MK1 preairflow - rear side ashtrays - yes or no?

[Steve 155C]

Should the preairflow cars have ash trays in the rear interior side panels?

Looking at the parts book it looks like they don't have them on the GT or LC but other models do have them. The aldridge trim I've just received for the LC doesn't come with the holes for them , yet the picture on their website shows a pressing where the ashtray should be.

The "original" panels out of my car has them. They are in the loft , but I need to check if my panels have been hacked about to fit them at a later date.

 

[DaveC]

It's funny but I had a conversation only recently with Alan and he I'm sure he said that although he does have ashtrays in his door cards apparently there shouldn't be!

 

[flyinghorse]

My original door cards have embosed oblong pressings on trim side and are cut for ashtrays.
The new Aldridge dont have anything.

Graham

 

[Steve 155C]

Looks like you have the same problem as me then Graham. Have a look on their website and you can see the embossing where the ashtray should go.

I wanted to verify if they should have ashtray holes or not before I called Aldridge and made myself look a twat.

I will check my panels in the loft before I make that call.

 

[flyinghorse]

Steve,
I did see that "after" getting out the stanley knife,as I had to order some trim clips from them and the embosing on the old cards inplied that they had ashtrays. I thought it was an Aldridge oversight/labour saving.

I used my old trims as templates and used a sharp point to mark each corner,then drilled in each corner so I had the oblong on each side. I them cut the vinylin a x shape to each corner,flipped the card over and then carefully cut out the hardboard,& then pressed in the ashtrays.

Graham (non Smoker with 4 ashtrays!)

 

[Scott Simpson]

The previous owner of AJT used to keep various old coins (shillings, two bob bits and a half crown
in the ashtray, to pop in the block and cylinderhead when one of the coreplugs blew.
And blow they do! On three occasions, whilst travelling to and from car shows, AJT has popped two of its cylinder head plugs (the same one, twice!), when I've had to resort to a shilling and some arraldite to get me home.
They're installed for good reason Graham!!
Scott

 

[Scott Simpson]

Just realised I didn't answer the initial question about whether early Mk 1 L/C's have rear ashtrays.
They all do. In fact the only p/a Mk 1, 2 door models that didin't have ashtrays were fleet models, everything else had them fitted.
So you can all stop searching E-bay for those elusive ashtray free trims!
Scott

 

[gt-for-now]

Like these I found in my attic recently. Came from an Amsterdam built MK1 with a specification very close to the UK Fleet model.
Must have been a different story for 4 door cars though, both my GT's don't have ashtrays in the rear doors and I'm sure they never have been there.

Marcel

http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj215/marcel_cortina/?action=view&current=Deurbekledingstandaard2deurs4.jpg

 

[Scott Simpson]

Hi Marcel,
I've not researched any other model than the pre aeroflow Mk 1, 2 door, so I reckon you're probably right. I think my old aeroflow 4 door 1965 GT had ashtrays in the rear doors, but I can't remember for sure.
It's suprising to find that Ford put ashtrays into cars that had a centre console, which also had one built into the rear.
Were the Amsterdam built cars all CKD's (knock down kits)? Or built from scratch?
What was the available model range?
Scott

 

[gt-for-now]

Hi Scott,

Short story about the Amsterdam built cars:
Production started in 1962 around the same time as in Dagenham. However, after Ford stopped building MK1's in the autumn of 1966 production continued for no less than a year in Amsterdam. The youngest MK1 we have in the register at the MK1 O.C. carries chassisnumber CN71GU*****, which means it was built in October 1967. I also have copies of pricelists from Ford Holland, dated December 1967, that still have the MK1 on them, alongside the MK2.
All cars were indeed CKD, with only one model available. This was a 2-door 1200, equipped very similar to the Fleetmodel in the UK (rather uninspiring interior trim, no front parcel shelf, painted headlamp bezels, etc), with the exception of the front grille. The car had the regular aluminium one, not the type with the horizontal bars. I've read somewhere that the 'bar grille' was actually more expensive to produce than the regular one, so this might be the explanation.
Any more questions just let me know.

Marcel

 

[Scott Simpson]

Hi Marcel,
Thanks for the low down on the Dutch Mk 1's.
My first Lotus Cortina was a BA91GU, a Mk 2 of course. Were the Mk 2's introduced in Holland at the same as Dagenham?
Also, regarding the standard (fleet) model, I've never seen a LHD version. Did they ever make
CKD's with the bar type grille, in LHD form?
It could just have been a weight issue, there's a couple of pounds difference between the normal front panel and that of the standard models.
I remember picking one up at an autojumble a few years ago, thinking it was quite heavy.
It could also explain why only the most basic package was available to Amsterdam. I suspect everything went through Rotterdam Harbour, which being such an advanced port, probably were quite stringent on import weight.
Scott

 

[gt-for-now]

Hi Scott,

As far as I know the MK2 was announced at the same time over here as in the UK. I think the reason for selling the MK1 alongside with the new model was to make maximum use of the popularity of the MK1 over here, which had (not surprisingly) the image of the big car for the small price. Apart from that the tooling costs could be spread over still more cars than the 1.000.000 that were already built.
All survivors from the Amsterdam factory I have come across where either 2 or 4 door Deluxe (until the autumn of 1966) or the 2 door model discussed before (from the autumn of 1966 until late 1967), I've never seen a Dutch built car with the 'bar grille'. Supers where unheard of over here, while a GT had to be 'specially imported', and was about 50% more expensive than a Deluxe. I only know of one 'original Dutch' GT over here, the few others we have (including mine) were all imported later. There may be one or two MK1 Lotusses still around that were delivered new over here, but I'm not sure.
For your amusement here's a few links to a 1967 sales brochure.

Marcel

http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj215/marcel_cortina/?action=view&current=Cortina12001.jpg

http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj215/marcel_cortina/?action=view&current=Cortina12002.jpg

 

[Scott Simpson]

Marcel,
What the hell is an ongelooflijk?
Sounds like something you Dutch guys smoke, in them dodgy cafe's you have obver there!!!
Scott

 

[flyinghorse]

Incredibly

 

[gt-for-now]

Hi,

Ongelooflijk is indeed the Dutch word for incredibly / incredible.
The main selling point for the MK1 in 1967 was the fact that one was getting a fairly big car for little money. It was 'ongelooflijk' that you could get a car like that for only 5.995 Dutch Guilders, which in 1967 was about the same as 500 British Pounds.
This kept MK1 sales going quite well during 1967, despite the fact that the MK2 was also available.
I've written to Ford Amsterdam a couple of years ago and asked them for production figures, but they told me that stuff like that had been sent to Ford Britain many years ago. So I wrote Ford Britain, and they advised me to check with Ford Amsterdam....

Marcel