Beautiful car and bought back many happy memories of my first car - Mk1 1500 GT which cost me £60 back in 1972!
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hi Terry, thank for for getting involved 😊
@metalmicky
18 күн бұрын
When you asked ‘what’s in the boot?’ I was expecting to be shown the raised bump in the boot floor to accommodate the differential housing because the suspension was lower than the standard production models, this was usually proof of it being a genuine Lotus Ford body shell. Good video,
@datbs
18 күн бұрын
Hi Metalmicky, hope you wasn’t too disappointed thanks for sharing the information 😊
@AdrianHook-z3q
25 күн бұрын
For me, The Mk 1 is the definitive Lotus Cortina. Who can forget Jim Clark driving to the absolute limit chasing Galaxies and more in the BTC back in the day. My neighbour, David Kirsch, had one of the first (he also had a Mercedes 300SL and Chevy Comaro) and I vividly remember some exciting journeys through the local streets and roundabouts (especially) with me hanging on for dear life and enjoying every minute of it. The Chapman modified rear suspension along with that magnificent engine made an otherwise everyday car something very, very special. Memories.
@datbs
25 күн бұрын
Hi Adrian, welcome to the channel and thank you for sharing your memories
@roypowell3450
29 күн бұрын
Loved my 66 MK1 back in the 70's what a car. My father was running Cortina Mk 2 Savage, what great pair of Fords..
@datbs
28 күн бұрын
Hi Roy, welcome to the channel thanks for sharing
@g0fvt
21 күн бұрын
Great to know so many of this fleet have survived. The earlier "pre airflow" Mk1s are my personal favourite (the smaller front grille and the lack of vents on the rear pillars). I did sometimes see an ex Jim Clark car over 50 years ago on my way to school. In the late 1970s/early 1980s a few of us made a bit of a habit of V6 swapping small Fords. Sadly although a tuned V6 with a 3.09 rear axle and an overdrive gearbox was a top speed beast it lost the agility of the lighter engined cars.
@datbs
20 күн бұрын
Thanks for sharing
@malcolmharvey397
Ай бұрын
That very Car chased me in my 1962 E Type all the way back to Brighton at 1am in the nineties, Happy memories!
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hi Malcolm, welcome to the channel the car went out of police service in 1967
@selwynwilliams2783
Ай бұрын
Mark 1 Cortina every time. It is iconic
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hi Selwyn that’s for your getting involved
@davidthorn4394
25 күн бұрын
Opinions on favourite cars are obviously subjective and are bound to provoke opposite views. I was fortunate to purchase a real Mark 1 in 1964, reg. 8943DP, (I wonder what happened to that car?). It came from a garage in Park Lane and had belonged to a Doctor, (I think he thrashed it). The car was one of the 500 that Ford homologated for racing and the four opening panels were aluminium. Also aluminium were the clutch housing, the gearbox tailpipe and the diff casting. It had the 'A' Frame and coil springs at the back and I believe the lower front wishbone was a little longer to give a bit of negative. The battery was in the boot and the spare wheel had lost it's home to stiffening tubes both sides, their matching counterparts were inside at the sides of the rear seats behind the panelling. I think the biggest change for the driver was the close ratio gearbox which was fantastic. If you wanted, you could do 40 mph in first gear, only if you wanted. Traffic light grand prix starts were a doddle. The first gear downside was the four up, standing start on a hill, revs and a slipped clutch was the only solution. My Lotus had front lights that were not set into the grill like your Police vehicle, I always wondered whether the rest of the first 500 were like that. Some spares parts were difficult to obtain, for instance the water-pump. The Twin-Cam engine had a fairly flat aluminium casting which, from memory, housed the timing chain and contained the water-pump. No spare was available from Ford so I purchased a standard pump, pressed out the impellers from both castings and replaced new for old. I lived and breathed that car and you had to be there to understand what a huge step forward the Lotus was in motor racing. Watching Jim Clark on two wheels through the chicane at Goodwood, never to be forgotten. Just one more personal observation, your Capri is certainly better looking than the 60s Capri and Classic but they were probably the ugliest cars Ford ever produced. In my opinion. I think motor manufacturers are obliged to sell ugly cars every so often, we are going through an ugly patch at the moment. Great video.
@datbs
25 күн бұрын
Hi David, thank you for getting involved and giving such an extensive view point much appreciated
@h-j.k.8971
Ай бұрын
I have a MK1 replica I built on a Scandinavian chassis about 10 years ago, love it.
@datbs
Ай бұрын
We’d like to see that
@paulsmith2946
Ай бұрын
Got to be mk1 just a beautiful design that has stood the test of time
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hi Paul, welcome to the channel thank you for your input
@johnclayden1670
24 күн бұрын
I had a '65 (DEG 250C) in '70-'72. I loved it. But a real beach to start.
@datbs
23 күн бұрын
Welcome to the channel John wonder if the car is still around
@johnclayden1670
22 күн бұрын
@@datbs I just had a quick shufti on DVAL - details not found. 60 years on I guess it hasn't survived.
@datbs
22 күн бұрын
@@johnclayden1670 shame
@user-xd3xk5ts1d
16 күн бұрын
Mannnn I had mark 1 1500 GT. Even today this is for me the most eye turner.
@datbs
16 күн бұрын
Yes great car
@denisdavidson5622
15 күн бұрын
Mk1 will always be the one for me, as I remember the great Jim Clark racing them back in the day, usually seen with the inside front wheel well off the ground in corners! I also have an old Ford that was once a Police car too! Bit older though its a 1931 Model A Ford 4 door sedan that started life as a Chicago Cops car! It may well have once had Al Capone on board? Amusingly it still has it's very loud Police Siren on the firewall that still works!
@datbs
15 күн бұрын
Hi Denis, thanks for sharing
@andremnel9076
20 күн бұрын
I loved the Mk 1 from the start
@datbs
20 күн бұрын
Great cars aren’t they ?
@jemmartin7105
Ай бұрын
Love the mk1 Cortina lotus👌👌👌👌
@datbs
Ай бұрын
So do I!
@user-fz8ep5ey4v
Ай бұрын
The mark 1 was called a Lotus Cortina and the mark 2 was called a Cortina Lotus .
@johnrichardson4523
20 күн бұрын
I had one in 1969 reg DGT 299C lovely car
@datbs
20 күн бұрын
Wonder if it’s still out there
@hisheroship
Ай бұрын
The Mark one looked 1000 times better. It really is a stylish car.
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hello Hisheroship, welcome to the channel thanks for getting involved
@stewartw.9151
24 күн бұрын
That dash panel is like the one I had in about 1970 or so, much nicer than the early models which had a small binnacle. But that car does not have the A-frame rear suspension setup as mine did which gave super handling but was unable to withstand the stresses through it. Mine fractured around the diff housing and the oil leaked out, destroying the differential! This happened again after repairs and the only thing to do back then was to find a rear cart-spring suspension from a Cortina GT and slip that in! It was now reliable but the handling was not the same. I understand that there is a kit available to fix that major problem these days!
@datbs
24 күн бұрын
Hi Stewart , thanks for sharing
@mrford70
25 күн бұрын
Beautiful 😍
@datbs
25 күн бұрын
Thank you Mr Ford
@andrewrussell5408
Ай бұрын
Superb example ,put back to how it was originally built,mk2 every time for me having had one but driven both ,both super iconic
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hi Andrew , welcome to the channel thanks for getting involved
@whathasxgottodowithit3919.
Ай бұрын
Mk 1 Lotus Cortina all day long :-)
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hello thanks for commenting
@PETERNESS
Ай бұрын
WOW these cars bring back so many memories as a young kid ,well 19 year old to be fair ,here in Australia these ol cortys were everywhere and damm cheap ,you could buy a 65 4 door for a couple hundred dollars and then find an ol Ford at the wreckers with a Windsor v8 and convert the Cortina in a weekend with three mates a engine crane or block and tackle 5 slabs of beer 8 BBQ sessions ,Friday 4pm start after work 9Pm Sunday youve got a lil British car with a stonking 289/302 or if your lucky a 351 Windsor v8 ,Clevelands were too tight in that engine bay ,ive done over 20 Cortinas 4Gts and one odd one with a Cosworth lil 4cyl that i kept as ive never seen one in a Cortina ,strange lil motor that i ended up selling for 150 dollars,the fella who i sold it to put it into a escort track car ,good times back then ,thankyopu for the video ,new subscriber glad to be here
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hello Peter, welcome to the channel love hearing your memories and thank you for subscribing do you have any pictures of the Cortina’s if so I love to see them ?
@PETERNESS
Ай бұрын
@@datbs ill post them up for you ,no worries mate
@datbs
Ай бұрын
@@PETERNESS downatthebarns@gmail.com
@rayborg7378
Ай бұрын
Its always going to be a Lotus Cortina MkI .Why so its so simple the great Jim Clark raced these.
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hi Ray , thank you for commenting
@alastairwatson3201
Ай бұрын
All the best police drivers “enhanced” what they’d learnt in driving school after-hours, out of sight and away from other traffic. It’s almost a tradition.
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hi Alastair, thanks for getting involved
@RAHellemans
Ай бұрын
Yes as a student at SE London Tech in the mid 60's bare shells transported on big double decker HGV came by up Lewisham Way to Lotus to be assembled. Youngster dreaming.....
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hi RA Hellmans , welcome to the channel that’s interesting thanks for sharing
@markjones-vx3kp
Ай бұрын
There both equally cool without doubt
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hi Mark, thanks for your thoughts 👍
@neilbedford5082
Ай бұрын
It's interesting - I thought that everybody would choose a Mk1 over a Mk2 (I certainly would) but clearly this is not the case. Great video - thanks.
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hi Neil, I thought the same it’s interesting hearing people’s thoughts
@fredtedstedman
29 күн бұрын
lovely ! my second car was a bottle green A reg .
@datbs
29 күн бұрын
Lovely
@robertlloyd7493
Ай бұрын
What a great item thanks 😊
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Thank you Robert
@philpriest4480
Ай бұрын
MK 1. Every time. Awesome.
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hi Phil, thanks for commenting
@andysmith4394
Ай бұрын
Mk1 all day everyday coolest car
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hi Andy, thanks for your contribution 👍
@nemesismcc
Ай бұрын
Having had both the Mk1 and the Mk2, it's a hard choice to seperate them, both had their good and bad points, though as I got the Mk2 before the Mk1 it still holds a special place with me, and I am now currently restoring a Ford Granada Ghia ex police car, and have a Mk3 Zephyr/Zodiac inline for some major TLC, Oh and as a back story, the M2 came my way in payment for a job I did, the Mk1 was saved from being scrapped when the council started to pull down the garage block it was stored in ( for 35 year) the Granada was a whim purchase not knowing the full history, but bought because it had the zipper in the headlining, indicating it was once a police car, the Zephyr/Zodiac came to me via a soldier Friend of my dad who was a Red Cap ( military police) and had driven it from new in the Army and when it was demobbed in 1976 he asked to purchase it, and used it as a daily driver, until 1989 when it seized the engine and was pushed into a lockup Purchase prices ,,, Mk1 £75, Mk2 £175, Granada Free, the Zephyr/Zodiac also free, the two cortinas were sold off to pay for the restoration of the next two cars together they reach a sales total of £18,000
@nemesismcc
Ай бұрын
Oh I forgot to add, both the Mk1 and the Mk2 are current entrants in the Historic races at Goodwoods festival of speed since 1998
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hello nemesismcc, welcome to the channel and thank you for sharing this interesting story please send me some pictures of the cars maybe we could do a future episode ? Downatthebarns@gmail.com
@mariebulmer231
Ай бұрын
for me mk1 every time i still miss my 62 1200 column change heavily modded and written off in 80s
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hello Mariebulmer, welcome to the channel did you keep pictures ?
@skanti-sp2qz
Ай бұрын
The Mk1 was lighter of the two cars. The rev limiter fitted was activated by centrifugal forces at its setting whereby it would make the car miss on one cyl, time to change gear, I think it was about 6.5k ish. The intake roar on the webbers was louder than the exhaust especially if you had ram tubes.😁
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hello skanti, welcome to the channel thank you for your input
@selwynwilliams2783
Ай бұрын
Sounds awesome 👍
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hi Selwyn, it definitely is
@colinbatchford8007
Ай бұрын
A fella across the road from my parents house had a mk 1 then a mk 2 I think they were company cars as he was a sales rep for a local brewery.
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hi Colin welcome to the channel thanks for sharing , but which was your favourite?
@colinevans39
Ай бұрын
Great car 😤🙏👍
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hi Colin, yes I agree
@KeithHalstead
Ай бұрын
The Lotus Europa used both the Renault & the Twincam Lotus engine during it's life. Later models were Lotus engined.
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Thanks for clearing up Keith
@johnm7354
Ай бұрын
Mk 1 Cortina.
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hi John, thanks for sharing
@ArsenPotentier
Ай бұрын
Must be a MK1 lotus Tina...🎉
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Thank you for getting involved
@mikeuk4130
Ай бұрын
This is a great car and I’m pleased it was properly restored by Keith. However, whilst I know it’s now back to its original appearance, I think the Mk.1 shape is a bit dumpy and awkward. The green stripes complete the iconic Lotus look and give the car a much sleeker appearance. I also think that the Mk.2 is generally a better-styled car, especially the 1600E and Lotus variants. Of course, I would love to have either model.
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Welcome to the channel Mike thank you for your thoughts on the car
@KeithHalstead
Ай бұрын
I agree about the stripe - it is an optical illusion and does give it a totally different shape. Trouble is I had a choice to make during the resto & decided originality was best.
@DavidPrior-k8n
Ай бұрын
Kieth lived down my road when I was a kid had a mint aubergine 1600e
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Small world 👍
@KeithHalstead
Ай бұрын
I loved that car.
@terencekeene7612
Ай бұрын
For sure the mk1. much better looking car , ,the mk 2is to square for me,
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hi Terence , thanks for sharing
@user-fz8ep5ey4v
Ай бұрын
The mark 2 was called a Cortina Lotus regather than a Lotus Cortina as in the mark 1 .
@MegaReddevil71
Ай бұрын
Mk1 with the a frame rear and alloy panels
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hi Mega thanks for getting involved
@KeithHalstead
Ай бұрын
No - leaf springs & all steel panels.
@3018john
Ай бұрын
Mark 1 every time.
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Thanks for getting involved
@Jmcg1959
Ай бұрын
Mk1 👍
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Thanks for voting Mk1
@user-mw1kr7xk9y
Ай бұрын
Got to be MK 1
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Thank you for taking part
@rogerhudson9732
Ай бұрын
I think a Mk1 looks a lot nicer than a Mk2 (slab sided barge). I had a Mk1 Cortina in the early 1970s as a student, did thousands of miles in it, It's back end fishtailed a couple of times when pushed, did Lotus upgrade the rear suspension? When the engine blew up I couldn't afford to fix it and an though it had a perfect body a garage said the would take it off me for nothing , I made sure I chopped up all the wiring looms.
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hi Roger , thank you for taking part 😊
@KeithHalstead
Ай бұрын
Rear suspension on Mk2 was same a 1600E & GT just basic leaf sprung.
@steveanderson3942
Ай бұрын
Mk1
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Thanks Steven
@dilla66
16 күн бұрын
I owned one in 1975. Was to heavy on petrol sold it for £500. Big mistake
@datbs
16 күн бұрын
Hi Dilla, so many people regret getting rid of their old cars
@mick0846
Ай бұрын
Tbh it's 64 years old and it was only a police car for a fraction of that being a lotus and as cool as they are. I would have it as a standard lotus. Amazing history, though
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hi Mick, welcome to the channel thank you for your thoughts
@KeithHalstead
Ай бұрын
I have run it as both as all the bits are removable - just for variety I run it with mag minilites now and again.
@gavinivers8941
Ай бұрын
The Mk1 was a Lotus built car, the Mk2 was built by Ford. Some say the Mk2 is a better driver, even though they have the same under pining's.
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hi Gavin , thanks for getting involved
@KeithHalstead
Ай бұрын
It all depends on your definition of 'better' it was certainly more refined as it was based on the 1600E & GT.
@davidray6762
Ай бұрын
The replacement engine came from a Europa ? That would make it a Renault 16 engine. Only the 'racing' versions had the Ford based Lotus twin cam engine.
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hi David , will have to see if Keith can answer that question
@MegaReddevil71
Ай бұрын
Seen a couple of roadcars with the twink but most have the renault engine
@KeithHalstead
Ай бұрын
The Europa started out with the Renault engine and later models used the Lotus Twincam version.
@iainr7
Ай бұрын
Mk 1
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Thank you Ian
@User-wollswoycegawage
Ай бұрын
That car belonged to my ex boss Stuart Linsey he owned for about 20 year's possibly More It was an ongoing project when I was working at his garage
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Interesting added piece of the jigsaw to the the story thank you
@User-wollswoycegawage
Ай бұрын
@@datbs around 1988
@User-wollswoycegawage
Ай бұрын
@@datbs he even met one of the police officers that drove it
@datbs
Ай бұрын
@@User-wollswoycegawage that’s fantastic
@KeithHalstead
Ай бұрын
I have been in touch with Stuart many times - he was the one who saved it from extinction during his ownership.
@User-wollswoycegawage
Ай бұрын
MK1 pre airflow special equipment for me That cars a later airflow not as nice as the earlier one's
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Hello welcome to the channel thank you for getting involved
@allandavies9488
Ай бұрын
A nice car. Not sure about a rev limiter though.
@KeithHalstead
Ай бұрын
Standard fitting on the twincam engine but most were removed by the owners.
@chiefrocka8604
Ай бұрын
Rs2000 laaaaaavly
@chrisval78
24 күн бұрын
No such thing as Mk 2 Lotus Cortina. Mk 2 was designated Cortina Lotus.
@monstermob99
26 күн бұрын
Nice replica reshell and non original engine maybe the gearbox is original.
@KeithHalstead
25 күн бұрын
Totally wrong but then again you have never seen it. Officially verified by the club.
@MrAussieCrasher
Ай бұрын
Mk1 Lotus Cortina is quicker than a mk2 as it’s lighter
@datbs
Ай бұрын
Very true
@datbs
Ай бұрын
@@Tiffany.1970 Hi Tiffany welcome to the channel thank you for commenting
@bobstirling6885
Ай бұрын
Three shifts a day, 7 days a week....try doing that with your Tesla....
Пікірлер: 144