My latest purchase. Launched in 1963, the Lotus Cortina featured the Elan's Ford-based, DOHC, 1.6-liter engine in the two-door bodyshell. Lotus Cortinas dominated saloon racing's 2-liter class, often challenging for outright honors. Works cars were driven by Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Peter Arundell, and Jackie Ickx.
Registered BJH417B, this is the Lotus Cortina driven by Jim Clark to 2nd place overall and 1st in class in the International Daily Mirror Trophy Meeting, held at Snetterton on the 14th of March, 1964 – the first round of the 1964 BSCC series. Jim Clark, the 1963 World Champion, went on to dominate the 1964 British Saloon Car Championship, scoring maximum points in every round in his Team Lotus entered Lotus Cortina. The following year the squad took European, Belgian and New Zealand titles too. And it didn’t perform only on the track – the Lotus Cortina scored victories on the British RAC and Greek Acropolis rallies. This car fetched a world record £136,800 at auction in 2007.
And did I mention it's a Lotus? It's even got the badges to prove it!
