Les véhicules de collection, ou comment l'imperfection rend amoureux

It’s a Christmas Day special! Here’s a top 10 of interesting facts about the Mk1 Lotus Cortina…

http://www.classicfordmag.co.uk/files/2010/12/clf139.heritage.jpg

Only the very early cars had an oil pressure warning light and single indicator repeater within the speedo housing. Later cars had two indicator lights.
The centre console on the Lotus was unique as the cars had a dashtop ashtray, so had no need for the usual one by the gearlever.
The column switchgear is slightly shorter than in the standard Cortinas due to different diameter of the wood-rimmed steering wheel.
A 1963-spec Lotus Cortina steering wheel had studs set into the back of it, and in good condition is worth £2000.
The front wings’ lips on the Lotus were rolled to allow fitment of the wider wheels (5.5J steels or alloys such as BRMs). The top joint between the wings and front panel should also be blended in at the ends rather than a continuous line. We have absolutely no idea why.
The bonnet badge on pre-Aeroflows reads Consul rather than Cortina, and OE ones are worth a fortune. Also the dash script on the first Lotus cars reads ‘deluxe’, and only later changed to ‘Cortina’.
Only the early cars have a smooth-topped oil filler cap, plain ‘Tudor’ washer fluid bottle and FoMoCo caps on the fluid reservoirs. And genuine bonnet stays are chrome with a black grommet, rather than repro items with a clear one.
There are 120 different combinations for the internals of Cortina locks, so with a lot of patience you can find a set so that just one key fits all the locks and ignition.
Original A-frame kits are stamped with ‘Lotus’ on the frame, and are incredibly hard to find because they were mostly knackered (by 1964 in some cases).
Only in the first year or so of production were the Mk1 Cortina rear lamp bezels made by Ford, before their manufacture was outsources to a firm called Butlers. Very early lamps have a sharper point in the centre.

Lylo: on ne voit pas la photo de ton post 6768.