Page 16 - BB april 24

This month our intrepid driver Noel is BEHIND THE WHEEL of Frank Lowndes
1966 MK 1 Cortina GT
What started as a low-key project to assemble a 1966 Ford Cortina GT back to a driveable classic quickly morphed into a full- on, high level, restoration.
The opportunity to purchase the disassembled ex-race GT was a no-brainer for Frank as he had many years of experience with these cars in the 60s. Assembly would be a breeze, and returning the car back to original condition would prove to be more satisfying than he expected. Iincluding those small detail items like wheel trims/caps and a new Old Stock service sticker – that’s got to be a first!
3 years of detailed work later and the finished GT is a head turner.
I met up with Frank and his wife Marilyn at a recent Coolum Coffee and Cars, looking all smiles as they rolled up in their immaculate looking GT.
When Frank offered me a drive I accepted with restrained boyhood excitement and slipped behind the wheel-what a treat!
We drove around the industrial estate where, let’s say, there is a reasonably safe opportunity to test the power and handling capabilities.
First impressions, this is a FUN CAR to drive with a capital F.
With the surprising torque from the 1.5 ltr motor and close ratio 4-speed transmission it has that sports car feel with plenty of room for comfortable long drives from this smaller size passenger car.
No problem around the pedal controls either from drivers with big hoofs like mine. The handling is, again, surprising taking into account the design and mainstream use of this body design back in the 60s.
Frank is over the moon with the end result of his GT’s Restoration and so he should be – I think his wife Marilyn is happy too!
Noel St John Wood
16