This section shows the Press Pack issued by Ford ahead of the launch of the Lotus Cortina on January 1963. This is a very rare piece, and it seems likely that only a small handful were ever issued to the newspapers and motoring press at the time.
I am very grateful to Nick Stagg for providing this gem so that everybody can enjoy it.
This is a very unusual press pack by Ford standards, and it looks like Ford’s ‘Public Affairs’ department were charged with putting it together in a big hurry. The ‘News From Team Lotus’ page looks like a summery of a contract that Lotus had to sign, drawn up by Ford!
The photos are a strange mix of images of the prototype car, a party, a blurred image of Jim Clark testing the car in October ’62 and a couple of stunning cutaway drawings.
As the Lotus Cortina was such a radical departure from the standard offering from Ford, the Press Pack really does reflect that the full Ford marketing machine didn’t quite know what to do to present the car, and given that the price hadn’t yet been determined, that’s not very surprising. And that makes this item even more interesting and important.
Note that the photographs have paper notes stuck on the back to describe the photo and give conditions for use. They were quite yellowed and faded, and didn’t look good when copied, so I have typed in the description under each photograph exactly as it was written.
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NOT FOR PUBLICATION BEFORE
23 JANUARY 1963
LOTUS DEVELOPED CORTINA
The new Consul Cortina developed jointly by
Lotus and Ford
Issued By:
Public Affairs
Ford of Britain
FAST CAR SHOW:
A Press Party was held on Mon evening at The Dispatch Motor Co’s showrooms, 120 Southwark Bridge Road, London, S.S.1. , to inspect the new Lotus developed Ford Cortina.
The party also marked the opening of the Fast Car Show which is to continue until March 9th at the Dispatch Motor Co’s showrooms.
Featured in the show are the Lotus Cortina, historic racing cars and the 1927 Red Label Bentley, “The Fast Lady” currently showing at cinemas in South London.
Pic here with the new Cortina are (l-r) David Seigle Morris, Ford Team Driver, I. Fickols, Automation, Courtenay Edwards, Sun Telegraph, D.M. Rowe, Managing Director of the Dispatch Motor Co., N. Harrison, Director G. Street & Co Ltd., and A.J. Barton, sales director Dispatch Motor Co.
THIS PICTURE IS ISSUED BY RUCK PRESS SERVICES (WESTCOTT 61) ON BEHALF OF G. STREET & CO LTD (MR POLLARD MAYFAIR 680S). NO FEE IS REQUIRED FOR REPRODUCTION.
FAST CAR SHOW:
David Seigle Morris, Ford Team Driver,takes his first look at the new
Lotus developed Ford Cortina
NOT FOR PUBLICATION BEFORE
23 JANUARY 1963
LOTUS DEVELOPED CORTINA
Farmer Jim Clark, who missed being world champion race driver last year by only a lick of paint, hurtles past the Silverstone pits on a rainy day in late October in the Lotus-developed Cortina.
Since the development programs took place in strict secrecy, only a small knot of Ford and Lotus engineers was there to see him.
“I reckon she’ll be a real hairy smoker by the time Colin Chapman has finished with her,” remarked Clark. Those in the know are sure he will be proved right.
Issued By:
Public Affairs Ford of Britain
NOT FOR PUBLICATION BEFORE
23rd JANUARY 1963
LOTUS DEVELOPED CORTINA
Inside the new Consul Cortina developed jointly by Lotus and
Ford: bucket seats highly padded for lateral support; wood rimmed
steering wheel; remote gear shift; redesigned instrument binnacle
incorporates speedomcter, new counter oil pressure, water temperature
and fuel gauges.
Issued By:
Public Affairs Ford of Britain
NOT FOR PUBLICATION BEFORE
23rd JANUARY 1963
LOTUS DEVELOPED CORTINA
The changes in the new Consul Cortina developed
jointly by Lotus and Ford
are illustrated in this fine cut-away drawing by James Allington.
Issued By:
Public Affairs Ford of Britain
NOT FOR PUBLICATION BEFORE
23rd JANUARY 1963
LOTUS DEVELOPED CORTINA
The heart of the new high performance Consul Cortina is a
special Ford 1500cc engine bored out to 1558cc and fitted with the
Lotus Twin O.H.C. cylinder head.
Issued By:
Public Affairs Ford of Britain
