Story and photos by John Webber
Why would a longtime collector and accomplished vintage racer with a shop full of rare and wonderful Porsches build a quirky British outlier into a weapons-grade screamer?
Because he had a vision, that’s why.
As Jerry Peters tells it, a humble, early Lotus Cortina GT…
I saw this car at the Mitty, and later at our British Car show in Norcross, GA and it's a killer! Fantastic workmanship.
Had one of these for years as part of my collection and never once thought about putting in a V8, which is kind of surprising for me. My history includes a lot of American V8 to Foreign chassis builds, the first a Ford 260" Sprint engine into a 58' Volvo 544. the second another 260" Sprint engine into a Bug Eye Sprite. Then a 58' Vette 283" into an A100. more Healey's and other hybrids followed in the 60's and 70's. and then there were 240Z's and Gen-2 RX-7's and Miata's. Most built for friends.
Today my current project is an LS-400 V8 into a 91' e30/325is. Not the typical American V8 combo, but a sweet and realistic combo for the chassis. On that subject, does anyone have info on converting to a 5-lug wheel pattern for the E30's. I may be converting the rear to an E36 rear component assembly with 5-lugs, but I might just keep the stock assembly and drive with restraint so will need 5-lugs on both ends.
The Cortina is one nice and clean build. Sleepers are a lot of 'surprising' fun.
This Cortina begs for a two-tone paint treatment! Perhaps a contrasting color in the cove spear, and center part of the wheel.
The base car was either a Lotus Cortina or a GT, not a Lotus Cortina GT as they never existed and judging by the chrome trim on the sides, probably a GT.
Okay, re-read the post, it is identified as a GT later in the article so it just needs a little editing..mine was not quite as cleanly done as this but it still went quite well once I installed an S2000 drivetrain in it.
No idea how fast it was as I always ran out of road (and bravery).
I had a neighbor car guy who had a Lotus Cortina in its day (50+ years ago). The sheet metal was all banged up but it had the distinctive Lotus colors and badge along with white exterior. The best part was opening the hood and seeing that twin cam Lotus cam cover with twin Webers! It was a screamer! Eventually it lead my brother and I to acquire a few Lotus Elans. Damn!! I wish I still had my 65 Elan S2!!
Wasn't there a 5.0l Cortina in the GRM challenge in 2003 or 04? Can't remember the vintage, but it was done for ~$2000.
In reply to alfadriver :
Definitely remember the Challenge Cortina... didn't realize it was V8
Could easily be my "sleeper" dream car, I've always wanted a Ford Falcon with a 289 of better yet a Coyote.
A friend of mine in his 70's still talks about the Lotus Cortina he had in college. Apparently of everything he's ever owned, it was his favorite.
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