Ford Cortina MK2 Auto - Potential project or parts only?

[Welshie]

I have a friend who is looking to get rid of his car collection. Most are brave project cars or spares only but he has a 2 Door Cortina MK2 Auto. I believe it to be a 1500 based on what little I have seen under the bonnet (looks to have a 1500 GT pre crossflow inlet manifold) so I don't know if that is the original engine or not.

I have yet to inspect the floors but as it is a dry climate car I expect them to be solid. The rest of the body is solid but has patina rust. The interior is severely sun damaged and missing door cards. It has no title.

I have contemplated 3 options:

1. Taking parts off it that would be desirable to me
2. Using the car as a base for the Zetec or Miata engine conversion (track only if I could not get a title) .

It is extremely hard to value cars without seeing in person I know, but is it worth nothing but scrap value or worth saving? This is assuming the floor/chassis isn't rusted out. If it is worthless I feel less guilty about cannanalising it for parts, but also respect that others would be upset.

Thank you.

[Brett Wilkie]

The earliest Mk2 Cortina's still had 1500 non-crossflow engines but they also had the later 6 bolt, lip seal crank. If you are lucky, that block could be the coveted L block that will take a good overbore to bring the displacement up and still be a rev-happy motor. I don't recall the details offhand but it is worth researching. The 1500 in a modified state would be fun in an Anglia but never of any serious power if that what one is looking for, the Zetec would be far more powerful and reliable.

[Welshie]

Thanks Brett,

Parked next to it are the remnants of an early Mk2 Cortina that was a 1500GT. I suspect that the engine from this is now in the auto so you could be right, it could be an L block.

I'll bear that in mind.