I love the Ford Cortina MkIII. We had a green one when I was a young lad that later got sprayed blue. I even remember the numberplate – AKT 757K.

Ford Mk3 Cortina has this to say about the old girl:

The Mk lll Cortina began the obsession with different specification and trim levels, with 35 variations available initially – ranging from the wheezy, threadbare 1300, to the cosseting and sprightly 2000GXL, complete with obligatory vinyl roof. All models offered a lot of car for the money but the 1300 model was always going to be a struggle to hussle along the Queen’s highway, and was described as a ‘sheep in wolf’s clothing’ in one road test. The 2000GXL was nearly twice as quick to accelerate to 60mph and had at its heart the remarkably durable 2.0 litre OHC ‘Pinto’ engine, beloved of generations of Fords throughout the previous Millennium. On the road the Cortina was easy to drive, with admirably light controls, but it suffered from considerable body roll and a very soft suspension setup – hence its popularity as a motorway car. Together with its ‘big car’ feel it explains why the Mk lll Cortina was never a force in motorsport – particularly with its stablemate, the Ford Escort, already a rallying icon. Indeed, the nearest the Mk lll Cortina got to proving its motoring prowess was as the chosen vehicle for Jackie Stewart’s popular ‘Formula Finesse’ competition – a display of driving skill that consisted of trying to manoeuvre the car without losing a ball placed in a container on the bonnet…

I want one.