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garyeanderson · 04-22-2008, 06:04 AM

The numbers produced are quite small, some feel they are nothing more than a Cortina with a twin cam engine. Others will disagree but the fact is it’s a Ford unibody shell with Lotus running gear. The front suspension is different than the stock Cortina with the Struts, draglink, transverse control arms, steering box (U.S. models may have the GT box with 3.5 turns lock to lock) steering arms all being different. The rear suspension on the U.S. models is very similar, possible the same as the GT with the exception of the rear drive axles. The example listed has plenty of issues but doesn't look to be messed with in the way most early Lotus cars with limited parts availability. All of these Lotus Cortina mk1's were assembled in the Lotus Factory at Cheshunt. With Ford’s infusion of cash, it probably kept Lotus afloat in a very difficult time (they were flat broke after the Elite) and the Elan was just starting production along side of the Lotus Cortina at the same time. In Fact to appease Ford the first production Twin Cam was installed in a LoCort. Without both of these models there would never have been the Esprit, Elise, or Exige. Total production for the mk1 Lotus Cortina was as best as I can find somewhere around 3300 units, Left Hand Drive accounted for 650 to maybe 700 units, of these the numbers that Ford acknowledges being imported is 186. Corrosion has seen to it that many that were delivered into the rust belt were scrapped, most were just raped of engine and gearbox and left for dead. I keep a loose registry of U.S. delivered mk1 LoCorts and folks have given me information on about 100, most of them are in southwest and few exist outside of that area. You won't be passing another on the open road. Probably less remain today than early Lotus Elite’s.

As far as the one that this topic was started about, its not that bad of an example (I live in Massachusetts where rust kills all) I saw it and posted links to most of the sites that are concerned with them. I didn't call the owner for info as I already have too many projects to finish.

Gary E. Anderson

04-22-2008, 06:04 AM	#12 (permalink)
garyeanderson Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Scituate, Massachusetts Posts: 11	U.S. LoCort's The numbers produced are quite small, some feel they are nothing more than a Cortina with a twin cam engine. Others will disagree but the fact is it’s a Ford unibody shell with Lotus running gear. The front suspension is different than the stock Cortina with the Struts, draglink, transverse control arms, steering box (U.S. models may have the GT box with 3.5 turns lock to lock) steering arms all being different. The rear suspension on the U.S. models is very similar, possible the same as the GT with the exception of the rear drive axles. The example listed has plenty of issues but doesn't look to be messed with in the way most early Lotus cars with limited parts availability. All of these Lotus Cortina mk1's were assembled in the Lotus Factory at Cheshunt. With Ford’s infusion of cash, it probably kept Lotus afloat in a very difficult time (they were flat broke after the Elite) and the Elan was just starting production along side of the Lotus Cortina at the same time. In Fact to appease Ford the first production Twin Cam was installed in a LoCort. Without both of these models there would never have been the Esprit, Elise, or Exige. Total production for the mk1 Lotus Cortina was as best as I can find somewhere around 3300 units, Left Hand Drive accounted for 650 to maybe 700 units, of these the numbers that Ford acknowledges being imported is 186. Corrosion has seen to it that many that were delivered into the rust belt were scrapped, most were just raped of engine and gearbox and left for dead. I keep a loose registry of U.S. delivered mk1 LoCorts and folks have given me information on about 100, most of them are in southwest and few exist outside of that area. You won't be passing another on the open road. Probably less remain today than early Lotus Elite’s. As far as the one that this topic was started about, its not that bad of an example (I live in Massachusetts where rust kills all) I saw it and posted links to most of the sites that are concerned with them. I didn't call the owner for info as I already have too many projects to finish. Gary E. Anderson