Lotus Cortina, what are they worth?

[TimMullen]

Originally Posted by lowflyer

Plus, it's not a '67, or at least that's my understanding. The Mk 1's were finished in '66 and the Mk2 came out in '67.

As a side note, the "wrong year" may not be intentional. Lotus often sat on the lot and/or took a while to be shipped/delivered. They were often titled as the year they were first sold, not necessarily the model year.

For instance, I have a '72 Elan Sprint, even though it was made in October '71 - it was first sold in '72, so that's what the title has always indicated. Besides, they didn't make any actual Federal Elans in '72...

[lowflyer]

Actually the one that I was talking about was in central Pennsylvania.

I understand how rare they are, but that still doesn't warrant spending $20k for the car, another $20k to restore it and ending up with a $30k car. Plus there's a fair number of clone or "made" cars out there which only compounds the problems.

re: the car in PA, I had a good friend of mine look at it and he makes his living restoring old (like pre-WW II) English cars. He also maintained and taught me a lot about my '66 Lotus Cortina. It was his opinion that the car wasn't worth the asking price.

Like I said, this was several years ago and I'm sure that the market has gone up on them, but in a market like the one we are in now, it could just as easily turn down.

As with anything, fair market value is what a buyer is willing to give to the seller, and what the seller is willing to accept.

[lowflyer]

Originally Posted by TimMullen

As a side note, the "wrong year" may not be intentional. Lotus often sat on the lot and/or took a while to be shipped/delivered. They were often titled as the year they were first sold, not necessarily the model year.

For instance, I have a '72 Elan Sprint, even though it was made in October '71 - it was first sold in '72, so that's what the title has always indicated. Besides, they didn't make any actual Federal Elans in '72...

I would go by the serial number on the fender tag. As I recall the 5 digit is a letter and it indicates the year of production. A=1, B=2, C=3, D=4 and so on.

[garyeanderson]

Originally Posted by lowflyer

I would go by the serial number on the fender tag. As I recall the 5 digit is a letter and it indicates the year of production. A=1, B=2, C=3, D=4 and so on.

The VIN tag is
BA74 FJ 59568 May 66

the tag is real, the LoCort is real. It may or may not be worth the asking price, But its a very good car for someone to restore. Its up to the seller and buyer to agree on the value.

More info on Bob Woolenrs site

New CortinaLand

with photos
Images
Vin info
1965-1966 Cortina MKI Identification

still looks to be on the market for $20k...

Hemmings Motor News: Auto Classifieds - Hemmings Auto Classifieds feature cars for sale nation wide.
Ford Lotus Cortina
Gary

[Shine]

For those of you looking for a Cortina, check out the rally version offered for sale here:

Current Offers | Morris & Welford—International Specialist Historic Car Consultants&Brokers

[valerio]

Originally Posted by garyeanderson

I think what I find the most interesting about your post is your perception of its condition. As someone who was born in Michigan and spent the rest of my life living in Massachusetts this car is in pretty good shape. As you from Arizona seem to have written it off. I guess its all about the numbers, 186 LHD U.S. delivered by Ford, less than 700 LHD and a total of around 3300 that were assembled in Cheshunt at the Lotus Factory. If you take into account that A) they didn't sell well in the U.S. at over $3500 when new 2) the limited number left in existence due to rot and being cannibalized for the drivetrain I find them to be undervalued and availability on pare with the early Elites. If you don't own one now than you may have missed the boat as I don't think the prices are heading downward.

Gary

p.s. - the asking price was raised to $20K after the first advertisement on Craigslist. I don't know if it sold or not but two Cortina enthusiasts from Norway were going to take a look at it on there way across the U.S. with their over valued Euro lined pockets.

HEHEHE! just got it.
It will be here in Italy within few weeks.
Anyway I took a look at this car last christmas time and I found it very solid, it's just dirty!!
I would like to proceede in a kind of preserve-restoration, dismantling, cleaning and polishing everything. I feel like I have discovered a Van Gogh in a yard sale.

[mikester]

Well, congratulations (I guess ) and good luck with the project, please keep us posted as things proceed. Have fun along the way

[DeanG]

I've only ridden in the back seat of a Cortina but I was impressed. Good Luck. Have fun.

[lotus69f2]

Current values for Cortinas are inflated in the UK and Europe where street cars can go for GBP50k and prepped race/rally car for much more, but that makes it reasonable for a EUropean to buy a US project, ship it back to Europe then do a resoration. Current US Cortina values are Up to $50k for an excellent retored example. Unrestored original cars can go for $40k. I just missed out on one that was original and in reasonably good shape but needed a lot of interior work. It sold on ebay for $35.2k.

[valerio]

Thank you, thank you guys.....
since I have my personal garage I will make all the works. I will post the photos.
I was astonished by the fact that the car was stored in that garage for over 30 years.
Last label check is dated 1973, the year I was born….practically a sign of God.
Engine is running quite but I will check everything as the brakes and suspensions.
the Interior has to be cleaned up and one seat has to be fixed, that's it.
I would like to preserve the original paint, and just repair the rust on the wheels arches, changing the rear lamps (with an European layout).
Here in Italy we are maniac on the restoration, and we prefer to keep original most things are possible, even if they not appear shine and beauty.
If we didn’t believe on that Rome should be destroyed!!

[lotusforsale]

Originally Posted by valerio

Thank you, thank you guys.....
since I have my personal garage I will make all the works. I will post the photos.
I was astonished by the fact that the car was stored in that garage for over 30 years.
Last label check is dated 1973, the year I was born….practically a sign of God.
Engine is running quite but I will check everything as the brakes and suspensions.
the Interior has to be cleaned up and one seat has to be fixed, that's it.
I would like to preserve the original paint, and just repair the rust on the wheels arches, changing the rear lamps (with an European layout).
Here in Italy we are maniac on the restoration, and we prefer to keep original most things are possible, even if they not appear shine and beauty.
If we didn’t believe on that Rome should be destroyed!!

I say drop in a Ford 289, slap on a set of Cragars, jack up the rear end, put some Woody Woodpecker/Thrush muffler decals in the rear window, and bring it up to date with some undercarriage flourescent lights.

Post pix!

[valerio]

Originally Posted by lotusforsale

I say drop in a Ford 289, slap on a set of Cragars, jack up the rear end, put some Woody Woodpecker/Thrush muffler decals in the rear window, and bring it up to date with some undercarriage flourescent lights.

Post pix!

Are you joking?
This would be like spit in a church
My holy Lotus Ford will be venerated like an icon

[garyeanderson]

Originally Posted by lotusforsale

I say drop in a Ford 289, slap on a set of Cragars, jack up the rear end, put some Woody Woodpecker/Thrush muffler decals in the rear window, and bring it up to date with some undercarriage flourescent lights.

Post pix!

Too funny, some folks just don't get it. Under 700 LHD LoCorts built and a total of 3100. With the cash infusion from Ford Motor Company for the Cortina project (type 28), the Lotus Cortina along with the Elan (each with the Twin Cam) in 1963 made one of the steps possible for Lotus Cars stay in business to serve up today's offering of cars.

Mike Haynes Early LoCort V8 conversion


More photos of Phil, Doug, Lew, Bob, Pauly, John, Mike, and a couple of LoCorts
San Diego, California 2007

Gary Anderson

p.s. - did you forgot the fuzzy dice on the mirror?

p.p.s. - I bet that 289 with the quad Webers sounds pretty nice, might even put a smile on your face just like any other Lotus does.

[dickedup]

Originally Posted by roray

Someone I know is selling one, a 1967. For the most part it looks like it's been sitting in a warehouse for 40 years. Rust, loads of corrosion on the dirty motor....

Am I missing something?

Bought it from a captain stationed at the old Bergstrom AFB. He had just rotated back from being stationed in Britain. Sold it to me for $500 if memory serves.

Weird looking but a very fun car to drive. Be very careful about rust. Both my spring towers where the McPherson struts attach to were almost completely rusted out. Why did I not see this when I bought the car? The good captain had used quite a bit of bondo and new paint to camouflage the rust.

Which is why to this day I do not care for Air Force captains.

Walk away from this vehicle toot sweet. Find something at least 80% whole to begin with.

You aiming to track something or just tool about?

[dickedup]

Originally Posted by lotusforsale

I say drop in a Ford 289, slap on a set of Cragars, jack up the rear end, put some Woody Woodpecker/Thrush muffler decals in the rear window, and bring it up to date with some undercarriage flourescent lights.

Post pix!

You need this dude for the design team.