1973 FORD Crayford MK3 Cortina

This actual car, FOE 5L, featured in a January 1973 Motor magazine review, written by Tony Dron.

It was painted red at the time. It is white now.

Back then, this car served as the press car for Crayford and would have been well-known to UK Ford fans everywhere.

Today the odometer reads 44,153 miles.

On the occasion of its 2016 MoT it was recorded as having covered 6,421 miles.

It has a MoT, with no advisories, that’s valid until 25.524.

We have driven the car and can report that it goes about its motive business with confidence and capability; that it picks up and sheds pace with commendable proficiency; and that it is entirely in keeping with what you should expect of a 1973 Ford Cortina convertible.

It has a stiff spot in the steering at very low speeds (parking, etc) – which is a little puzzling because the steering rack has recently been replaced.

The stiffness disappears at higher speeds.

The vendor bought the car around 18 months ago, knowing that it had previously been restored and then left under a cover for 10 years.

It had no more history then than it has now.

The vendor has told us the following.

“It looks like it’s had new wings, front and rear valances, and sills. The underneath is solid and nothing’s needed for an MoT.

I’ve replaced front discs and callipers.

The front seats have been re-covered. It has a new steering rack, starter motor and front bumper. It has also had the wiring loom reconditioned and a new, correct-for-the-model dashboard fitted.

It starts and drives lovely.

Bad bits? The temp gauge, clock and radio are not currently not working. The bodywork has filler at the bottom of the doors and around the rear wheel arches.”

We’re not aware of any reason to disagree with any of that, but you will of course want to take a look and see for yourself.

The bodywork is pretty much straight and untroubled by any dinks, dents or creases of significance, and there is no rust obvious anywhere that we can see.

There is a small, shallow indentation and a couple of marks on the bonnet.

The panels, panel gaps and shut-lines are as consistent and even as most things that came out of a Ford factory in 1973 only to be immediately reimagined by Crayford.

The Wolfrace alloys are pretty good, but there is a little foxing and pitting in evidence.

The white paintwork is good in parts, less so in others and rather sub-standard elsewhere.

The paint is rather orange-peely around the o/s/f wheel arch and there are various touched-up paint chips on the o/s/f wing behind the wheel arch.

There are also some signs of touching-up and previous repair work on the offside door above the handle and the base of the ‘B’ pillar on the nearside.

There is a small patch of damage – possibly delamination – on the nearside rear window.

Both sills are showing signs of previous repair work.

The black fabric hood is in very decent condition and does what it’s supposed to do, both up and down, although the plastic rear screen is now rather scratched and opaque.

The chrome, lights, lenses, badging and other exterior fixtures and fittings all look to be in reasonable fettle.

The condition of the interior seems to be broadly commensurate with its exterior counterpart – in other words, pretty reasonable but not perfect.

The black vinyl upholstery, original in the rear (as far as we can tell) and re-covered in the front, has endured the passage of time remarkably well.

The door cards are decent, save for a little bobbling on the vinyl atop the driver’s door capping.

The carpets and mats are good.

The roof lining is intact and free of any significant damage but it is stained in places.

There’s some surface rust on the two of the levers for engaging/disengaging the roof.

The driver’s-side sun visor doesn’t want to stay up, the rear-view mirror has gone AWOL, and the plastic storage binnacle beneath the dashboard is relying on hope and a few wisps of glue to stay in place.

One or two bits of trim are a little loose here and there.

The boot, which looks freshly carpeted, is in good order and contains a spare wheel.

Everything in the particularly clean and shiny engine bay looks to be in its right and proper place.

Weber and K&N badges attest to the provenance of some of the key components, and a sticker reading ‘I say, ding dong!’ provides some appropriately 1970’s humour.

The undersides of the car look to have a decent amount of structural integrity.

Clearly, you’ll want to see for yourself and reach your own conclusion.

Aside from a V5, some old MoT certificates, and a full and clean HPI check, this car comes with no history to speak of.

It does, however, come with a copy of the Motor magazine review of this very car and other mentions in Crayford and Cortina owner’s literature.

This is a seriously rare car and one that, inevitably, will only get rarer.

Much of the heavy lifting of restoring it and safeguarding it form the perils of oxidisation has been done by other people.

Whether you want to enjoy it as it is or invest some time and effort into taking it to the next level is a decision only you can make.

Either way, you’ll be a very long time waiting to find yourself parked next to another one in the car park at Sainsburys.

We’re confident to offer this car for auction with an estimate of £7,000 - £12,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.