A Ford Cortina driven by legendary racing driver Sir John Whitmore in the 1960s is set to fetch £120,000 at auction.
The model, which was specially developed by Lotus for the Aln Mann Racing team, was driven by Sir John and won all eight races it was entered in during its debut season in the European Touring Car Championship. The first of these was the 1965 Mont Ventoux competition in southern France.
Ford commissioned Lotus to turn some of its Cortinas into race cars in the 1960s, and after Sir John’s car was retired at the end of the 1965 season he’d become so attached that he decided to buy it and owned it for 30 years. Standard classics can now be purchased for around £8,000.
The vehicle broke several circuit records and Sholto Gilbertson, of auctioneers Bonhams, had this to say: “This is the most famous Ford Lotus Cortina to have come on the market.
"It is in the same condition as the last time it went out on the track in 1965. It hasn’t undergone any restoration, it has just been well-looked after.
“It is a unique opportunity to acquire one of the most famous and historic of all racing saloon cars.”
After owning it, Sir John put his Cortina on display at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu in the New Forest, Hampshire. It was subsequently bought by an American enthusiast but has now been shipped back to the UK.
Sir John, 75, was reunited with his beloved racer and took it for one last spin ahead of today’s auction at the famous Goodwood circuit, West Sussex.
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