From the Chief Canberra Correspondent: a Mk I Cortina Restomod (Making Everything Groovy)

Wild thing*, you make my heart sing! Why? Because this wild Mk I Cortina has been restomodded and, of all the current forms of automotive obsession, the restomod scene is arguably one of the most interesting and vibrant.

*https://www.google.com/search?q=the+goodies+wild+thing&rlz=1C5CHFA_enAU816AU816&oq=the+goodies+wild+thing&aqs=chrome.0.0i355i512j46i512j0i22i30l3j69i64.5333j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:da892022,vid:tr4HpC2luKs 🤣!

Restomodders take classic cars and give them contemporary upgrades, generally retaining their period looks, whilst endowing them with up to the minute performance, handling and safety. Who wouldn't kill to own an MST Escort, an Alfaholics GTA or a Porsche 911 reimagined by Singer?

Of course, not everyone has the sort of money required to have their vehicles comprehensively re-engineered by the likes of MST, Alfaholics, Singer or any of the other firms - I can hardly not mention Retropower - that do it on a commercial basis. This one's home built and that's why it's so cool!

Our CCC literally door-stopped the owner as he was putting his nearly completed machine on a trailer, gleaning the following information: It's powered by a 1.8 litre turbocharged Mazda engine - a B Series from an MX5, presumably - mated to a five speed Mazda 'box, and runs a Ford Falcon diff and brakes. He's owned it for 20 years, having been working on it for the last sixteen.

As you can see, the work has been done to an extremely high standard, featuring a full respray, the fitment of an aluminium radiator, adjustable strut tops, comprehensive sound-deadening, a quite contemporary Momo steering wheel and a full retrim, in leather, with classy buckets up front and matching rears that sport headrests for all three seating positions. And that's just what's easily observed!

I think that most readers will agree that one of the best features of the car is that its body remains unmolested. Externally, there's not much to indicate just how highly modified the mechanicals are, other than the aftermarket wheels and maybe a hint of that ally radiator. Even the paint - a classy gloss grey - is understated and of the era.

It'll be interesting to see how the car looks when it hits the road. I'm guessing that the bumpers will be refitted, with the front one taking the two-piece split form that was popularised on the Mk I Lotus Cortina and that was not uncommonly retrofitted to the GT version. Either way, it's going to be an outstanding example of the model!

Here are some links to the commercial restomodders mentioned above:

MST (Motor Sport Tools) - https://mst-cars.com/;

Alfaholics - https://www.alfaholics.com/;

Singer - https://singervehicledesign.com/; and

Retropower - https://retropower.co.uk/.

Readers might also like:

240Z specialists MZR Roadsports -

https://mzrroadsports.co.uk/; or

my very favourite DIY You Tube channel, Home Built by Jeff -

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk_vb_SJctymCkwnF6sAwDg.

U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)

Images by the CCC.

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.

Upper Middle Petrol Head:

Search This Blog