1977 Ford Cortina Estate with just 4,400 miles heads to Car & Classic auction

Having evaded the ravages of rust and the attention of banger racers, a true survivor 1977 MkIV Ford Cortina 1600L Estate, with just 4,418 miles (7,711km) from new, is heading to auction with Car & Classic.

Underlining its status, 1,131,850 MkIV Cortinas were produced yet it is now one of the rarest variants of the model that regularly topped the UK sales charts. In 1977, the year this car was assembled, the Cortina was the UK’s best seller yet less than 70 are recorded on the road and just two 1600L from that year online.

Incredibly original, this 1600cc version was assembled in Lisbon, Portugal, and was driven sparingly by an elderly lady owner in the country, resulting in the low mileage and incredible level of preservation rarely seen in UK cars. The underside is particularly impressive with clean, smooth finishes on the floor, suspension and drivetrain. The 1600cc engine retains its original blue paint on the rocker cover. Inside, it’s a similar story with beautifully preserved interior and, remarkably for any older Ford, no cracks in the dashboard. Only slight paint blemishes on the bonnet and rear door, as a result of the wrap used to transform the car into a Dubai police car for its role in the Bell Bottom movie, would need attention.

The care bestowed upon it by the original owner is underlined by the inclusion of the service books, owner manual, spare key, tools and a set of factory mud flaps that were never fitted. Retaining its Portuguese heritage, the windscreen still sports local authority and insurance vignettes. Already registered in the UK, it avoids the additional cost and paper now needed when importing cars from overseas.

“Car & Classic has the uncanny knack of offering some of the most incredible cars for auction and this another,” says Chris Pollitt, head of editorial at Car & Classic. “Cortinas once graced every suburban semi’s driveway or were a staple for sales ‘reps’ to thrash to the next appointment, yet now they are virtually extinct and finding another like this would be near impossible. Easy to enjoy, run and service, it’s the car that will spark nostalgia, a true ‘had one of those’ cars, and would be the perfect contender for Hagerty’s Festival of the Unexceptional.”

The MkIV range was introduced in September 1976, replacing the ‘coke bottle’ MkIII. Available as a two-door, four-door or estate with engines ranging from 1300cc through to 2300cc V6, prices started at £2,533. In 1979, its best sales year, 11.3 per cent of new cars in sold the UK were Cortinas.

The online-only seven-day auction for the Ford Cortina starts on the 30 September 2021.