The sad end...

It amazes me to constantly see interesting cars that end up being scrapped for the price of scrap metal. This old Ford Cortina was located in the Knoxville Pull-a-Part when I was there totally by chance. I am sure that this car will end up as a tin can somewhere soon.

Think of all of the interesting cars that share this fate. I wish that there was a list that we could maintain that would feature cars like this so that people would know that the days were numbered. the ran when parked is great but this usually shows cars in such a state that they would not be obtainable.

The story on this Cortina is that the owner died and the widow didn't know what to do with the car. She scrapped it. The drive train is in a safe place nearby as I discussed it with a friend and he knew the story. He said that there was another car that contained a truckload of parts for this car that also got scrapped. I hope that my cars don't end up scrapped when I go.

That's a shame, it looks really solid.

Funnily enough, an English chap from the 'Retro Rides' forum visited the USA recently, and among the photos of his travels, was this very car. Unfortuntately I can't find the thread.

seats look nice , dash , bodysolid dam I would have been buried in that car

I've wanted a Cortina ever since I was a kid, mine would be a different colour than the one above, (think Colin Chapman) but really, I'd have any. In fact, I was just discussing Cortinas with my wife this evening. If anyone knows of one in the south eastern US please feel free to let me know!

There's a sister to that car (same color too, I think) that's been on a used car lot near me since I was in high school. I don't know that it's ever really been for sale, but it's just been sitting there, slowly going to pot. I never persued it because it's an automatic.

I found a same vintage Cortina wagon in a junkyard around here also that is surprisingly solid and quite complete. Another automatic.

Then there's the Ford Taunus wagon in yet another junkyard that was incredibly solid until someone decided to shoot the windows out of it.

Best thing we can do for cars like this is post up where they are so at least parts can be scavenged and they are not a total waste.

I owned a Mk1 Lotus Cortina and a Mk2 Cortina GT This Mk2 is not a GT but mine was this color. I regularly kick myself for not still owning both Cortinas. So many cars, and my garage is so small.

Steve

I have always had a soft spot for Cortinas. My family had a Mk1 Cortina sedan when we lived in England (outside of London). I remember this car fondly and still have a few pictures of me standing on the front hood. Good cars.