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(t 10 Clilheroo Advertiser an4 Times, September 30lh, 1976. -TU— ii/i


says BERT BOLTON


FORD have done it again . . . Thirteen years after the introduc- * tion of the Cortina, they have recaptured all the magics all the


agelessness, all the motoring excitement of the first model__ PLUS.


AN artist’s “ x-ray” look at Ford’s new model, with its larger window area, revised suspension with variable rate rear springs and modified radius arms, which give the model its smoother, quieter ride.


There’s a model to suit F O R D ha v e re-


. . captured the Cortina charisma. T h row in g various


m od e ls o f the new version around the York-


. shire moors, or driving them with luxurious restraint • — yes Auntie they CAN have that


.. effect on you as well- through town and coun­ try, highway and byway, I found them superb machines.


. From the 1300c.c. to the


full-blown two-litre jobs, they all felt to be good cars, with a stability and ease of control which must be experienced to be believed. .Suspension a little hard and


hoppy on the smaller models, but still extremely good with an all-round liveliness, an air o f durability and reliability about them. Taut good lookers — that’ s the new Ford Cortinas. Lift the bonnet up and you_


will find the type of informa­ tion nearest and dearest to the heart of the motorist-who- cares right before your very eyes. All the gubbins which


require weekly attention — water, oil, battery, fluid levels — are all there, easy to get at. I would have liked the oil filter to have been a little more accessible. Still I’ve seen worse. The family motorist, the


driver who. likes to motor with zest, there’s something for every taste in this new range of cars. Thrashing them around


Yorkshire and switching from a 1300 basic model to a 1600 GL, and then on to a 2000 luxury version to get an across-the-range view, I found them extremely like­ able cars. They all felt “safe,” predictable and extremely easy to drive. That Ford gear­ box gets better, believe it or not, all the time. The car’s reaction to rough


treatment is predictable. I didn’t try to hang the tail-end out; most motorists avoid this. behaviour like the plague, and top marks to them for being so sensible. I did, however, stop it in a hurry. Everyone does that now and then. Great. . . straight line, limpet-like reac­ tion. Cornered too fast, slightly, even Auntie does that now and again. Smash­ ing, tramline-like in getting out of it. What a marvellous invention radials. . . plus good suspension and steering characteristics.


Treatment I cruised at top permitted


speeds in all models. The smallest was busier below bonnet, but felt good. The largest was supreme. Each model seemed an honest attempt to give value for cash., Ford have always had a


f la ir fo r of fering luxury packages — and this operates again from the Cortina L to the luxurious new Ghia. The top range models boast a wood facia and door cappings that are really wood.


On the Ghia I distinctly


THE original Cortina, Mk I, became Britain's bestselling car when it was introduced in 1962. The following year saw the marque hit the race tracks with a Lotus-Cortina version. . In 1966 came the Mk II


Cortina, offering more style, comfort and an up-rated performance. Once again, just over a million werc.sold.


Another move up-market


came in 1970 with the intro­ duction of the Mk III. Suspension and interior


layouts were improved, and last year Ford began to lean on the value fo r money concept — in a move to beat the ever-growing foreign import cars. The development of the cu r ren t model has been


heard the clock warble. Now that’s something. Ford have caught up with Rolls. Improved shape and better


insulation all add up to make a very quiet car. If you are cutting into the wind in a smoother fashion you must also be saving “juice." But an extension to this angle is F o rd ’ s concentration on economy running — very important these days.


Following the success of the


Cortina 1300 with its economy engine (announced early this year), Ford engineers have given the same treatment to the 1600 overhead camshaft unit, which is now the most popular in the Cortina range. With the introduction of the new mod e l this engine becomes available in two versions — lower-powered on the standard job and higher on the GL. Touring consump­ tion on the economy engine is improved by nearly 10 per


cent, claim Ford — with a drop in top speed of 6 mph. Top speed? it’s academic,


you’ll get pinched — but it’s 8S mph,.“economy” class. •


The new Cortina has 15 per


cent more glass area than the model it replaces. Most of the increase is at the rear,' where the back window has been e x ten d e d outwards and deepened to give improved rear vision.-1 found that there is still a sizeable panel — where the ventilation outlets go — on each side at the rear, but this is being pedantic. All in all, visibility rearwards is extremely good, as is visibility up front with a nicely sloping bonnet.


Steering effort was minimal


and the system was precise. Variable rate springs have been introduced on the back suspension units, which oper­ ate regardless of loading. The new suspension gives an extremely smooth ride. Little of road surface “chatter” is transmitted up the steering column. Cavernous boots finish off a


good model. Over THREE MILL­


ION, cars have rolled off the assemblyline since the orginal concept, and y e t Ford., have now strengthened- the Cortina’ image. . . : In 1962 the firm boomed off ’


its big. guns with road tests and pictures of its new model in and around the Dolomite mountains surrounding the Italian Alpine town from which the manufacturers took the ; model’ s name — Cortina d’Ampezzo. Now, four “shake-ups” later


— Ford don’t mind the latest version being called the Mark IV, although they insist it is an entirely new concept'— the introduction has been lower key. Cortina, having proved itself in the furnace of some of the most fierce competition ever known in the industry, can now stand up and fight on its own territory. The latest- model was presented to motoring journalists on the uncompromising, tough, ’ ’ Yorkshire moors.


Star quality T h e new mod e l is -a


thoroughly modern, European shape, designed to retain the Cortina’s up-to-date looks for many years to come. It’s reac­ tion on me was slow. There was no slap in the face jolt. But it didn’t take long to see the design foresight behind the new shape, with its eleg­ ant lines, easy clean angles,


Advertising feature: .


large window‘areas . . . and ■


’style. . . •To me, the new; Cortina


has flair , above every­ thing else.That elusive “star" quality.is there, breathing out defiantly.Trom: behind the new metalwork,and paint. . . “You


• ain’t seen nothing yet.” When it comes to notching up sales figures I’ll Wager this model may beat all'its predecessors. . Before we go into the


details, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty in these days of the diving £ ' and soaring prices. What’s it going to cost s you eager motorists? This is what Ford says:


“Prices for the new Cortina have been held very close to those of the previous model. At the bottom of the range, the standard Cortina 1300 2- door goes’up by only £28.50 to £1,950, including tax (an increase of 1V& per cent) and, at the other end of the scale, the luxurious new Cortina Ghia, which takes over from the 2000E, costs £3,121 in saloon'form.” . On my price list there are 15


versions of the new model, beginning with the 1300 in basic two and four-door form. There is also a 1600 basic, four door version — but only one (1300) two'-door job. Then,


New era of a success story


carried out through a period o f trade recession, hot to mention oil crisis, but those involved in developing the new model have stuck to their exhausts, as it were, and kept right ahead without cutting back one iota. Ford now think they are


bringing in the new model at a time when the market is ready and waiting to take


advantage of it, with major industrial nations oh the way back to recovery. ■ Together with the Fiesta, which goes on sale in Britain


'early next year, the Cortina spearheads a new era for Ford in Britain, with a five- car product range which increases its coverage of the total market from 66 to 92 per cent.


both 1300 and 1600 move into the luxury range (L), the 1600 having versions in the GL —


’ still more comfort — classes. This latter model also


sports an estate version, along' with the 2000 and the out-of- this-world specification Ghia fou r -d o o r estate version. Other permutations include both L and GL versions of the 1600 and 2000 models.


As standard There is also an exciting :


new S version. Remember the GT? Such models used to be real hot jobs — but now Ford think the GT label has lost some of its weight. So they have brought in S . . . for “ sporty,” of course. Nice, exciting job it looks too, and one for close scrutiny by the sports car adherants. The new models retain all


the equipment introduced last autumn as standard on the.; Cortina .range and, as a result, the current models are deli­ vered with Servo disc brakes, radial-ply tyres, heated rear window, carpets, hazard warning flashers, reverse lamps, temperature gauge, two-speed wipers and electric washers as standard. Remember the old jibe. . .


“Four wheels and a board?" referring to Ford. Having sunk into the luxury seating and dropped my inelegant feet in to the thick pile carpet of the new models, I would say that tag has a hollow ring about it today. And the new colour range


makes old Henry Ford's exhortation to give ’em any colour they like. . . “as long as it’s black,” more than a trifle faded. Several models in the new


range boast a number of addi­ tional improvements. The new ' GL version, for instance, replaces the previous XL — and acquires a pusli-biitton radio, intermittent wiper control, sports road wheels and capacious map pockets. The new Cortina S, ousting


the GT, includes in it§ equip­ ment the above, along with


l l l l l f


THIS is what the new Cortina looks like under the roof. A new steering wheel, wood instrument surround, clock, central “ trinket” tray and map pockets are all-standard on the GL shown here.


,


gas filled dampers' and head restraints. ■ The Ghia would grace any


oil sheik’s garage. It has all the luxury treatment of the


.former 2000E, plus front centre armrest, crushed velour upholstery, a remote control door mirror, map pockets, intermittent wipe control and low profile tyres.


Objectives The new body shape has


been designed to achieved improved aerodynamics, safety and visibility. The designers anticipate that they have hit on a shape which will stand them in good stead for many years to come. Work on the new Cortinas


began in 1972, with four objectives which were simple to remember by the,design staffs, because they spelt out the word S-A-F-E. SAFETY has been incorpo­


rated, not only from the angle of crash protection, but also in such active features as improved all-round visibility, good roadholding and steering response, and items aimed at keeping the driver comfort­ able, and alert behind the wheel — heating and fresh air


arrangements for example. AESTHETICS are aimed


at creating, a virtually “ time­ less” car based on function. FUNCTION itself — every


component, whther used in previous models or not, was given the scrutiny treatment' and re-appraised for its effi­ ciency and durability. Then came EQUIPMENT.


The new Cortina is a complete car. Every model is a fully equipped contender in the sector of market in which it will compete.' New items o f optional


equipment have also been developed, including a steel sliding sunroof — and even highly-efficient headlamp washers for improved safety on slushy winter nights.


What is most appealing


about the whole range is the quietness of the models, the improved all-round visibility; th e more; a t t e n t io n to interiors, and above all, the


style. .V A winner’ \ Stepping from a Continen­


tal make of car renowned for its quiet running, I was stag­ gered at the low level of noise im the various new Cortina models. Quiet journeys are more


relaxing, fatigue-free, jour­ neys. Add this to comfort, performance and style and you have a winner. Ford can’t lose with this


DRIVE SAFELY ON THE ROAD WITH A FORD


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NOW ON DISPLAY AND WAITING FOR YOU TO TAKE A TEST DRIVE...


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Open daily to 8-0 p.m. Sat. and Sun. to 5-0 p.m. Tel. 22173 (after heura 22444)


. . . " :■/ \ >? ‘ I .............................. .......... - '


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