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

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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.









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