1965 Ford Cortina GT
The 1965 Mk1 Cortina wore the results of Ford’s September 1964 facelift: a full-width grille, Aeroflow ventilation with eyeball vents let into the dashboard, and front disc brakes fitted to GT and higher-spec models (not across the entire range).
On the GT, chrome trim, a floor-mounted gear lever, and a more complete instrument binnacle distinguished it from the standard saloon.
The mechanical advantage was more significant than the trim differences suggested. The 1.5-liter Kent engine gained a Weber 28/36 DCD twin-choke carburetor, revised camshaft, larger-ported cylinder head, and tubular exhaust manifold, raising output to 78 bhp against the standard 1500 Super’s 60 bhp. Lowered suspension and a four-speed gearbox completed the specification.
The GT arrived in March 1963, joining a range that would sell just under a million examples during the Mk1’s production run. In Australia, Cortinas were assembled locally in right-hand drive from CKD kits supplied by Ford of Britain.
Cortina GTs had established a class-winning record at the Armstrong 500 at Bathurst (the direct forerunner to the Bathurst 1000) by 1964, prompting Ford Australia to commission the purpose-built GT500 homologation special for 1965. The Mk1 ran through September 1966, replaced by the Roy Haynes-designed Mk2.
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