We all know the score when it comes to an old Ford these days. It’ll be one of those cars loved by many back in the day (even those that weren’t great), traded for a pittance and sufficiently commonplace to never have been regarded as a classic. Then, in no time at all, they’ve basically disappeared and prices are stratospheric. Capris, Escorts, Sierras - what were once on every street corner now only seem to be found as gallery exhibits.
This one, however, is something slightly different, because it’s a Crayford convertible version of the MkII Ford Cortina. And there were never, ever very many of those, because it was a convertible Ford Cortina. After demand very much outstripped supply for the company’s original go with the Mk1 - with just 50 units converted - Crayford were much better prepared for take two. The Crayford Convertible Club has the story in detail, but such was the secrecy that surrounded the big Mk2 Cortina reveal that Crayford could only get ahead with its development by receiving the car in kit form. They made it work, and so a Crayford convertible Cortina debuted at the same 1966 British motor show as the saloon.
In the end, around 400 of the Mk2s were made; while they could be ordered through Ford, production at Crayford could only reach 10 cars a week, so rarity was guaranteed. There were all sorts of variants, too, with a more lavish Cabriolet spec, complete with more headlining on a smaller roof, Lotus Cortina convertibles, and even one Savage Cortina convertible with the 3.0-litre V6.
So the demand was there, and a few fascinating survivors live on today. This Crayford convertible is 1600GT spec, with a lovely colour combination of Ermine White over a Biscuit interior, and purchased new in July 1970. Amazingly it has only had two owners in more than 50 years, the second taking it on in 1973 after the first damaged the Cortina but couldn’t pay for repairs and is only now parting with it.
In that time it’s covered a mere 20,000 miles, the buyer who took it on evidently aware of what a special car they’d acquired. As well as being kept garaged (naturally), it was only really driven for shows and special occasions. So the Crayford looks to have been preserved really well from what can be seen, the interior wood and leather in especially good condition. There’s an MOT with just a couple of advisories until April, though the Cortina is technically exempt. Will be worth keeping an eye out for rust, of course.
Then it’ll just be a case of using the Cortina as it’s been enjoyed for the past half a century: a rare, quirky old convertible that’ll make fine company on a sunny summer day. You can just imagine how favourable the attention will be now; the Crayfords are cars it’s impossible not to be intrigued by. Everyone knows about RS Cosworths and the like, but not many know about Cortina convertibles. Time to start spreading the word.
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