Works Cortina Capri & Corsair

In this book by Graham Robson he tackles the story of Ford’s emergence during the 1960s as a leader in international saloon car motorsport, whether in race or rally, beginning with the Ford Cortina Mark 1 in 1962.

Walter Hayes was the driving force behind this push forward. It was he who enlisted Colin Chapman to create the Lotus-Cortina, he who had bold ideas like entering the Safari Rally and the London-Sydney Marathon, he who brought in Alan Mann Racing to wipe the board in touring car racing, he who attracted top-flight drivers like Roger Clark, Jim Clark, Graham Hill and Pat Moss, and he who inspired Ford’s quite dazzling success in national and international competition.

The career of every works Mark I and Mark II Cortina, Lotus-Cortina, Capri and Corsair is individually recounted in this book, with contemporary action photographs and listings of events entered, results and drivers, along with accounts of performances in rallies and races. In addition there are specially commissioned colour photographs of a number of surviving works cars, which have been shot in considerable detail. For fans of the race and rally Fords of these glory days, as well as for motor sport enthusiasts, this book is pure treasure.

There are several clubs covering the Ford Cortina, Capri and Corsair:

Mk 1 Cortina Owners Club

Ford Cortina Mk 2 Owners Club

Ford Corsair Owners Club

Graham Robson has also written a similar book covering the successor Ford Escort race and rally cars.