In , the Ford Cortina Mk1 established its maker as the number one choice for business drivers in the UK. Impeccably costed, beautifully designed, it was something of a revolution. Keith Adams tells the story of how Ford of Great Britain designed and engineered a car that spectacularly managed to hit all of its targets.
In the brave new world of s Britain, there was an admirable back-to-the-wall, can-do mentality that made it seem as though anything was possible. Ford certainly embodied this ethos, especially when it came to the rapid development of the Cortina Mk1. The project came together in after a brief but intense three-month consultation, culminating in a full-sized clay model before entering production a mere 21 months later.
The Marina and Sunbeam were the products of an embattled BLMC and Chrysler UK, whereas the Cortina was not a reactive response to a crisis, but a carefully calculated creation with a specific market in mind β and one that was continuously developed. He established the Engineering Design Unit and led on all British Fords throughout the s, until he returned to Detroit after the Mk3 was finished.
Hennessey saw potential in the concept, but believed the UK market required something simpler and more cost-effective. He successfully persuaded Ford Detroit that Britain needed its own version of the car β designed and engineered entirely in the UK. Determined to beat the Cardinal to market, Hennessey devised a meticulous development plan known as The Red Book. The Cortina would take this philosophy even further.
The engineering brief was clear: the car needed to be spacious, lightweight less than lb or kg and dynamically engaging. To achieve this, aircraft stress technology was employed in body construction, overseen by former Bristol Aeroplane Company Engineer Dennis Roberts. This high-revving unit produced 49bhp, enabling a 75mph top speed with a mph time of The final car exceeded the target weight by only 20lb β an impressive feat given the ambitious brief.
