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A genuine Mk4 Ford Cortina 3.0 V6 Ghia Estate Superspeed with 31,610 miles.
EQUIPMENT
All steel welded integral construction, safety glass all round, laminated windscreen, air extraction vents, vinyl roof, bright bumpers, bodyside rubbing strip, wood fascia and door cappings, cigar lighter, push button radio, boot mat. Factory options; Metallic paint, automatic gearbox. Dealer options; Rear fog lamp, underseal. Superspeed conversion specification; 3.0 V6 conversion, modification to automatic transmission, uprated brake linings, springs and dampers, Granada radiator, chrome plating to rocker covers and air filter cover. Superspeed fitted options; Allard Golde electric sunroof, rear seatbelt fitment, rubber mats. Accessories; Witter towbar, Ford chromed driving lamps, lambskin Cortina tailored seat covers, Ford fire extinguisher, passenger door mirror.
MODEL HISTORY
Superspeed Conversions Ltd was started by brothers, Mike and John Young, in Ilford Essex in the 1960’s by modifying Ford Anglia’s for racing. It is surmised that they began modifying Cortina’s in 1967 and much of the 1970’s concentrated on both Cortina and Escort V6 conversions including necessary upgrades to drivetrain components and transmissions. Regarded as producing very high-quality conversions and operating in a similar way to Jeff Uren’s Savage, Superspeed performance vehicle packages were sold mainly through the showrooms of Young’s Garage Ltd, the enterprising family owned Ford Retail dealership in Ley Street, Ilford owned by the brothers. From within and from outside the Ford empire Superspeed became renown as a pioneer in the design, development and mecca for car enthusiasts!
EXTERIOR
This exceptionally rare Mk4 Cortina Estate is finished in factory optional and original Roman Bronze Metallic, (Code S7), and looks simply sensational. Verified as original and unrestored, this beautiful car boasts a deep uniform shine throughout and all factory panels are in remarkable condition with the rear wheel arch lips still having the factory stampings! The bodywork is pin straight and all shut lines are uniform, and the usual Ghia accoutrements and chrome brightwork is immaculate. The original Tan vinyl roof is fully intact with no raised areas and only slight cosmetic wear to the sunroof bead is worthy of mention to the otherwise superb condition. All factory glass as well as the Ford/Carello light fittings, badges and supplying dealer number plates remain. An exceptionally rare find in factory guise and regarded as the only known Mk4 Cortina Estate to receive the Superspeed high performance conversion.
INTERIOR
This beautifully preserved range topping Ghia interior is deliciously 1970’s from the Crushed velour trim with Verona inserts in Tan, (Code W1), to the real wood trim. This pampered example boasts a spotlessly clean interior with immaculate door cards, carpets and headlining. The seats have been protected from new by Cortina tailored lambskin seat covers and as such are spotlessly clean but display typical creasing commonly found. The fascia and padded dash are in fantastic order with only a small slightly raised area to one section. All functions and controls operate perfectly including gauges and the original Ford push-button radio.
ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
Originally supplied with the 2.0 Pinto engine, Superspeed Conversions Ltd undertook the conversion from new with a 3.0 ‘Essex’ V6 unit developing 138bhp to achieve a quoted top speed of 120mph while 0-60mph is claimed at 8 seconds! The engine bay is beautifully clean and original with all factory fitted plates and labels as well as the Superspeed stickers and correct chromed rocker covers and air filter cover. The factory optional automatic gearbox is uprated by Superspeed and a full stainless steel exhaust system is supplied and fitted by P D Gough in 1994 at a cost of £500 to mirror the original precisely. The performance and sound of the car is simply awesome, a real wolf in sheep’s clothing!
WHEELS, TYRES & BRAKES
Five Cortina 80 Ghia alloy wheels are in high polished finish and in stunning condition with matching branded 185/70 R13 tyres with masses of tread. The spare wheel still has the original Dunlop SP6 tyre which is unused with coloured banding still visible. Superspeed fitted uprated brake lining to the front discs of the otherwise standard braking system which has just been overhauled including new front discs to offer steady straight line stopping.
HISTORY FILE
Supplied directly from Superspeed on the 9th March 1977, this Cortina was factory delivered to them as a standard 2.0 Ghia Estate with factory fitted options to include automatic transmission. Two initial sales invoices in the history file from Superspeed of Ilford are made out to the first owner, Mr Tatton. The first invoice is for the car in standard form at a cost of £4,221.10 and the second is for the Superspeed conversion with the added Allard Golde electric sunroof totally £1,868.40, almost half the cost of the original car! Mr Tatton wanted a powerful estate car and chose a Cortina Ghia over a Granada GL on specification grounds and over a Volvo estate as he found them too agricultural. The colossal history file is simply incredible and begins with letters to and from Mr Tatton and Superspeed Founder, John Young, discussing the conversion. Mr Tatton request photos of the engine bay of such a conversion with said photo still present in the history file! The final letter from Mr Tatton instructs Superspeed to go ahead and lays out his preference in terms of suspension set up and tyres. Magazine and Owners Club articles suggest that this example is the only known genuine Superspeed converted Cortina Mk4 Estate which was built in February 1977 and converted from new in March 1977. Initially registered in his company’s name and then to himself, Mr Tatton sold the car in 1992 to Mr Cyster whereby it has had just one further keeper. Thorough perusal of two huge history folders will take hours and offer an insight to just how pampered this example is in the hands of a few dedicated enthusiasts.
In January 2022, KGF Classic Cars were contacted by the owner and agreed a deal to purchase this rare and historically important Cortina. To follow was an epic trip under taken by KGF Classic Cars Operations Manager Steve, who always up for an adventure, flew to Belfast to buy the car where he then drove it to Larne Port and boarded a ferry to Cairnryan in Scotland. The final leg of the journey was to drive the Cortina back to KGF Classic Cars headquarters in Peterborough where the Cortina managed the 340-mile journey without demur!
MOT January 2023, HPI Clear.
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