Ford Lotus Cortina 1966 MkII

Launched at the 1966 Earls Court Motor Show, the '2nd Generation' Cortina continued the successful collaboration between Ford and Lotus in the form of the Lotus Cortina MkII. But whereas the original had been built by Lotus at Hethel, the new car would be made at Ford's Dagenham works. The mechanical specification continued much as before, though servo-assisted brakes, wider wheels, and the 109bhp Special Equipment engine were now standardised together with the Corsair 2000E gearbox. Available, unlike the MkI, in a full range of colours, the MkII was given an improved interior for 1968, the model name changing to 'Twin Cam' at the same time. A total of 4,032 cars had been made by the time production ceased in September 1970, by which time the Escort Twin Cam and its derivatives had become Ford's frontline competition saloon.