Lot 28: Ford Cortina Lotus MKII

This MkII Cortina was specially prepared for the 1993 London-Sydney Marathon, and proved "incredibly reliable" on the 11,500-mile journey, run as a commemoration of the first round-the-globe event 25 years before, both rallies organised by the now late Nick Brittan. Driven to 36th place by journalist John Griffiths of the Financial Times and Daily Mail photographer Neville Marriner, it was sponsored by and built up with Unipart components, by historic rally expert Nick Mason's firm Carings of Upshire. Though the base car was an original July 1967-registered Cortina-Lotus, the Ford/Lotus Twin Cam engine was replaced by the more robust 1993cc overhead-cam Pinto unit under the event's 'five-year leeway' rule that allowed the fitment of later parts, this all-iron unit producing about 130bhp with plenty of torque, breathing through a Weber twin-choke carburettor. The cost of preparation back in 1993 was more than £20,000, and due to its high-level exhaust system and 'roo bars, the Cortina was nicknamed 'The Pompidou Centre' because it has its pipes on the outside. The rest of the spec was decided upon for strength and reliability; MkIII Cortina gearbox and fully skidded Atlas (Capri) axle with limited-slip differential, seam-welded shell with well-triangulated rollcage, Capri 2.8i ventilated discs and 3-litre Capri radiator, all detailed in a massive history file, which conveniently includes part numbers for just about every component on the car, and includes Griffiths' amusing daily event reports, detailing early fuel vaporisation problems which the crew overcame by removing the thermostat. The car, livered with more than 5000 names of Unipart 'Yes' stations, successfully completed the 'across the world in 30 days' event -¼ and was the only car of 37 returning to the UK that started first time after the seven-week sea voyage. Since returning from Australia it has led a gentler life and, though it would not be eligible for all historic events with the later engine fitted, it is ready to go straight out on one of the multitude of long-distance events such as the Endurance Rally Association's London to Casablanca rally in November.