I save these videos for later as I don't want to be disturbed when I watch them. It's like my private secret club of older gits who love these barn finds of cars of our era. These are the only videos on RUclips that never get skipped forward. They're like an old whisky, every drop is to be appreciated! Flippin' love you Jonny for these videos.
I just love how relatable this show is to us commoners. Not a show about some ultra exotic out of reach barn finds, but bringing back life to more common cars that were loved by someone.
I agree with what you say but unfortunately it is us commoners who cannot now afford to buy these barn find cars . Ultra exotic or not most of us would struggle to justify spending a small fortune to buy even this mk3 , even though I for one would absolutely love to.
Explaining the barn find concept to my wife she doesn't understand how "will it start" can possibly be played out over 30 mins. But that misses the point - the time flies and it's such an adventure. As ever wonderful work jonny, bring on the next one!
Ahh Martin, thank you. A lot of you (hopefully) enjoy the process and backstory to the car, and then the 'will it, won't it?' of the start saga. It can be stressful at Jonny's end.
@@TheLateBrakeShow The only will it, won't it? I thought of was will it seize with 30+ year old oil and not being run for that long. Also, turning the dizzy cap around was a way to stop your car being nicked.
@@TheLateBrakeShow Yeah, I find the back story particularly interesting and often tear jerking. 😭 I’m thinking grandad will be up there somewhere saying, ‘It’s about time they did something with that car’.
I was thinking will the ancient cam belt hold out once it fires (can’t remember if it’s an interference engine), check the firing order is correct and if no timing light, mark the distributor base plate position, slacken it off and try moving it a little bit off the marks whilst somebody else is cranking it in the absence of a timing light. Hey it looked like it was getting pretty late though and time for the pub but good to see they sussed it and got the old girl going a couple of days later.
Here's my memory. 1980. I am 4 years old and we're going on holiday to the isle of wight. Dad's YELLOW MK3 Cortina is sat in the driveway warming up and I loved the smell of it so am kneeling down behind the car sniffing the exhaust pipe!! Mum comes and grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and dragged me back in the house to look at myself in the mirror. My face was covered in black freckles haha. I got a right bollocking! I loved long journeys in that car. I'd crawl into a ball behind the drivers seat and sleep with my head on the transmission tunnel and listen to the woop woop woop of the prop shaft. It was so calming. Good memories
I wish my dad was still around to show these videos to. He had all sorts of capris, escorts, orions back in the day. When I watch these videos it kind of makes me feel he's back for half hour. Thank you Jonny
My favourite half hour by miles, every episode. Another belter Jonny - thank you. As a nipper, I used to watch a neighbour who I never spoke to, across the road from us, parking up his similarly aged Cortina every evening, into his garage. He'd always use wooden ramps to ease it onto the kerb before putting it away, and it was always immaculate. He must have used it on the roads too, not that I ever saw it go anywhere, but I could almost tell the time of day by this process of his, and I fondly reminisce that age when people cherished cars they'd cleartly worked hard to afford.
What a beautiful old thing. I love cars like this. To anyone else it's just an old mass produced car that's been forgotten about. But to the man who owned it, it meant the world, and is a treasure chest of memories. Must have been an emotional decision to let such a special car leave the family after all those years. Hopefully this Cortina will be bought by someone who understands the sentimental value it holds, and brings it back to life in a sympathetic way, so not as to lose it's character. This is such a special car, and a great one too. It deserves to be cherished, just as it's last owner did, and may it bring someone else just as much happiness. Great video Johnny. This one was special.
Hi Jonny, My Dad’s second company car was a 2000E am M reg from August 73. He always got his new company cars, every 3 years on August 1st! His was an auto in dark purple. I still remember the lovely crushed velour seats, they felt so luxurious after the fake leather seats in his previous car, a 1970 Mk4 Zodiac! It’s lovely to see such a well cared for survivor and I hope it goes to another caring owner! Thanks for the trip down memory lane 😊😊 Jonathan
Seeing the face of that car brought tears to my eyes. Like Seeing an old friend after many years. The nostalgia is thick. Oh and the Babycham 🤣. Well done Jonny. Great music selections too. Thank you to the family for allowing us to share in the story of this car. I just love these episodes. My dad worked at the Ford plant in Cork Ireland, till it closed in 1984. We never made it to the heights of owning a Cortina, but we had Mark 1 and 2 Escort saloon, and an estate mark 2 Escort. So many memories. The archeological dig through the boot is great as well.
To Anthony Manley. Loved this story, and also yours! When these cars were still in production, I went on a firm's day trip, to see these and other Ford's being made, in Dagenham in Essex. Easy day trip from London. Nowadays, Ford's sell a bit less across our European countries, due to competition from countries that have come on stream from a Japan, Korea, Rumania, etc. - and the mighty Dagenham factory amazingly had to close. But that doesn't mean I didn't get a firm's factory visit in FIRST! Wonderful experience! Not only were cars made FOR THE Public till recently - when interiors were more attractive than today, but the 1970's were bright and beautiful, with emerald green cars from FORD (Minis too). Also both makes made ORANGE (my favourite colour), Ruby red, Sky blues, you name it! Imagine seeing such colours on cars that were factory fresh. People today wouldn't be able to imagine it! Of course, I've just remembered that you WORKED at Ford's, so you were lucky enough enough to have witnessed this best time for cars!
Thanks Jonny for sharing this barn find with us. Also many thanks to the family for sharing Granddad's car with us. For many years I owned a 1975 Cortina Mkr3 2Ltr GT, a wonderful can. I had such a rush of memories with this great episode. Our oldest son came home from the hospital in the Cortina GT. He is now 40 years old thank again.
My dad had one just like that with the square light design spent hundreds of hours driving to France 🇫🇷 and back in it. We loved it. Another great episode Jonny !
I had a 1976 2 litre XL automatic when I was 18, back in the days when a teenager could afford his own car. Me and a mate went on a road trip from leafy Surrey to Loch Ness, back via Glen Coe, Loch Lomond, the Lake District, Blackpool and home in time for the Live Aid gig at Wembley. 1600 miles in a week, joined the ton-up club, took off over a humpback bridge in Northumberland, and the Cortina took it all in its stride. Loved that car and the 1980s!
Total respect for that family as they definitely loved their Grandfather and Granny and as long as they both lived this car was a item to take back memories of the good old days. When we are gone it is nice that some will hold onto some items we hold close to our hearts. It's only a piece of metal for most people but anything that links us to our departed is a precious item. Great video as usual and just shows what can be behind these barn shed doors up and down the country.. Don't see any cars these days with the Motorist prayer on the dashboard....
I would rather someone drive my car than leave it collecting dust for 20 years. That and being surrounded by junk ‘He loved this car’ so we lean all our pieces of wood against it and allow it to rot. 😁
Great to see how much this series resonates with everyone in the comments, old cars tucked in between rolls of carpet in tiny garages really taps into the heart of British nostalgia, always a joy
We had at least 4 of these cars when I was growing up…all 2000 Es, all estate cars. My dad used them for his carpenter/building business. What a great piece of kit they were. Cheers.
My old man had one - I was too young to remember it. I wasn’t too young to remember his brother’s Mk IV though, also with special factory ordered paint, and ghia model. Kept it 100% immaculate for about 15 years, used only on special occasions, until he sold it to a collector. My old man also had a Mk V, which he used to take me to school in. Happy days. What I would give to go back in time, even just for a few minutes.
The manner in which this family dealt with this has to be admired. I don't want to overstate things, but if I were the old chap who'd owned this vehicle, and my descendants dealt with my car with this level of respect, I'd be chuffed. This channel brings so much joy into my life. Thank you Johnny.
A 1974 MkIII Cortina was my first ever car as a 16yr old in Vancouver Canada. Auto trans promptly melted down on the way home, but once refurbished ran like a top for years. Memories!
Nice memory for me.Had a 1974 2000E back in the late 70s. I was a happy 20 year old. It was an absolute pig on fuel, and of course the day I traded it, I discovered a leaking joint on the fuel pipe.I remember the reg. was DIX 436, and I cant remember what I had for dinner yesterday. Nice one Jonny. Love this video. Mick.
My brother introduced me to The Late Brake show and I love the journey back in time. Each car is a time capsule of someone’s life. My Dad had a black mk3 Cortina 2.0 GXL which he purchased off a funeral director!
I loved my dads 1600GT mk 3. He liked the deep set speedo cluster ( unlike this model )because mum couldn't see how fast he was going from the passenger seat. us kids liked the high back front seats because dad couldn't reach back to clump us when we were playing up lol. I also remember the steering wheel was slightly oval.
I think that we are all cheering pat the owner. He loved the car and maintained it on that basis. Not a Ferrari or a Porsche or a sports car. A Cortina. Special to him and maintained as such. Thanks Jonny for bringing these cars out and allowing us to share in the process and the memories of people.
Wow. I find it so humbling that the love for her Grandfather and then the respect towards her mothers sentimental value meant the family held onto it until she passed and joined Grandad. What a lovely story.
@@CL-vz6ch I was thinking why couldn't they start it up now and again, drive it out the garage and give it a wash. It didn't take much to get it running
@@4Kandlez The masses nowadays don't seem to be interested or emotionally connected to cars period, is that down to PCP plans, disposable outlook on a vehicle in general? My first car were a MK3, at the age of 17 it meant the world to me, independence and freedom. Sadly the masses have been brainwashed over the last 30 years or so, now they want 15 minute cities and everything else that's part of this Great Reset agenda.😡
My mum had an 'L' reg 2000GT version of one of these in bright yellow, mid 70s. I borrowed it a few times for my 40 mile (each way) commute when my own car died (which was frequently). Fun thing, thanks for the memories!
Bring back memories, my wife had a series 3 cortina here in Australia, Ford Aust sold them here with a 250 cub inch straight 6. It went like hell but didnt like stopping.
When I was a child in the early 80s my dad had a black 1974 2000E estate, GKB 409N, which I absolutely loved and which founded my lifelong love of Fords. The day that car went to the scrapyard due to a rusted front subframe was the worst of my young life, I cried for days!
A tragedy for you. I remember watching my Dad drive away in our signal orange 1974 2000E, GJR 753N for the last time. My tragedy was the knowledge that on that September morning in 1977 he'd be coming home in a S reg 1600 Cavalier GL. Quite the fall after the Cortina and 3 years before that with a 2000 GXL 😭
Eamonn, that's the best compliment you could pay to our vids. Why? Because we believe in keeping TV show length episodes, so as not to rush through the detail. Thank you.
Love this episode, I used to help my uncle with his Mk2/Mk3 Cortinas, basic engine stuff, electrical fixes etc. Proper rust buckets, but so nice to work on mechanically wise. He only got rid when they literally fell to pieces. I miss those days, great memories! Thanks for another amazing episode
Best looking Cortina. My uncle had a yellow Mk 3. Every time you ask him about it, his first response is always, “it was a right fast bastard.” Quality content as always, Jonny
Yes, I had an older version of one these, a 73’ model 2000E, and it was quite fast, but that was by yesteryears standards. How it would fare today, I’m not sure.
Great episode, reminds me of my father's 1974 Purple Velvet metallic Mk3 2000E, absolutely gorgeous car with black vinyl roof, loved that car all the time he owned it, I even remember the time that the cambelt broke, fortunately we were only traveling very slowly so nothing got damaged, new belt and we were back in business, lady luck was with dad that day 😇
I’ve just found the Late Brake Show. I’m thoroughly enjoying it and catching up on all I’ve missed from the past. Looking forward to so much more new episodes 👍🏻
Another great find. I don’t think that I’ve ever seen a black MK 3 cortina before it’s definitely a very rare vehicle. The rear wheel arches were well known for rotting, this was caused by the chrome trim that went around the wheel arch, trapping water and causing corrosion, I think that the chrome trim was also riveted, again a major rust trap. The pinto engines suffered with camshaft failure, this was caused by the oil feed rail getting blocked and causing oil starvation, the cure was a new camshaft kit ( camshaft and followers ) and fitting a new modified oil feed pipe.
My Dad inherited a MkIII 2 door 1.6 Cortina in 1975. It was only 2 years old and my Dad had never owned such a new car. Still remember the reg: HON 281L - lots of happy childhood memories going on Sunday drives with a picnic. Loved reading the owners manual as well! I still have the original bill of sale - from Bristol Street Motors in Birmingham- think it was about £800 brand new 👍🏼 Thanks for sharing this memory about the chap that owned that car ♥️
Here in Australia, the Pinto was the base engine. We also had the 3.3l and 4.1l six cylinder engines from the Falcon in these as well. From memory the model lineup was L, XL, and XLE as the top specification
Love the MK3 Cortina, my grandpa has a bronze GXL with a black vinyl roof as his last ever company car in the early 70s. They gifted it to him when he retired and he sold it and bought a beige Hillman Hunter, I never forgave him.
This is actually my favourite Ford model, but for one thing. My parents moved from England to Germany and then the Netherlands in 1973, so I remember this model as a Ford Taunus. And I prefer those because the rear, especially the lights to me look better. My dad worked for Messerschmidt in 1972 (hence we were in Germany) where he arranged accommodation for Brits coming over to work on train carriages. He actually had a company car which was a red Ford Taunus. Sadly, we never owned one. In Holland he got a 1967 VW beetle and replaced that in '77 with an Opel Kadett. I would love to own one, but so far only managed to find a nice scale model in orange.
I have a 1974 Taunus in Sebring Red (the red that wants to be orange)... but I won't sell it ever. Been with me for 20 years now, and has been restored recently. I wish you much success with your search. :D
This episode brought back some happy memories, my dad had a couple of mk3 cortinas then when the new square shaped model cortina came out he had a couple of them and then I remember my dad buying a brand new Honda Accord on the old type Y plate. I remember going with my dad to a Leicester Honda dealer to collect it, it was a brilliant day for me but more so for my dad and that was his last car. It was so unbelievably reliable and as far as I can remember nothing major ever went wrong with it my dad loved it and was really sad when he had to sell it because he became to ill to drive it.
Impensable poder llegar a rescatar algo así en España: la burocracia sería tan ingente y los años pasarían antes de encontrar a algún funcionario que supiese algo sobre cómo actuar. Magnífico episodio, cómo siempre. Gracias!
I don't think so. The difficult part in Spain, as in most EU countries, is making a car road legal after important modifications. That would require quite a lot of paperwork and money. However, no differences regarding barn finds like this cortina. Someone has inherited the car, the original paperwork is present, so it's a simple sell. If original paperwork had been lost and car is over 30 years, there's still a quite simple procedure to become legal with "historical car" title. Do you have any different experience?
Wow what an iconic car, I had a couple back in the day. The 2 door 2ltr GT and the 1600 gt with the tombstone seats loved them....This video brought back some memories thank you....
Well done Jonny. For me, another fascinating example of carcheology. What you have to do for your profession! A Mark III was my first car, so a lovely trip down memory lane.
Another great upload Johnny. My father had a Mk III 1600GT Cortina back in the day, that was sadly written off when a Triumph Vitesse pulled out of a side junction in front of him. I remember that day very clearly due to him coming through the back door with dried blood all over his white shirt from cuts he received from the shattered windscreen. I also seem to recall that he wasn’t wearing a seat belt, so he was lucky not to be more seriously injured. 😮
My first car was a Cortina Mk 3 1973. Mine was also a 4-door, but only a 1.6L with the Kent engine. I vaguely remember the resistor on the coil was to prevent the spark becoming weak when the engine was being started: so it was like a 9V coil with, usually, about 3V dropped across the resistor - but when the engine was being cranked over, and the battery voltage collapsing due to the high starting current, the coil resistor would be bypassed to still provide a full strength spark. I fitted one of those Sparkrite ignition kits to mine - they retained the contact breaker points, but the points only passed a low current to the Sparkrite unit, which had a big transistor to amplify that low current and actually drive the coil. With that fitted, it was always a great starter even with a virtually dead battery - if the engine turned over, at all, even on the coldest mornings, it always caught and ran.
close, the resistor did drop the coil to 9V and when cranking the full 12V was supplyed by a 2nd wire from the starter solenoid to boost the coil voltage 👍
I absolutely love this, the story of Grandad's car, his pride and joy! When you opened the garage door I instantly said out loud 'that's bloody lovely' much to my own amusement talking to myself. Absolutely love a good barn find video of yours!
Brilliant find. My uncle had a 1973 registered 2.0 GXL with the earlier sloped dashboard. Fantastic looking car. The dash on your one looks the same as my first car, a 1977 Mk4.
Love it. My dad had a red mark 1 with the round lights on the back, a red mark 2, and a white mark 3 2.0 GT with black vinyl roof and red pinstripe down the sides. I had a S-reg mark 4 that started life coloured white and was a taxi, was sprayed Sahara Beige and sold to me at a good price. Had to continually put filler in around the arches but was proud as punch to be driving it as a young 20'something around 1985+. Engine so easy to work on because so much space around it.
Fabulous , brings back great memories of my old 1600xl ! Also Dad had a 2000e and both my brothers had Mk3's . I remember fitting Sparkrite ignition to my brothers Capri ! Just a small point, rear suspension is coil springs not leaf. Brilliant video as usual
I grew up near Brentwood in Essex - then Ford Europe central. The house next door to us was owned by Ford, and housed executives and their families who came from mainland Europe to work a stint in the mothership. Over time, we had neighbours from Belgium, Germany and Scandinavia and they all had a succession of lovely new company Cortinas. In contrast to my dad, who ran £200 cheapies - which used to need welding as part of pretty much every MOT!
Wow, I was 11 years old when he bought his Cortina, It's in amazing condition as I can only remember them falling to pieces with rust and mainly painted yellow or a metallic brown. I'm sure he's looking down with a big smile on his face, well done Johnny getting out into daylight again.
Love the Cortina MK3. I remember when these were everywhere. When I was an apprentice back in the early 90's a fellow apprentice had a MK3 GT. She had the coolest car of any of us at the time!
Loved this episode, my Dad had a mk3 2000e estate in gold, and the 2ltr pinto was a fast engine back in the 70s. Thats where my love for mk2 escort started, still got the bug❤
Growing up this was the pinnacle of my the cars my dad owned, a bronze 2000E ‘M’ plate, loved that car and even he had a certain pride in it. All went wrong one morning, he reversed up our driveway and go out to shut the gate, leaving the engine running. I was awoken shortly after this being told to get down on the floor away from the window, the car was engulfed in flames. This was not the saddest point, no injuries by the way just a lot of excitement with the fire brigade, the sad point was his descent into motoring hell he went from the 2000E to an Allegro, with VINYL seats!!!! Shorts not allowed in summer.
Wonderful video. Reminded me of the time my dad and I, at age 17, went to rescue a 1970 1600GT Cortina in white, in a garage. The original owner had parked it 6 years earlier, and we bought it for $600.00 Canadian. We pumped up the tires, replaced the battery, cleaned and gapped the plugs, and with the help of fresh gas and a liberal spray of ether, she started up with about 30 seconds of cranking. It was parked with a bad shifting gearbox, and after a rebuild, some new Konis up front, and a pair of Spax out back and Minilites with new rubber, that's the car I really learned how to drive in. Much more fun than my Dad's Jag Mk 10. Within weeks, I was out throwing it around every corner.
In Australia this was the Cortina XLE, the luxury verson which I believe was only a 6 cyl. Also in Australia, Cortina's also had tombstone style front buckets with integrated head rests.
Both Pinto & Falcon powered Cortina & Transit made landfall in New Zealand. In South Africa, an Essex 3.0 litre V6 was produced for the local market under the hood of a mk3.👍👌💚
I have a mk3 cortina. Though it's called a Taunus in Denmark. Bought it at the scrap yard in 98 at 19 years old. Originally 1600 pinto. Last on the road in 2001. Now doing restoration work and upgrading the drivetrain and running gear. 3.0 Essex v6 triple weber 42 dcnf 2, full race heads, fully balanced. Ditching the type 5 gearbox and fitting the RX8 6-speed. Happy days.
Well thats a very very well looked after Cortina. Great to see it running in the end. I believe it is a face lift Mk 3 as its got the square headlights and the dash/clocks which were fitted to the Mk 4. The original Mk 3 had 3 x round binnacles quite low down. And another WOW from me Jonny. You keep on unearthing these little gems. Well done.
@@Terminator-mi1jb P reg for a MK 3 was just before they brought out the Mk4 in R reg. Some MK 4 features were on the Mk 3's square headlights, different dash to name but two items.
My first car was a mk3 Cortina 1.6L ohv. NAL 688P, Signal Orange. I bought it off my dads mate in 1986 when I was 18. It was so easy to work on, I used to love getting parts from Albert Loomes scrap yard, it seemed like every other car there was a Cortina, bolt on front wings, easy to change. I remember me and my dad taking the prop shaft out and putting a new clutch in. Motorola radio, big steering wheel. The back end would slide out on a roundabout in the wet. It was such a basic car, but I still think it was the best car that I ever owned. Happy days and fond memories.
My parents had an Australian Mk3 (TD) Cortina station wagon for 10 years (1984-1994). Remember the old man working on that old Pinto engine. My first car was a TF (Mk5) Cortina with a 4-speed manual and my brother had a real nice TE Cortina. You just don’t see them anymore!
What an episode! I have a massive affinity with Mk 3's. My dad always had them, his favourite one was a blue GXL that had a reg starting FAB... so it was the thunderbirds car to us!! Once I could drive my uncle got me a part time job (whilst at college) and if I needed a car I used to use his 2000e to get home and back, that would have been 91 ish and it was a 75! What memories!!
All a matter of personal taste, of course, but for me the GXL is the king of the Mk llls. That set of gauges in the centre console takes it to a whole new level (for me).
What a beautiful old car.I cannot remember ever seeing a black one of those so its pretty special.I love hearing the stories about the cars.Just a shame the family never kept it clean like the grandad did really.Can imagine it would have been awesome when he had it.Awesome series.x
The TE Cortina was the mk4 in the UK, the Mk3 was the TC ( four link rear suspension like Vauxhall ) I knew people who transferred TC diff & axle to HC Vauxhall when repowering their Vauxhall with V6 Sierra engine. Getting back to the 4.1 ( 250ci) falcon engine and its lesser sibling 3.3 ( 200ci ) we not only got this we also in NZ got the Transit also factory fit with 4.1 inline 6 that shared both the falcon & cortina , one back in the day I had the pleasure to get up close to. In NZ for servicing, you had to have to both Gregories Pinto Transit manual along with a Falcon service manual, a single book did not exist, at least in New Zealand. I had heard via the grapevine, they were a favourite in the aussie outback with rural delivery contractors.👍👌💚
@@vernonmatthews181 I dreamed about the Mk2 Gt, and the Twin Cam Mk 1 Escort. In 78 I test drove a Twin Cam Mk1 that broke down, blew smoke, and would have cost me $3,500... I didn't buy it, wish I had. I currently own a 2004 ST170 Focus, the Cosworth. I've had 2 of them.
Lived with the "Cortina" throughout the mid to late 70's, thankfully provided as my company car. Enjoyed the experience. Great to see the effort you all put in bringing what was clearly a family treasure back to life. Guess that's what will be missed when a "Barn Find" in the future reveals a lump of steel & rubber in a garage with no replacement batteries available!
I appreciate that getting the engine to run is (clearly) important - I've held my breath in anticipation on numerous occasions watching your past barn-find uploads - but, for this wonderfully treasured possession, I SO wanted you to run the hosepipe over it and see the decades of dust wash away, leaving that deep black paintwork gleaming... 😍
Weird to see you doing this on your own. Weren’t the owners interested in helping resurrect their own car? I’d have been out there with you in a heartbeat. Anyway, I recall these old cortina’s from when I was a boy. My uncle ran several in period. They were ubiquitous but the 2000 E was quite special if I recall. Rarely saw a black one though.
My dad had a Mk3 CPV759L bought when it was 4 years old, he converted it from auto to manual as the automatic gearbox was always causing problems, even the rebuilt one packed up. We drove the France in it for holidays and me and my sister loved sliding around on the black PVC seats around corners ( no seats back then) and remember burning the backs of your legs on the PVC seats on a hot day. Happy Dayz
My first ever car was almost a cortina mark IV but the water had frozen in the radiator! But I always lusted after the mk3 Cortine E model, it was that curve in the rear passenger window line, it just gave it some distinctive looks compared to other cars. Lovely car though and it won't take much at all to recommission it. The dissy cap rotate was a popular anti theft thing, my dad used to remove the centre HT lead. Fords were notoriously easy to steal back then!
Fantastic…takes me back to when my dad used to be a second hand car dealer in the 80’s in Great Yarmouth seeing that Cortina….everything about this just brings waves of nostalgia 😊
Definitely got MK3 memories, my dad had a 2.0l XL same redge, red with black vinyl roof, it was his pride and joy, until someone in a Capri smashed into the back of us while on holiday in Dorset, replaced by a mk4 2.0l Ghia, that's another barn find 👍, great channel, I really enjoy it, cheers for creating it. genuine appreciate it.
I love the old MK3 Ford Cortina. I have memories from the 80's. Travelling to Cornwall in my Dad's estate one. Dad and Mum in the front, my Nan, Grandad and sister on the back seat and me in the back with the suitcase's.
Another eminently watchable episode of BF. My dad's 1977 registered mk3 2.8 ghia Granada estate (with black vinyl roof and sunroof from factory) also spotted the same window etching stickers. Funny what you remember from your childhood all these years later. My bro and I slept in the back with the seats flat on many an overnight caravan drive to some obscure European or northern Scottish "caravan holiday park". Cheers for the all the hard work Johnny!!!! A++
Cheers Jonny. This episode like the rest has had me sitting on the edge of my seat waiting with baited breath for the old girl to start up. Smiling from ear to ear just to see an old car from my youth. Great series. Thanks 👍
A mate of mine had a 2000e automatic in the mid 80's & we loved it! Always remember the kickdown was fantastic. We'd be driving down the road, glance in the rear view & see plumes of smoke filling the road behind - then realise the handbrake was still on...
That is one lovely Mk3 2000E Cortina... extra special in black! Very clever use of Bromide & Barium periodic table references on the new Braking Bad sticker, Jonny! Cheers. Leigh.
Back in 1977 I worked at Rockbeare Nursery NR Whipple Devon and a old boy called Ernie had a brown MK3 GXL he use to give me a lift to work with him seeing this brought back happy memories of him thanks Kev Devon 👍🇬🇧
I think it’s fantastic to hear such stories and then get the old girls running. My father was a mobile mechanic in the 80s and I remember working on many of these classics as a child. I cut my servicing teeth on beetles, Astras and cortina’s.
OMG I love these episodes and the human stories behind them. My dad had a light-blue mk III estate when I was growing up (was too young to remember the registration), then followed by a red mk IV estate: YPU 736S. Will never forget that registration as long as I live.
Had two mk 111s back in the mid 70’s!!! First one was 1600 mota in sun brunt orange 70’s colour!!!! 4door ran Dunlop aquajets on the rims.... second one was metallic brown!!!! Both cars had round single headlights either side!!!! Better than the square ones!!!! Both manuals, four on the floor!!! Had a mate that stuck a V8 into his mk111!!!! Brill cars and this was down under in New Zealand!!!! Excellent video!!!! Regards Ian 👨🎤🇳🇿
The greatest part of this kind of content is that you can feel the process, the joy and the frustration. Quite different from those short videos, where everything looks easy and inmediate. This is the real thing, and those of us who had worked on cars know it. You get dirty, things don't work, sometimes things that worked get damaged in the process. Eventually you get it to work, but happiness and joy have been gone in the process. I remember one very special episode from a series called "modern love" in which a '77 Triumph Stag was the co-star. One character said one of those sentences that get under your skin: "There are only 2 moments of joy with a classic car: the moment you buy it and the moment you sell it. Rest of time is just pain and suffering" You can totally feel that in this video. Thank you for that, Johny ;)
I'm 50 and yes I remember neighbours having one also as my eldest brother had a orange one, really bought back a lot of memories, our dad didn't want him to drive he always tried to get the keys off him, funny now but not so much then. Great video Johnny.
When I was 18 I had a MK3 2000 GT face lift model like this car. I loved that car. But had to scrap it as the front suspension bushes failed MOT and had no where to store it an no money. 😭 Only car that made me cry parting with. A few months later got a job and could have saved it. But she was gone for ever. 😭 MK3 so special for me. ❤️
I had 2. A J reg then an M reg. Loved them both. About 3 years ago a man who lives in our close brought one home on a trailer, took the fence down and pushed it into his back garden. I think it was a GL. As far as I know he restoring it, I hope so, I would like see it when it’s finished.
What a great video. Looking at the engine bay took me back to the mid 80's. Had a total of 3 Mk3 Cortinas, a 1.3, and two 2.0. A GXL and a GT. Even remember the reg of the GT - ATO 44T. The Mk3 was my favorite amongst a few Fords of that era Inc a Mk1 Escort Van, a Mk2 Escort Estate (EKU 3V), a Mk2 Traaaansit and a Mk4 Cortina
Another cracking video Johnny. My older brother's first car was a Mk3 Cortina 1600L but previous to that his mate would borrow his dad's 2000E & sometimes I'd go out in it with them. What a car! Just for a short while I was thirteen again! Cheers Johnny!👍
Thanks Jonny. Another fantastic episode from the barn hero and I'm not just talking about the fleece, What a black beauty that is. I do remember now not seeing many black ones. And most I New rotted in weeks,You could just imagine seeing a black Raleigh chopper sitting in front of it. I wish some rich sponsor would just let you buy all these old classics you keep finding. Please please please go for the Granada. It just reminds me of my dad and good times...
I save these videos for later as I don't want to be disturbed when I watch them. It's like my private secret club of older gits who love these barn finds of cars of our era.
These are the only videos on RUclips that never get skipped forward. They're like an old whisky, every drop is to be appreciated!
Flippin' love you Jonny for these videos.
Agreed!
Sone of these funds are worth more than modern equivalents as well
Me too, I save watching them for a quiet `my time` moment, I love hearing them start up for the first time in years.
We got 4,1 ltr motors down under 🇭🇲
@@timwurr1448 yes we got them in NZ, those 4.1 also graced the transit too, one I got close to was converted to camper van around 1980-81 😀 👍👌💚
I just love how relatable this show is to us commoners. Not a show about some ultra exotic out of reach barn finds, but bringing back life to more common cars that were loved by someone.
Couldn’t agree more the best thing about the late break show
@@mrpuckles8704 brake#
This is what I love about the channel too 👏
Love Barn finds , must do the barn finds revisited as well keep up the great work 👍🏻👍🏻
I agree with what you say but unfortunately it is us commoners who cannot now afford to buy these barn find cars . Ultra exotic or not most of us would struggle to justify spending a small fortune to buy even this mk3 , even though I for one would absolutely love to.
Explaining the barn find concept to my wife she doesn't understand how "will it start" can possibly be played out over 30 mins. But that misses the point - the time flies and it's such an adventure. As ever wonderful work jonny, bring on the next one!
Ahh Martin, thank you. A lot of you (hopefully) enjoy the process and backstory to the car, and then the 'will it, won't it?' of the start saga. It can be stressful at Jonny's end.
It’s the merest possibility of success!
@@TheLateBrakeShow The only will it, won't it? I thought of was will it seize with 30+ year old oil and not being run for that long. Also, turning the dizzy cap around was a way to stop your car being nicked.
@@TheLateBrakeShow Yeah, I find the back story particularly interesting and often tear jerking. 😭 I’m thinking grandad will be up there somewhere saying, ‘It’s about time they did something with that car’.
I was thinking will the ancient cam belt hold out once it fires (can’t remember if it’s an interference engine), check the firing order is correct and if no timing light, mark the distributor base plate position, slacken it off and try moving it a little bit off the marks whilst somebody else is cranking it in the absence of a timing light. Hey it looked like it was getting pretty late though and time for the pub but good to see they sussed it and got the old girl going a couple of days later.
Here's my memory. 1980. I am 4 years old and we're going on holiday to the isle of wight. Dad's YELLOW MK3 Cortina is sat in the driveway warming up and I loved the smell of it so am kneeling down behind the car sniffing the exhaust pipe!! Mum comes and grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and dragged me back in the house to look at myself in the mirror. My face was covered in black freckles haha. I got a right bollocking!
I loved long journeys in that car. I'd crawl into a ball behind the drivers seat and sleep with my head on the transmission tunnel and listen to the woop woop woop of the prop shaft. It was so calming. Good memories
Please take advice sniffing exhausts is damaging for your health 🙄😳
I wish my dad was still around to show these videos to. He had all sorts of capris, escorts, orions back in the day. When I watch these videos it kind of makes me feel he's back for half hour. Thank you Jonny
Just seen your comment you what Escorts and Orions they were nice I had Orion and Escort nice Ford cars .
My friend had it was green ford best car
My favourite half hour by miles, every episode. Another belter Jonny - thank you. As a nipper, I used to watch a neighbour who I never spoke to, across the road from us, parking up his similarly aged Cortina every evening, into his garage. He'd always use wooden ramps to ease it onto the kerb before putting it away, and it was always immaculate. He must have used it on the roads too, not that I ever saw it go anywhere, but I could almost tell the time of day by this process of his, and I fondly reminisce that age when people cherished cars they'd cleartly worked hard to afford.
What a beautiful old thing. I love cars like this. To anyone else it's just an old mass produced car that's been forgotten about. But to the man who owned it, it meant the world, and is a treasure chest of memories. Must have been an emotional decision to let such a special car leave the family after all those years. Hopefully this Cortina will be bought by someone who understands the sentimental value it holds, and brings it back to life in a sympathetic way, so not as to lose it's character. This is such a special car, and a great one too. It deserves to be cherished, just as it's last owner did, and may it bring someone else just as much happiness. Great video Johnny. This one was special.
Hi Jonny,
My Dad’s second company car was a 2000E am M reg from August 73. He always got his new company cars, every 3 years on August 1st!
His was an auto in dark purple. I still remember the lovely crushed velour seats, they felt so luxurious after the fake leather seats in his previous car, a 1970 Mk4 Zodiac!
It’s lovely to see such a well cared for survivor and I hope it goes to another caring owner!
Thanks for the trip down memory lane 😊😊
Jonathan
MK 4 Zodiac pissed all over these rust Bins.
Seeing the face of that car brought tears to my eyes. Like Seeing an old friend after many years. The nostalgia is thick. Oh and the Babycham 🤣. Well done Jonny. Great music selections too.
Thank you to the family for allowing us to share in the story of this car. I just love these episodes.
My dad worked at the Ford plant in Cork Ireland, till it closed in 1984. We never made it to the heights of owning a Cortina, but we had Mark 1 and 2 Escort saloon, and an estate mark 2 Escort.
So many memories. The archeological dig through the boot is great as well.
To Anthony Manley. Loved this story, and also yours! When these cars were still in production, I went on a firm's day trip, to see these and other Ford's being made, in Dagenham in Essex. Easy day trip from London. Nowadays, Ford's sell a bit less across our European countries, due to competition from countries that have come on stream from a Japan, Korea, Rumania, etc. - and the mighty Dagenham factory amazingly had to close. But that doesn't mean I didn't get a firm's factory visit in FIRST! Wonderful experience! Not only were cars made FOR THE Public till recently - when interiors were more attractive than today, but the 1970's were bright and beautiful, with emerald green cars from FORD (Minis too). Also both makes made ORANGE (my favourite colour), Ruby red, Sky blues, you name it! Imagine seeing such colours on cars that were factory fresh. People today wouldn't be able to imagine it! Of course, I've just remembered that you WORKED at Ford's, so you were lucky enough enough to have witnessed this best time for cars!
Thanks Jonny for sharing this barn find with us. Also many thanks to the family for sharing Granddad's car with us. For many years I owned a 1975 Cortina Mkr3 2Ltr GT, a wonderful can. I had such a rush of memories with this great episode. Our oldest son came home from the hospital in the Cortina GT. He is now 40 years old thank again.
I had a J reg Mk3 2.0L GT in orange with a black vinyl roof, loved it.
My dad had one just like that with the square light design spent hundreds of hours driving to France 🇫🇷 and back in it. We loved it.
Another great episode Jonny !
I had a 1976 2 litre XL automatic when I was 18, back in the days when a teenager could afford his own car.
Me and a mate went on a road trip from leafy Surrey to Loch Ness, back via Glen Coe, Loch Lomond, the Lake District, Blackpool and home in time for the Live Aid gig at Wembley.
1600 miles in a week, joined the ton-up club, took off over a humpback bridge in Northumberland, and the Cortina took it all in its stride.
Loved that car and the 1980s!
Total respect for that family as they definitely loved their Grandfather and Granny and as long as they both lived this car was a item to take back memories of the good old days. When we are gone it is nice that some will hold onto some items we hold close to our hearts. It's only a piece of metal for most people but anything that links us to our departed is a precious item. Great video as usual and just shows what can be behind these barn shed doors up and down the country.. Don't see any cars these days with the Motorist prayer on the dashboard....
Well said, I hope mine is looked after I'm gone ( as long as you can still get petrol that is, ), An electric engine, ????? Noooo
I would rather someone drive my car than leave it collecting dust for 20 years. That and being surrounded by junk ‘He loved this car’ so we lean all our pieces of wood against it and allow it to rot. 😁
Great to see how much this series resonates with everyone in the comments, old cars tucked in between rolls of carpet in tiny garages really taps into the heart of British nostalgia, always a joy
We had at least 4 of these cars when I was growing up…all 2000 Es, all estate cars. My dad used them for his carpenter/building business. What a great piece of kit they were. Cheers.
My old man had one - I was too young to remember it. I wasn’t too young to remember his brother’s Mk IV though, also with special factory ordered paint, and ghia model. Kept it 100% immaculate for about 15 years, used only on special occasions, until he sold it to a collector. My old man also had a Mk V, which he used to take me to school in. Happy days. What I would give to go back in time, even just for a few minutes.
The manner in which this family dealt with this has to be admired. I don't want to overstate things, but if I were the old chap who'd owned this vehicle, and my descendants dealt with my car with this level of respect, I'd be chuffed.
This channel brings so much joy into my life. Thank you Johnny.
A 1974 MkIII Cortina was my first ever car as a 16yr old in Vancouver Canada. Auto trans promptly melted down on the way home, but once refurbished ran like a top for years. Memories!
Nice memory for me.Had a 1974 2000E back in the late 70s. I was a happy 20 year old. It was an absolute pig on fuel, and of course the day I traded it, I discovered a leaking joint on the fuel pipe.I remember the reg. was DIX 436, and I cant remember what I had for dinner yesterday. Nice one Jonny. Love this video. Mick.
My brother introduced me to The Late Brake show and I love the journey back in time. Each car is a time capsule of someone’s life. My Dad had a black mk3 Cortina 2.0 GXL which he purchased off a funeral director!
I loved my dads 1600GT mk 3.
He liked the deep set speedo cluster ( unlike this model )because mum couldn't see how fast he was going from the passenger seat.
us kids liked the high back front seats because dad couldn't reach back to clump us when we were playing up lol.
I also remember the steering wheel was slightly oval.
I think that we are all cheering pat the owner. He loved the car and maintained it on that basis. Not a Ferrari or a Porsche or a sports car. A Cortina. Special to him and maintained as such. Thanks Jonny for bringing these cars out and allowing us to share in the process and the memories of people.
I bloomin love these Barn Find episodes. 💯
Such great content 😎 👍🏻
these barn finds are going from strength to strength Jonny.... you need to do a TV series now :)
Somebody call Netflix....
@@TheLateBrakeShowspeed dial?
@@TheLateBrakeShow = Trust me Jonny, they're "losing out" BIG TIME
Wow. I find it so humbling that the love for her Grandfather and then the respect towards her mothers sentimental value meant the family held onto it until she passed and joined Grandad. What a lovely story.
Not enough to throw a couple of sheets over it.
@@CL-vz6ch I was thinking why couldn't they start it up now and again, drive it out the garage and give it a wash. It didn't take much to get it running
@@4Kandlez The masses nowadays don't seem to be interested or emotionally connected to cars period, is that down to PCP plans, disposable outlook on a vehicle in general? My first car were a MK3, at the age of 17 it meant the world to me, independence and freedom. Sadly the masses have been brainwashed over the last 30 years or so, now they want 15 minute cities and everything else that's part of this Great Reset agenda.😡
My mum had an 'L' reg 2000GT version of one of these in bright yellow, mid 70s. I borrowed it a few times for my 40 mile (each way) commute when my own car died (which was frequently). Fun thing, thanks for the memories!
Bring back memories, my wife had a series 3 cortina here in Australia, Ford Aust sold them here with a 250 cub inch straight 6. It went like hell but didnt like stopping.
When I was a child in the early 80s my dad had a black 1974 2000E estate, GKB 409N, which I absolutely loved and which founded my lifelong love of Fords. The day that car went to the scrapyard due to a rusted front subframe was the worst of my young life, I cried for days!
A tragedy for you. I remember watching my Dad drive away in our signal orange 1974 2000E, GJR 753N for the last time. My tragedy was the knowledge that on that September morning in 1977 he'd be coming home in a S reg 1600 Cavalier GL. Quite the fall after the Cortina and 3 years before that with a 2000 GXL 😭
Fond memories I was just 5yrs old in the late 70's early 80s my uncle had a purple 2000E, KLA684N best car on the whole road looking at old photos.
What a great show. The 30 min just flies by. Such care and respect taken for the car and the story behind. Well done!
Eamonn, that's the best compliment you could pay to our vids. Why? Because we believe in keeping TV show length episodes, so as not to rush through the detail. Thank you.
Love this episode, I used to help my uncle with his Mk2/Mk3 Cortinas, basic engine stuff, electrical fixes etc. Proper rust buckets, but so nice to work on mechanically wise. He only got rid when they literally fell to pieces. I miss those days, great memories! Thanks for another amazing episode
Best looking Cortina. My uncle had a yellow Mk 3. Every time you ask him about it, his first response is always, “it was a right fast bastard.” Quality content as always, Jonny
Yes, I had an older version of one these, a 73’ model 2000E, and it was quite fast, but that was by yesteryears standards.
How it would fare today, I’m not sure.
Great episode, reminds me of my father's 1974 Purple Velvet metallic Mk3 2000E, absolutely gorgeous car with black vinyl roof, loved that car all the time he owned it, I even remember the time that the cambelt broke, fortunately we were only traveling very slowly so nothing got damaged, new belt and we were back in business, lady luck was with dad that day 😇
Mine snapped on my 1976 2 litre XL, luckily for me Id only just pulled away when it went.
I’ve just found the Late Brake Show. I’m thoroughly enjoying it and catching up on all I’ve missed from the past. Looking forward to so much more new episodes 👍🏻
Another great find. I don’t think that I’ve ever seen a black MK 3 cortina before it’s definitely a very rare vehicle.
The rear wheel arches were well known for rotting, this was caused by the chrome trim that went around the wheel arch, trapping water and causing corrosion, I think that the chrome trim was also riveted, again a major rust trap.
The pinto engines suffered with camshaft failure, this was caused by the oil feed rail getting blocked and causing oil starvation, the cure was a new camshaft kit ( camshaft and followers ) and fitting a new modified oil feed pipe.
The worst thing about this series is Jonny's insistence on reminding us that the mid-90s was thirty years ago 😭
The 90s was the last great decade.
Oh crap, that means the mid 80s was 40 years ago 😯
Almost and will be in a little over 15 months
My Dad inherited a MkIII 2 door 1.6 Cortina in 1975. It was only 2 years old and my Dad had never owned such a new car. Still remember the reg: HON 281L - lots of happy childhood memories going on Sunday drives with a picnic. Loved reading the owners manual as well! I still have the original bill of sale - from Bristol Street Motors in Birmingham- think it was about £800 brand new 👍🏼 Thanks for sharing this memory about the chap that owned that car ♥️
Here in Australia, the Pinto was the base engine. We also had the 3.3l and 4.1l six cylinder engines from the Falcon in these as well. From memory the model lineup was L, XL, and XLE as the top specification
Something special when a resting car wakes from its slumber. What a great story and machine
Who else was shouting at the screen “The leads are on wrong!!” Another great episode Jonny. Thanks 👌
Yep, and the grandad probably did it himself as an anti-theft measure if he wouldn't leave the car on its own.
Me too! My family wondering why I’m chuntering ‘dizzy’s on backwards Jonny’ 😅
Love the MK3 Cortina, my grandpa has a bronze GXL with a black vinyl roof as his last ever company car in the early 70s. They gifted it to him when he retired and he sold it and bought a beige Hillman Hunter, I never forgave him.
alright, you know its going to be a good evening when this channel drops a barn find episode 😃👍
A car with a lovely backstory. Love these trips back to the better days.
This is actually my favourite Ford model, but for one thing. My parents moved from England to Germany and then the Netherlands in 1973, so I remember this model as a Ford Taunus. And I prefer those because the rear, especially the lights to me look better.
My dad worked for Messerschmidt in 1972 (hence we were in Germany) where he arranged accommodation for Brits coming over to work on train carriages. He actually had a company car which was a red Ford Taunus. Sadly, we never owned one. In Holland he got a 1967 VW beetle and replaced that in '77 with an Opel Kadett. I would love to own one, but so far only managed to find a nice scale model in orange.
I have a 1974 Taunus in Sebring Red (the red that wants to be orange)... but I won't sell it ever. Been with me for 20 years now, and has been restored recently.
I wish you much success with your search. :D
Ah! Takes me back. I used to have one of those in Copper Beech (+ copious rust) and I bloody loved it.
Another fantastic barn find edition. It's amazing to ponder on what else is hiding in unassuming garages all over the country waiting to be uncovered.
This episode brought back some happy memories, my dad had a couple of mk3 cortinas then when the new square shaped model cortina came out he had a couple of them and then I remember my dad buying a brand new Honda Accord on the old type Y plate.
I remember going with my dad to a Leicester Honda dealer to collect it, it was a brilliant day for me but more so for my dad and that was his last car.
It was so unbelievably reliable and as far as I can remember nothing major ever went wrong with it my dad loved it and was really sad when he had to sell it because he became to ill to drive it.
Impensable poder llegar a rescatar algo así en España: la burocracia sería tan ingente y los años pasarían antes de encontrar a algún funcionario que supiese algo sobre cómo actuar. Magnífico episodio, cómo siempre. Gracias!
Hola. Deberías ver a Pete C en su canal de youtube 'Cortina City' y ver las Cortinas Mk3 que ha guardado.
I don't think so. The difficult part in Spain, as in most EU countries, is making a car road legal after important modifications. That would require quite a lot of paperwork and money. However, no differences regarding barn finds like this cortina. Someone has inherited the car, the original paperwork is present, so it's a simple sell. If original paperwork had been lost and car is over 30 years, there's still a quite simple procedure to become legal with "historical car" title. Do you have any different experience?
Wow what an iconic car, I had a couple back in the day. The 2 door 2ltr GT and the 1600 gt with the tombstone seats loved them....This video brought back some memories thank you....
Well done Jonny. For me, another fascinating example of carcheology. What you have to do for your profession! A Mark III was my first car, so a lovely trip down memory lane.
Another great upload Johnny. My father had a Mk III 1600GT Cortina back in the day, that was sadly written off when a Triumph Vitesse pulled out of a side junction in front of him. I remember that day very clearly due to him coming through the back door with dried blood all over his white shirt from cuts he received from the shattered windscreen. I also seem to recall that he wasn’t wearing a seat belt, so he was lucky not to be more seriously injured. 😮
My first car was a Cortina Mk 3 1973. Mine was also a 4-door, but only a 1.6L with the Kent engine. I vaguely remember the resistor on the coil was to prevent the spark becoming weak when the engine was being started: so it was like a 9V coil with, usually, about 3V dropped across the resistor - but when the engine was being cranked over, and the battery voltage collapsing due to the high starting current, the coil resistor would be bypassed to still provide a full strength spark.
I fitted one of those Sparkrite ignition kits to mine - they retained the contact breaker points, but the points only passed a low current to the Sparkrite unit, which had a big transistor to amplify that low current and actually drive the coil. With that fitted, it was always a great starter even with a virtually dead battery - if the engine turned over, at all, even on the coldest mornings, it always caught and ran.
close, the resistor did drop the coil to 9V and when cranking the full 12V was supplyed by a 2nd wire from the starter solenoid to boost the coil voltage 👍
From Australia 🇦🇺 to 🇬🇧 UK ,I would say this content complies world wide ,congratulations 🎉
I could genuinely watch these for an entire day. Great work Jonny 😍
"could"? I frequently do....lol
I absolutely love this, the story of Grandad's car, his pride and joy! When you opened the garage door I instantly said out loud 'that's bloody lovely' much to my own amusement talking to myself. Absolutely love a good barn find video of yours!
Brilliant find. My uncle had a 1973 registered 2.0 GXL with the earlier sloped dashboard. Fantastic looking car. The dash on your one looks the same as my first car, a 1977 Mk4.
Love it. My dad had a red mark 1 with the round lights on the back, a red mark 2, and a white mark 3 2.0 GT with black vinyl roof and red pinstripe down the sides. I had a S-reg mark 4 that started life coloured white and was a taxi, was sprayed Sahara Beige and sold to me at a good price. Had to continually put filler in around the arches but was proud as punch to be driving it as a young 20'something around 1985+. Engine so easy to work on because so much space around it.
Fabulous , brings back great memories of my old 1600xl ! Also Dad had a 2000e and both my brothers had Mk3's . I remember fitting Sparkrite ignition to my brothers Capri ! Just a small point, rear suspension is coil springs not leaf. Brilliant video as usual
I grew up near Brentwood in Essex - then Ford Europe central. The house next door to us was owned by Ford, and housed executives and their families who came from mainland Europe to work a stint in the mothership. Over time, we had neighbours from Belgium, Germany and Scandinavia and they all had a succession of lovely new company Cortinas. In contrast to my dad, who ran £200 cheapies - which used to need welding as part of pretty much every MOT!
I run cars like that - strangely enough, my current one is a Ford (a 2002 Focus) and it's just failed its MoT on rust in the sills!
Wow, I was 11 years old when he bought his Cortina, It's in amazing condition as I can only remember them falling to pieces with rust and mainly painted yellow or a metallic brown. I'm sure he's looking down with a big smile on his face, well done Johnny getting out into daylight again.
What a gem you got to love a mk3 cortina pete c from cortina city would love this hes restored a few mk3 gxl's. Hope the 2000e sees the road again 👍
Love the Cortina MK3. I remember when these were everywhere. When I was an apprentice back in the early 90's a fellow apprentice had a MK3 GT. She had the coolest car of any of us at the time!
Hi Jonny, those wheels were called "sports road wheels" by ford, rostyles were like the ones on the 1600e. great find that
^ This! Also known as 'Dartboards', for obvious reasons. Looked like the spare was possibly a deeper dished variant than the rim it replaced too...
Loved this episode, my Dad had a mk3 2000e estate in gold, and the 2ltr pinto was a fast engine back in the 70s. Thats where my love for mk2 escort started, still got the bug❤
Growing up this was the pinnacle of my the cars my dad owned, a bronze 2000E ‘M’ plate, loved that car and even he had a certain pride in it. All went wrong one morning, he reversed up our driveway and go out to shut the gate, leaving the engine running. I was awoken shortly after this being told to get down on the floor away from the window, the car was engulfed in flames. This was not the saddest point, no injuries by the way just a lot of excitement with the fire brigade, the sad point was his descent into motoring hell he went from the 2000E to an Allegro, with VINYL seats!!!! Shorts not allowed in summer.
Wonderful video. Reminded me of the time my dad and I, at age 17, went to rescue a 1970 1600GT Cortina in white, in a garage. The original owner had parked it 6 years earlier, and we bought it for $600.00 Canadian. We pumped up the tires, replaced the battery, cleaned and gapped the plugs, and with the help of fresh gas and a liberal spray of ether, she started up with about 30 seconds of cranking. It was parked with a bad shifting gearbox, and after a rebuild, some new Konis up front, and a pair of Spax out back and Minilites with new rubber, that's the car I really learned how to drive in. Much more fun than my Dad's Jag Mk 10. Within weeks, I was out throwing it around every corner.
In Australia this was the Cortina XLE, the luxury verson which I believe was only a 6 cyl. Also in Australia, Cortina's also had tombstone style front buckets with integrated head rests.
I had one, but it was a wagon. Loved that thing.
Both Pinto & Falcon powered Cortina & Transit made landfall in New Zealand.
In South Africa, an Essex 3.0 litre V6 was produced for the local market under the hood of a mk3.👍👌💚
I have a mk3 cortina. Though it's called a Taunus in Denmark. Bought it at the scrap yard in 98 at 19 years old. Originally 1600 pinto. Last on the road in 2001. Now doing restoration work and upgrading the drivetrain and running gear. 3.0 Essex v6 triple weber 42 dcnf 2, full race heads, fully balanced. Ditching the type 5 gearbox and fitting the RX8 6-speed. Happy days.
Well thats a very very well looked after Cortina. Great to see it running in the end. I believe it is a face lift Mk 3 as its got the square headlights and the dash/clocks which were fitted to the Mk 4. The original Mk 3 had 3 x round binnacles quite low down. And another WOW from me Jonny. You keep on unearthing these little gems. Well done.
Mine had round headlights and like the MK I Escort with them, looked much better.
yes the 2000E was the facelift top spec as the GXL was its predisasor
My 1976 Cortina 1.6L, NAL 688P, Signal Orange had the square / rectangular headlights.
@@Terminator-mi1jb P reg for a MK 3 was just before they brought out the Mk4 in R reg. Some MK 4 features were on the Mk 3's square headlights, different dash to name but two items.
My first car was a mk3 Cortina 1.6L ohv. NAL 688P, Signal Orange. I bought it off my dads mate in 1986 when I was 18. It was so easy to work on, I used to love getting parts from Albert Loomes scrap yard, it seemed like every other car there was a Cortina, bolt on front wings, easy to change. I remember me and my dad taking the prop shaft out and putting a new clutch in. Motorola radio, big steering wheel. The back end would slide out on a roundabout in the wet. It was such a basic car, but I still think it was the best car that I ever owned. Happy days and fond memories.
I really don't know how someone could sell something that was so loved and cherished. But I guess we're all different.
Ditto
My parents had an Australian Mk3 (TD) Cortina station wagon for 10 years (1984-1994). Remember the old man working on that old Pinto engine. My first car was a TF (Mk5) Cortina with a 4-speed manual and my brother had a real nice TE Cortina. You just don’t see them anymore!
Look carefully in NZ, and you will find cherished Mk5's still about.
What an episode! I have a massive affinity with Mk 3's. My dad always had them, his favourite one was a blue GXL that had a reg starting FAB... so it was the thunderbirds car to us!! Once I could drive my uncle got me a part time job (whilst at college) and if I needed a car I used to use his 2000e to get home and back, that would have been 91 ish and it was a 75! What memories!!
All a matter of personal taste, of course, but for me the GXL is the king of the Mk llls. That set of gauges in the centre console takes it to a whole new level (for me).
What a beautiful old car.I cannot remember ever seeing a black one of those so its pretty special.I love hearing the stories about the cars.Just a shame the family never kept it clean like the grandad did really.Can imagine it would have been awesome when he had it.Awesome series.x
Known as the TE Cortina in Australia 🇦🇺
We could order it with a 4.1 litre inline 6, 4 speed, sports suspension... it was a weapon.
@@hkmonaro8153 not as quick as my XA GT, but pretty good.
The TE Cortina was the mk4 in the UK, the Mk3 was the TC ( four link rear suspension like Vauxhall ) I knew people who transferred TC diff & axle to HC Vauxhall when repowering their Vauxhall with V6 Sierra engine.
Getting back to the 4.1 ( 250ci) falcon engine and its lesser sibling 3.3 ( 200ci ) we not only got this we also in NZ got the Transit also factory fit with 4.1 inline 6 that shared both the falcon & cortina , one back in the day I had the pleasure to get up close to.
In NZ for servicing, you had to have to both Gregories Pinto Transit manual along with a Falcon service manual, a single book did not exist, at least in New Zealand.
I had heard via the grapevine, they were a favourite in the aussie outback with rural delivery contractors.👍👌💚
@@hkmonaro8153 I remember the TE's had those huge bumpers like in america 🇺🇸
The TF went to plastic bumpers, as was the fashion.👍👌💚
The TE used falcon suspension to underpin the huge engine, but redesigned the bonnet to overcome the aircleaner being taller.👍👌💚
@@vernonmatthews181 I dreamed about the Mk2 Gt, and the Twin Cam Mk 1 Escort. In 78 I test drove a Twin Cam Mk1 that broke down, blew smoke, and would have cost me $3,500... I didn't buy it, wish I had.
I currently own a 2004 ST170 Focus, the Cosworth. I've had 2 of them.
Lived with the "Cortina" throughout the mid to late 70's, thankfully provided as my company car. Enjoyed the experience. Great to see the effort you all put in bringing what was clearly a family treasure back to life. Guess that's what will be missed when a "Barn Find" in the future reveals a lump of steel & rubber in a garage with no replacement batteries available!
Always liked the shape of the Mk. 3. Knew it had to start, can't kill a pinto
I appreciate that getting the engine to run is (clearly) important - I've held my breath in anticipation on numerous occasions watching your past barn-find uploads - but, for this wonderfully treasured possession, I SO wanted you to run the hosepipe over it and see the decades of dust wash away, leaving that deep black paintwork gleaming... 😍
Weird to see you doing this on your own. Weren’t the owners interested in helping resurrect their own car? I’d have been out there with you in a heartbeat. Anyway, I recall these old cortina’s from when I was a boy. My uncle ran several in period. They were ubiquitous but the 2000 E was quite special if I recall. Rarely saw a black one though.
My dad had a Mk3 CPV759L bought when it was 4 years old, he converted it from auto to manual as the automatic gearbox was always causing problems, even the rebuilt one packed up. We drove the France in it for holidays and me and my sister loved sliding around on the black PVC seats around corners ( no seats back then) and remember burning the backs of your legs on the PVC seats on a hot day. Happy Dayz
My first ever car was almost a cortina mark IV but the water had frozen in the radiator!
But I always lusted after the mk3 Cortine E model, it was that curve in the rear passenger window line, it just gave it some distinctive looks compared to other cars.
Lovely car though and it won't take much at all to recommission it.
The dissy cap rotate was a popular anti theft thing, my dad used to remove the centre HT lead.
Fords were notoriously easy to steal back then!
Fantastic…takes me back to when my dad used to be a second hand car dealer in the 80’s in Great Yarmouth seeing that Cortina….everything about this just brings waves of nostalgia 😊
Definitely got MK3 memories, my dad had a 2.0l XL same redge, red with black vinyl roof, it was his pride and joy, until someone in a Capri smashed into the back of us while on holiday in Dorset, replaced by a mk4 2.0l Ghia, that's another barn find 👍, great channel, I really enjoy it, cheers for creating it. genuine appreciate it.
I love the old MK3 Ford Cortina. I have memories from the 80's. Travelling to Cornwall in my Dad's estate one. Dad and Mum in the front, my Nan, Grandad and sister on the back seat and me in the back with the suitcase's.
Another eminently watchable episode of BF. My dad's 1977 registered mk3 2.8 ghia Granada estate (with black vinyl roof and sunroof from factory) also spotted the same window etching stickers. Funny what you remember from your childhood all these years later. My bro and I slept in the back with the seats flat on many an overnight caravan drive to some obscure European or northern Scottish "caravan holiday park". Cheers for the all the hard work Johnny!!!! A++
Cheers Jonny.
This episode like the rest has had me sitting on the edge of my seat waiting with baited breath for the old girl to start up. Smiling from ear to ear just to see an old car from my youth.
Great series. Thanks 👍
Loved my 2 door mk1 with a 2litre pinto. Pretty quick for what it was . Used to even tow a trailer with a few motorbikes!
A mate of mine had a 2000e automatic in the mid 80's & we loved it! Always remember the kickdown was fantastic. We'd be driving down the road, glance in the rear view & see plumes of smoke filling the road behind - then realise the handbrake was still on...
That is one lovely Mk3 2000E Cortina... extra special in black! Very clever use of Bromide & Barium periodic table references on the new Braking Bad sticker, Jonny! Cheers. Leigh.
Back in 1977 I worked at Rockbeare Nursery NR Whipple Devon and a old boy called Ernie had a brown MK3 GXL he use to give me a lift to work with him seeing this brought back happy memories of him thanks Kev Devon 👍🇬🇧
One of the best car channels. Jonny makes this program exceptional. Deserve millions of subscribers.
We can only agree. Cheers v much!
I think it’s fantastic to hear such stories and then get the old girls running. My father was a mobile mechanic in the 80s and I remember working on many of these classics as a child. I cut my servicing teeth on beetles, Astras and cortina’s.
OMG I love these episodes and the human stories behind them. My dad had a light-blue mk III estate when I was growing up (was too young to remember the registration), then followed by a red mk IV estate: YPU 736S. Will never forget that registration as long as I live.
Had two mk 111s back in the mid 70’s!!! First one was 1600 mota in sun brunt orange 70’s colour!!!! 4door ran Dunlop aquajets on the rims.... second one was metallic brown!!!! Both cars had round single headlights either side!!!! Better than the square ones!!!! Both manuals, four on the floor!!! Had a mate that stuck a V8 into his mk111!!!! Brill cars and this was down under in New Zealand!!!!
Excellent video!!!! Regards Ian 👨🎤🇳🇿
The greatest part of this kind of content is that you can feel the process, the joy and the frustration. Quite different from those short videos, where everything looks easy and inmediate. This is the real thing, and those of us who had worked on cars know it. You get dirty, things don't work, sometimes things that worked get damaged in the process. Eventually you get it to work, but happiness and joy have been gone in the process. I remember one very special episode from a series called "modern love" in which a '77 Triumph Stag was the co-star. One character said one of those sentences that get under your skin: "There are only 2 moments of joy with a classic car: the moment you buy it and the moment you sell it. Rest of time is just pain and suffering" You can totally feel that in this video. Thank you for that, Johny ;)
I'm 50 and yes I remember neighbours having one also as my eldest brother had a orange one, really bought back a lot of memories, our dad didn't want him to drive he always tried to get the keys off him, funny now but not so much then. Great video Johnny.
When I was 18 I had a MK3 2000 GT face lift model like this car. I loved that car. But had to scrap it as the front suspension bushes failed MOT and had no where to store it an no money. 😭 Only car that made me cry parting with. A few months later got a job and could have saved it. But she was gone for ever. 😭 MK3 so special for me. ❤️
I had 2. A J reg then an M reg. Loved them both.
About 3 years ago a man who lives in our close brought one home on a trailer, took the fence down and pushed it into his back garden. I think it was a GL. As far as I know he restoring it, I hope so, I would like see it when it’s finished.
What a great video. Looking at the engine bay took me back to the mid 80's. Had a total of 3 Mk3 Cortinas, a 1.3, and two 2.0. A GXL and a GT. Even remember the reg of the GT - ATO 44T.
The Mk3 was my favorite amongst a few Fords of that era Inc a Mk1 Escort Van, a Mk2 Escort Estate (EKU 3V), a Mk2 Traaaansit and a Mk4 Cortina
Another cracking video Johnny. My older brother's first car was a Mk3 Cortina 1600L but previous to that his mate would borrow his dad's 2000E & sometimes I'd go out in it with them. What a car! Just for a short while I was thirteen again! Cheers Johnny!👍
Thanks Jonny. Another fantastic episode from the barn hero and I'm not just talking about the fleece, What a black beauty that is. I do remember now not seeing many black ones. And most I New rotted in weeks,You could just imagine seeing a black Raleigh chopper sitting in front of it. I wish some rich sponsor would just let you buy all these old classics you keep finding. Please please please go for the Granada. It just reminds me of my dad and good times...