Classics by the Beach: Sunday the 7th of February, 2021

This month's Classics features lots and lots of Fords, not necessarily by design, but mainly because there were stacks of really good ones on the day.  For a start, there's John's amazing and genuinely original ZG Fairlane (above and below) - which we'll get to in a minute - as well as a ZD (?) Fairlane, a convertible LTD Landau, an XA GT Falcon hardtop, an XB Falcon ute, an F100 and a couple of Cortinas, one being a Lotus and the other a GT.  

It'd be hard to imagine a better ZG Fairlane than John's 1973, 20,000 mile (yes, you read right!) example.  In fact, it'd be a challenge to find almost any forty eight year old car in such pristine condition, especially when you consider that other than a battery, some hoses, a set of brake lines and a reconditioned brake master cylinder, it is completely and utterly unrestored!  Even the brake slave cylinders are original and, yes, they're in great nick, too.  It also has all its original dealership papers and books.  

Interestingly - and quite probably uniquely, too - the car features functional front quarter vent windows, fitted at the request of the original owner for the comfort of his two chihuahua (or possibly Pekinese) dogs' comfort.  I've never seen them fitted to any LTD, Fairlane, Fairmont, or Falcon, from the XA through to the XC, in sedan, hardtop, wagon, ute or van guise.  It's also one of the very few Fairlanes not to have been fitted with that ubiquitous 1970s accessory, the vinyl roof.    

Paul's Mk II Cortina GT is also a beauty.  It's a genuine GT, featuring the 1600 cc Kent motor, dual-throat down-draft Weber carbie, extractors, a four-speed 'box, wide steel wheels, sports mirrors, a three-spoke sports steering wheel, full instrumentation, a centre console and low-back buckets seats.  There's some conjecture regarding the originality of the passenger's side rear view mirror (a few pundits reckon it's not a standard fitting but it's certainly period and looks good, too) and that, as a GT, the F O R D  lettering is also a non-factory fit.  Mmm.  I think we'll let that one slide, eh, Paul?    

Mr Topolino?  Mr Bob Topolino??

Everything suggests that this Mk I Lotus Cortina is the real deal.  If not, it's as damned near perfect a replica as I can tell, with all the correct badges and wearing the most popular of the Lotus-variant's livery (there was at least one with blue side stripes, some single-colour UK police cars and the Ford Works rally cars finished in Monaco red).  It also has the split front bumpers, interior and full instrumentation of a Lotus.  It's beautifully presented and is said to be running the 1557 cc Lotus twin-cam, breathing through twin 45 mm Webers.  Oh how I wish I could've seen that engine and, better still, have heard it! 

Thanks to all the people who brought their cars to the Bay and made for such a great spectacle!  Double thanks for those that painstakingly explained their cars' histories, allowing me to put together what's hopefully an informative, accurate and interesting read.  

As an aside, I am considering an attempt at photographing for and writing a book about some of southern Tasmania's many magnificent classic cars, along the lines of Peter Kuruvita's Behind the Garage Door, which is a wonderful celebration of Launceston's automotive culture.  If you think you might be interested in sharing your pride and joy for inclusion in my book, please leave me a message in the comments section or chat to me at March's installment of Classics.

U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead,blogspot.com.au.)