This fine looking Cortina evidently dwelt in South Africa from c.1968 to 1978 and was the subject of a restoration in the early 2000s.

The vendor informs us that the two front wings and outer sills were replaced, but that the paintwork is ‘mostly original’, and there is ‘no structural rust’.

He currently classes the venerable ‘Kent’ engine as ‘excellent’, the three-speed automatic transmission, bodywork and white over blue paintwork as ‘good’, and the blue vinyl interior trim as ‘average’.

A rare reminder of a model that once dominated our roads.

At introduction the Cortina was powered by a 1193cc three-bearing version of the company’s already well-known four-cylinder, OHV ‘Kent’ engine, though the option of a five-bearing 1500cc unit followed within months.

Initially the mechanical specification echoed that of the proven Anglia with four-speed manual gearbox, drum brakes all round, MacPherson strut front suspension and live axle mounted on leaf springs at the rear, and recirculat...