000 original km on the clock. This model is just one of the 1 131 850 MkIV Cortinas that were produced.
The car was driven sparingly by an elderly lady owner. As a result of it rarely being used, evaluations have uncovered that the underside is clean while smooth finishes on the floor, suspension and drivetrain have been noted.
The engine retains its original blue paint on the rocker cover. Inside, it’s a similar story with the preserved interior with no cracks in the dashboard. Only slight paint blemishes on the bonnet and rear door, as a result of the wrap used to transform the car into a Dubai police car for its role in the Bell Bottom movie, would need attention.
The care bestowed upon it by the original owner is underlined by the inclusion of the service books, owner manual, spare key, tools and a set of factory mud flaps that were never fitted. Retaining its Portuguese heritage, the windscreen still sports local authority and insurance vignettes.
“Car and Classic has the uncanny knack of offering some of the most incredible cars for auction and this another,” says Chris Pollitt, head of editorial at Car and Classic. “Cortinas once graced every suburban semi’s driveway or were a staple for sales ‘reps’ to thrash to the next appointment, yet now they are virtually extinct and finding another like this would be near impossible. Easy to enjoy, run and service, it’s the car that will spark nostalgia, a true ‘had one of those’ cars, and would be the perfect contender for Hagerty’s Festival of the Unexceptional.”
