Mk2 LoCort project in Oz
- Thread starter cortina-mk1
- Start date
robertverhey
New member
Yes it is I....too many projects, Elan S3 on its way from the States, must clear some space. If you're high bidder, mention LCR for a free set of steak knives.
Robert
Robert
Steve 155C
New member
Good advert Robert. Hopefully this will be a cheaper way for someone to get the thrills of twincam motoring.
Tinaintheforest
New member
That's not 36/6858 by any chance, Robert? :wink:
With an rust free export GT as a donor, and in white, the finished car is going to be a lot more original than many restored 'original' cars if all the unique bits and pieces are swapped over, and the shell modified to incorporate the split propshaft and radius arms.
What's the register position regarding re-shelled cars? This would surely be a prime candidate for a legitimate re-shell, keeping the Lotus Cortina identity?
Mark
With an rust free export GT as a donor, and in white, the finished car is going to be a lot more original than many restored 'original' cars if all the unique bits and pieces are swapped over, and the shell modified to incorporate the split propshaft and radius arms.
What's the register position regarding re-shelled cars? This would surely be a prime candidate for a legitimate re-shell, keeping the Lotus Cortina identity?
Mark
robertverhey
New member
Yes the Elan is indeed 36/6858, our strong aussie dollar made it irresistible. You know this car?
Re the Corty project, it's not a GT donor, it's a 220 (which was our base model). The best donor shell to have because all the others had that 'orrible bright metal strip along the rear guard tops. The CK prefix says it was built about 3km from my house, at the Ford Homebush (Sydney) plant.
I'm keen that all the bits find their way into one donor car...in my mind that's a bit closer to original than a bitsa car, with parts sourced from far and wide.
Reshell, replica, clone, tribute, all words that everyone seems to interpret differently. This one will be a reshell with the donor car's VIN.
Robert
Re the Corty project, it's not a GT donor, it's a 220 (which was our base model). The best donor shell to have because all the others had that 'orrible bright metal strip along the rear guard tops. The CK prefix says it was built about 3km from my house, at the Ford Homebush (Sydney) plant.
I'm keen that all the bits find their way into one donor car...in my mind that's a bit closer to original than a bitsa car, with parts sourced from far and wide.
Reshell, replica, clone, tribute, all words that everyone seems to interpret differently. This one will be a reshell with the donor car's VIN.
Robert
Tinaintheforest
New member
I’m cheating Robert…I remember your purchase from the topic on Elan.net. I sold my first Mk 2 in ’75 to buy a S3 Coupe, and I’ve still got that….just completing the fleet with my new Mk 2 purchase.
I would imagine that the standard Cortina shell in Oz incorporates a lot of the strengthening bits of the Lotus Cortina, and maybe a few more. I saw a UK spec Vauxhall going through type approval testing in Melbourne in the early 80s. One of the tests was a rough terrain simulation, where the shell had to last for 60 minutes without any stress or fatigue cracks…it lasted for 7 minutes, which probably explains why there weren’t many UK cars exported to Australia much after the 80s. I guess that the cars in the 60s and 70s were also subjected to some sort of testing and subsequent enhancement, especially if they were then built in Sydney. My Aussie Moke is very different to the UK model, with the shell liberally enhanced with little gussets and other strengthening pieces.
Mark
I would imagine that the standard Cortina shell in Oz incorporates a lot of the strengthening bits of the Lotus Cortina, and maybe a few more. I saw a UK spec Vauxhall going through type approval testing in Melbourne in the early 80s. One of the tests was a rough terrain simulation, where the shell had to last for 60 minutes without any stress or fatigue cracks…it lasted for 7 minutes, which probably explains why there weren’t many UK cars exported to Australia much after the 80s. I guess that the cars in the 60s and 70s were also subjected to some sort of testing and subsequent enhancement, especially if they were then built in Sydney. My Aussie Moke is very different to the UK model, with the shell liberally enhanced with little gussets and other strengthening pieces.
Mark
robertverhey
New member
Yes the genius behind the Cortina shells (reinforced or not) was that they achieved the rigidity of previous models (Classic and Capri), maybe even surpassed it, with the use of fewer panels, hence less weight. Aircraft principles were used, as I recall reading somewhere. So to some extent every unitary body car made by any maker since the '60s owes a debt to the humble Mk1 and Mk 2 Cortina.
The Elan will complete my perfect Lotus stable: Elan S3 SE, Lotus Cortina and Excel 1987 SE. Then I MUST stop!
Robert
The Elan will complete my perfect Lotus stable: Elan S3 SE, Lotus Cortina and Excel 1987 SE. Then I MUST stop!
Robert
