1965 Lotus Cortina
Generously Lent by David Porter
The Cortina was a popular choice in World Rally Championship
The Cortina took 1st in the RAC Rally and Swedish Rally in 60’s
Very successful car that is still piloted in historic racing today
While seriously competitive rallying with closed speed stages on public roads were never particularly accepted in the United States, the World Rally Championship was very popular in the rest of the world and the Monte Carlo Rally, and events like the Tulip Rally, The Liege-Rome-Liege, the Acropolis rally, and the East African Safari drew large manufacturer support and big crowds worldwide.
While rally specialist drivers were usually successful and built tremendously symbiotic relationships with their “navigators” nevertheless World Champion Formula One drivers like Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Stirling Moss, and Peter Collins were also successful in the discipline.
The Lotus Cortina Mark 1 here is very similar to the car with which Bengt Söderström won the 1966 RAC Rally in the UK and the 1967 Swedish Rally. Among other successful drivers of the Lotus Cortina Mark 1 were Vic Elford, and Roger Clark, the latter finishing 4th in the Monte Carlo Rally in 1966.
The Lotus Cortina Mark 1 modified for Rally Competition was equipped with a twin overhead cam motor, alloy body panels and doors, and had around 150 hp at 7,500 rpm and in rally trim was capable of nearly 150 miles per hour.
Specifications:
Engine: 1.5 Liter inline 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 105hp
Top Speed: 106 mph
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Weight: 1929 lbs