Mk 1 Lotus Cortina Replica

This phenomenally fabulous Mk 1 Lotus Cortina replica is an example of a vehicle that's actually better than it was ex-factory, with a finish and quality that could hardly have been conceived of when it was new. Interestingly, the last time I made a similar comment about a car it was a magnificent MGA painted in the most beautiful light blue that had many so-called experts - including a couple of MG concours judges - making unfounded comments about the colour's originality and suggesting that it wasn't a kosher MGA hue.

Everyone knows that all Mk 1 Lotus Cortinas are white (possibly more correctly described as cream) with green stripes, right? Wrong! Just like the MGA example above, there's a bit more to the story than is commonly 'understood.' I thought I was a bit clever knowing that there were some done with blue stripes but this car's owner / builder, Eddie, soon put me right about the range of colours available.

Fact # 1: About thirty Mk 1 Lotus Cortinas were built for the UK police, for use as pursuit cars. They were white without stripes and featured a big emergency beacon bolted to the roof.

Fact # 2: Thirteen Mk 1 Lotus Cortinas were produced in Monaco red, a colour favoured by rally ace Roger Clark, MBE, to whom this superb replica has been dedicated. Lotus founder and the developer / designer of the Lotus Cortina, Colin Chapman, is said to have been displeased by the departure from the signature colour scheme. However, it appears that Roger and the might of the Ford Works rally team were able to exert sufficient influence over Chapman to have the cars done in their preferred livery.

As a later edition, Eddie's Cortina runs the semi-elliptical rear leaf springs that replaced the short-lived, and apparently not very robust, 'A' frame set up of earlier versions. In all respects, the car is completely faithful to the original, featuring a genuine1,557 cc Lotus twin cam with twin 45 mm Weber side drafts, a close ratio gear box and even the 'twist and release' style hand brake favoured by racing drivers of the time. Its interior is spot-on for originality, too, with all the correct gauges, seats, centre console, etc. The only non-standard features is Allan Moffatt's signature proudly displayed on the glovebox lid.

To return to my earlier observation that Eddie's car is better than in new condition, it must be said that the team at Southern Smash Repairs, Kingston, have done an amazing job of the panels and paint. Eddie reckons the underside is just as good, too. The SSR team were so invested in their work that they convinced Eddie not to unbolt the bonnet to refit the engine, lest he damage the duco. How did he reinstall it, then? He actually reassembled the engine, gearbox and front subframe and lowered the car onto it, factory style.

All up, the build took six years with lots and lots of work sourcing original parts. Whilst it is technically a replica, it would probably be fair to describe it as a re-bodied Lotus Cortina with the shell, in effect, the most generic 'part' of the car. Either way, it is an absolutely stunning example of the marque and a great tribute to Roger Clark, the Ford Works rally team and Lotus Cortinas!

U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)

All iPhone images.

EJ or EH Holden? (Up-dated December, 2022)

EJ or the later EH? Several years ago, I posed the question: Can somebody please explain the difference between an EJ and an EH Holden ute or van? The response at the time wasn't overwhelming, so I did a bit of Googling and ferreting through my photos and came up with my own rough guide to EJ and EH identification. Sedans and wagons are easy to tell apart ; the EH's vertical rectangular tail lights are a dead give-away. However, the workhorse versions of both models share the rear-end treatment of the earlier EJ, making it harder to identify one from the other. No super obvious hints here. Or here ... . It turns out that the main clues are in the placement of the front H O L D E N lettering and GMH lion emblems, the style of the radiator grille and the width of the vents in front of the windscreen, with all EJs - sedans, wagons, utes and vans - having one combination and the EH line-up having their own . So what exactly are those diffe

Vick Auto Prima Fiat X1/9 Brakes: An Owner’s Assessment

At the end of 2022, I fitted a set of Vick Autosport Prima front brakes to my mildly worked 1.5 litre Series 1 Fiat X1/9 . I was fortunate, having picked them up at a very, very reasonable price, brand new but surplus to the needs of a fellow X1/9 Australia member who had imported them from the US. The kit included: New single pot callipers , new vented rotors (standard X1/9 front rotors are smaller, non-vented items), DOT approved stainless steel brake hoses, and all the necessary mounting hardware. They are a value proposition, being particularly well priced compared to other manufacturers’ packages - even at RRP - with everyone I’ve spoken to saying they’re made to a high standard, too. Here's a link to a piece that I wrote about them at that time, including some costings: https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-x19-gets-prima-brake-upgrade.html . Initial Assessment: I was a little underwhelmed by the brakes' performance, finding that although they had a tiny

Random # 301: Nanna-Spec KE36 Corolla

Once upon a time - six or seven years ago, actually - there was a lovely pale yellow GC Galant station wagon getting around Hobart. It was totally nanna-spec; its paint was umarked, the chrome work and hubcaps were immaculate, and its very original interior was pristine. Then someone stuck feathers in its dashboard. Next, the windows were adorned with Tibetan prayer flags. And a hubcap went missing. And the the rear bumper was pushed in, mangling the bodywork behind it. And a mudguard got dented. And rust set in. I fear for this sweet, innocent KE36 Corolla. Somebody please save it before it's too late. Nanna needs you to do it. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) Photos by GlamRock.

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