Looking for some help from Lotus history buffs [Archive]

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Old Bob

11-19-2007, 08:09 PM

Hi everyone, I am looking for some Lotus history buffs that may be able to help me out in identifying a grill and badge that were
advertised for sale on ebay Australia recently.

I belive the said items were mistakenly listed as Cortina Grill and badge.

If your interested, please take the time to look at the attached photo's and some of my thoughts on what I think it's off.

I may be way off the mark in saying it's off a Lotus and at this stage it's just guessing on my behalf as I don't know of a lotus that was badged GT on the Grill besides perhaps the Lotus GT Cortina and it's not off a Cortina.

I do recall hearing a story "although it's somewhat sketchy now " about what I think was a lotus that took place in or around the country town of Mildura in the state of Victoria, Australia.

I'm still trying to research this story and if anyone can help out with any information at all to point me in the right direction it would be
much appreciated.

This particular grill has what I would assume to be a stainless surround trim or it could be pressed in one piece.

Strangely enough this Grill and badge also came from Mildura
( Coincidence maybe )
and as for that badge, Well now! To me it looks more like a molde rather than an actual badge.

Maybe the type used in the 50s for making horn centers and so on.

Do I have your interest?

I do hope so because if it isn't off a Lotus I have no idea what it's off.
Any help will be very welcome. Thank you.
Bob.

http://www.see-my-pictures.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=42869

http://www.see-my-pictures.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=42874

http://www.see-my-pictures.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=42878

http://www.see-my-pictures.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=42882

http://www.see-my-pictures.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=42886

http://www.see-my-pictures.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=42890

Kylie

11-19-2007, 09:23 PM

Hi there, I am really not sure sorry, but try some of the contacts in here. I am sure someone through these links must know. Good luck :)
http://www.lotus-cortina.com/links.htm

WayneB

11-20-2007, 02:55 AM

Martin

11-20-2007, 02:22 PM

Wayne, how in the hell do you know all this crap! :eek:

Brian Skeoch

11-20-2007, 04:00 PM

yeah, how in the heck do you know these things Wayne ?

Old Bob

11-20-2007, 09:15 PM

Bob,Its actually a grille off a 1957 or58 Ford 100E which was also known as a Popular .

They never had a GT version of it though, so the one you found was maybe a "dealer special" or a homemade job.

It came with a flathead, sidevalve engine and wasn't exactly a performance car by any stretch of the imagination!

The Anglia 105E (its follow up) was a much better car IMO, which was actually styled by Ron Hickman (of Elan fame)

http://www.classicperformanceford.com/Ford_100E_UDO396/indexDSCF0040.jpg

Popular 1957 or 58 Ford 100E. Ok!
Thanks very much Wayne, it puts my curiosity at rest as the grey matter is starting to let me down.
I should have twigged that one. the little ford Anglia and Prefect were very popular in the late forties and fifties here in Australia.
as was the Austin A30, Morris Minor and the Cortina's that followed.
A picture really is worth a thousand words as soon as I saw the picture you posted the penny dropped and I must admit I felt rather foolish.
It must have been that darn badge.
Out of curiosity do you recall an incident regarding a racing car that was bought out to Australia from the UK then went missing
(or parts for it) from a work shop in Mildura.
I can remember a lot of fuss about it at the time but for the life of me can't remember if it was a Lotus.
Around about the mid 60s If this failing memory is serving me right.
Anyway thanks for taking the time to put me straight on the grill and must say thank you also for sharing your vast knowledge with us, I for one am enjoying the postings immensely.
Thank you. Bob.

4re308

11-20-2007, 10:25 PM

Didn't they have a Cortina GT after the first famous model? I believe it was made in 1968?

WayneB

11-21-2007, 01:00 AM

How do I know about this crap?:D

I have been a car lover long as I can remember, and have an eye for detail and design which is nice ,but that fact and 50c wont by me a cup of Tim Hortons coffee!:(

The Ford Cortina Mk.1 GT came out in 1965 (as a poor mans Lotus Cortina) with a 1500cc non-crossflow engine. Ford of Britain also had a Corsair GT (slightly bigger than a Cortina) which came out in 1963.

http://www.adclassix.com/images66fordcortina.jpg

http://www.fordcorsair.com/images/brochurecorsairGT.jpg

Old Bob

11-21-2007, 02:23 PM

I think it was 1968 I bought my first Cortina it was four years old and looked and drove like a new one.
I was working the shearing sheds in those days and that little car travelled the length and breadth of Australia and some roads that you wouldn't find on any map,
Tough as old boots and you could get parts for them just about anywhere.
That side of the marketing was a real seller and even before they started producing them in Australia, parts were always plentiful.
This was essential in remote areas if you wanted to sell imported cars and dealerships stocked up well especially on shocks,
universals, radiator hoses, fan belts and just about any thing that rough gravel and sandy roads "if you were lucky" would take a tole on.
I would love to know how many exhorts are rusting away in the scrub.
The Mk II sold well here and both models in the GT.
When ford Australia started producing TC & TD imports stopped and Australia never produced a GT.
I have a TC XL I drive as a daily commuter and still enjoy driving it.
"http://www.see-my-pictures.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=43052"

Martin

11-21-2007, 05:55 PM

Old Bob, if you have any pictures of your old cortina, they would look great posted in that part of the forum ;)

WayneB

12-03-2007, 11:14 PM

My dads first car when we got back to England was a Ford Cortina 1500 Estate reg no.519 MOG.

I learned to drive in his 1970 Cortina 1600 Super.

He had Cortinas for years after that untill Ford dropped it for that Sierra thing.

I had a really nice 1600E in 1982, it was my wifes favourite car.