Few cars have made a bigger impact on the motor industry than the Ford Cortina.
The Cortina single-handedly revolutionised the British motor industry, and arrived at a time when car ownership was booming. The cars most linked with the 'swinging sixties' are the Mini and the VW Beetle, but neither of these cars was actually introduced in the decade. The Cortina, on the other hand, was the car which truly signalled the end of post-war austerity, and introduced millions to the concept of cheap car ownership.
When it was launched on 21st September 1962, it offered incredible value for money, priced at just £639 for the base model (£11,214 in today's money).
The Cortina's name also heralded a change in direction for the British motor industry. Before the Cortina, cars were named after staid British towns -- the Morris Oxford, the Austin Westminster etc. -- however, the Cortina was named after a glamorous Italian ski resort. Not such a big deal, perhaps, but it hinted that the Cortina was unlike any car that had gone before.
The Cortina was produced in five generations until it was replaced by the ghastly Sierra in 1982, and the Sierra itself was replaced by the Mondeo nine years later.
In fact, if you look at the Mondeo's family tree, you can see that it is, essentially, a Mark XI Cortina; and the fact that the current Mondeo remains so popular in the UK market is due to the ground-breaking popularity of the old Cortina.
So, to celebrate the fiftieth birthday of a motoring icon, we're taking a look back at the five generations of the Ford Cortina.
Mark I (1962-1966)
Mark II (1966-1970)
Mark III (1970-1976)
Mark IV (1976-1979)
Mark V (1979-1982)
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