1970 Ford Cortina 1600E review from UK and Ireland

I can't really rant about things that have gone wrong with the car as it is 34 years old.

Provided you keep the fluids topped up mechanically they are bullet-proof.

Body has some superficial rust in places though I'm hoping this won't become any more than a cosmetic issue for a couple of years yet.

I have replaced many items as a matter of course, but this is to be expected as the years wear on.

My car is finished in Gold and it is a real head turner as they are an un-common site nowadays (I've yet to pass another when I'm out on my Sunday drive, where are you all?!?)

Handling I think is quite good for a car designed in the sixties. It has a tendency to wander on the road, but I think this is due to the old-fashioned steering box.

Brakes, though not servo assisted, are adequate and will stop you in a hurry if need be.

Interior is quite good, all that wood and plush seats (for 1970) and the drivers view of the road is very good.

The engine is fairly pokey for an OHV but it is very noisey and un-refined the twin choke Weber carb gives good power delivery and the gearbox is a delight, proper snick-snick action that you get with rear-drive boxes of this vintage and good ratios to back it up.

Mechanical items are cheap enough, but trim, body panels and exterior chrome command a premium and are getting scarcer.

There are several owners clubs catering for the Mk II Cortina with a good following and there are usually a few cars at classic car shows throughout the UK so they remain relatively popular, they're never going to rival the following of MG's, Beetle's or Morris Minor's, but that's just life. I love my 1600E and I plan to hang on to it for as long as I can afford to, I would use it every day if i could but it would only accelerate the inevitable deterioration of it.

It's 34 years old and shows that Ford really could build a stylish saloon car.