1965 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk I

Of the 3,306 MKI cars built between 1963 and 1966 – or 2,894 if you listen to Ford – just 660 are believed to have been fitted with left-hand drive, primarily for the USA, who received 160 cars, and Canada, who got 60.

The chassis number of this one contains the usual “BA” for Ermine White paintwork, and “A875” as a trim code for black vinyl. Things get more interesting with the presence of a “2” prefix though, which identifies this as being one of the rare factory left-hookers – not that the interesting stuff ends there because it’s also a late MKI and hence a Type IV Aeroflow model with leaf springs. 

A very rare car for sure.

It’s also been restored to full racing specification by the seller, who’s been building cars since he was ten years old – and given he’s now in his seventies, he’s been able to lean on more than half-a-century of experience. 

His son followed in his footsteps and is a talented engineer in his own right, even building the heater you’ll see fitted here because the pair couldn’t find anything that did the job as well as they felt it needed to be done.

You see, their company sells torque wrenches to the oil and gas industry, so precision and reliability is hardwired into their DNA, and while building race and rally cars is nothing more than a hobby, they treat it every bit as seriously as they do their professional work.

Their Lotus Cortina also comes with a new FIA Passport confirming its eligibility for the CT8 Class for the next decade, so if you’ve ever fancied competing behind the wheel of an historic touring car, there’s never been a better time to make your dream come true!

The Sherwood Green stripes that Lotus of Cheshunt applied over the white coachwork using a fibreglass template have been replaced by gloss black. The same colour has also been used for the Aeroflow grille, which can be distinguished from the standard version by the fact it extends beneath the indicators. (The vents on the C-pillars are another giveaway, helping flow more air through the car to keep its occupants cool.)

It’s an unusual colour scheme and one we think is unusually attractive – and it certainly marks this one out as being something very special. 

As do the subtle black outline of the racing roundels on the doors, the 

bonnet pins, the red towing eyes front and rear, the push-buttons on the offside windscreen scuttle for the  electrical cut-off switch and fire extinguisher, the rubber boot closures, the LED foglamp, the black Lotus badges and headlamp bezels, and the lack of an external fuel filler. 

The eagle-eyed will also have noticed that the side and rear windows have been replaced with Lexan, with the front ones benefiting from sliding openings.

And the stance. My Lord, what a stance it has. 

The matt black Minilite-style magnesium wheels are retained by copper-coloured nuts. Small in diameter at just 13-inches, they’re fitted with Dunlop Racing tyres in a meaty 4.50M-13 size.

Of course, standard MKI staples such as the Ban-the-Bomb rear lights and the raised Cortina emblem on the (nicely bulging) bonnet are also present and correct.

It’s in a very good condition overall, especially for a racing car, with good panels and an impressive level of fit ‘n’ finish across the whole of the exterior.

In fact, the only obvious flaws we could see are tarnished chromework, a paint run on the offside front wing, a crack to the paint finish around the nearside bonnet latch, a broken offside door mirror, and a chip to the nearside rear wing under the Lotus badge.

The sealing rubbers of both front quarterlights have also perished.

The left-hand drive interior has been stripped, and it now contains everything the dedicated racing driver needs and nothing more.

The Tillett B6 Screamer XL (stop sniggering at the back) race seat might have minimal padding but it’s actually far more comfortable than you imagine, weighs about the same as an empty crisp packet, and works in conjunction with a six-point Schroth safety harness to keep the pilot firmly in place no matter what the angle of dangle.

The seat would have set the seller back around £1,500 all by itself but then it only weighs 6.1kgs. Usefully wide at 47cm too, making it commodious enough for proper-shaped chaps like us to be able to sit in it comfortably. The Schroth harness is ‘in date’ until the end of 2027 too, so that’s your next couple of seasons taken care of. 

The fat-rimmed, three-spoke Sparco steering wheel is trimmed with suede for the ultimate grip and feels every bit as good as you’d imagine. It’s also bolted to the car via a Racetech quick-release hub, so you can take it down the pub with you.

Alloy pedals further the cause by being both lightweight and anti-slip, while the exposed gearshift mechanism adds equal measures of elegance and utility.

Instrumentation comprises a suite of white-on-black Smiths gauges with a neat switch panel and resettable fusebox set underneath them. Of course, everything in the cockpit works as it should thanks to meticulous workmanship that included rewiring the vehicle.

Other race-specific addenda include a roll cage that’s been welded in for strength, and which doubles up as a mounting point for the harness and a place to bolt the wide-angle rearview mirror by way of two lightweight brackets. 

There’s no kill like overkill, eh?

A Lifeline electrical fire suppression system is fitted. This can be manually triggered from inside and outside the vehicle and is ‘in date’ until the end of April 2036.

A Hytorc heater, which the seller’s son made because they couldn’t find anything that worked as effectively as they needed, means you won’t have any problems with the windscreen misting up, no matter what the weather throws at you.

A padded container is fitted to keep your helmet safely stored.

The boot is finished in painted metal and houses a lightweight Varley 900 Lithium battery and the new Advanced Fuel Systems fuel cell with its associated pump, gauge, and high-pressure braided plumbing.

The engine bay is clean enough that you could eat off it. Literally, but then it is the heart of any racing car and it’s important to be able to spot any problems as soon as they occur.

The engine itself is the legendary twin-cam Lotus unit, and this one appears to have been breathed on by Craig Beck. We also spotted lots of lovely anodised fittings, neatly-run braided hoses, labelled HT leads, an MSD high-performance ignition coil, and a pair of ginormous Weber carburettors that breath through four trumpets.

The engine, gearbox, and differential have all been rebuilt, and while there isn’t a current rolling-road printout, the one from 2013 suggests you should expect to find around 180bhp under your right foot. There's a new flywheel and clutch fitted plus the gearbox is straight-cut synchromesh and has aluminium bell and tail-shaft housing with steel selector forks.  The rear diff casing is also Aluminium, there's a plated LSD and AH racing driveshafts.

The video shows it starts well, even when cold, and builds very good oil pressure immediately. It also revs beautifully with a sublime induction rasp.

Of course, it’s an absolute dream to drive with a ridiculously fruity exhaust note. We also love the fact the instruments do a happy dance when the ignition is turned on.

The underside is both neatly organized and strong. Again, any developing problems would be very easy to spot but the professionalism with which everything has been installed suggests that any issues that do arise will probably be due to outside forces rather than shoddy workmanship.

The seller was a bit embarrassed when he saw the photos of the underside, saying it isn’t finished to their usual standard. We disagree; we don’t mind a patina, and the areas of minor deformation and traces of blue and red paint that remain form an important part of the car’s history.

The Vendor has also sent us the following information:

Being a competition car, the Lotus Cortina doesn’t have a current MoT certificate. 

However, it does have copies of a rolling road printout from 2013 showing 184bhp and 133lb-ft of torque, an FIA Passport that’s valid until the 31st of December 2036, a certificate dated August 2025 and a technical drawing for the Advanced Fuel Systems fuel cell, and a guide to starting and operating the car.

With a guide price of between £35,000 and £45,000, there might be cheaper ways of getting into historic racing, but you’ll be thankful you spent the extra on buying such a well-fettled car as you lap slower, less reliable machinery at your local track.

It’s homologated for the next decade too and has been prepared without compromise by a father-and-son team whose professional reputations have been built on getting it right first time, every time. 

He’s a lovely fella too, which is worth factoring in because we often think the best cars come from the nicest people. 

And all of this is without considering the vehicle’s left-hand drive, Aeroflow status – or that it is a Lotus Cortina MKI in the first place, one of the most desirable sporting saloons of its decade.

Or, in fact, any decade.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.