This page was updated on 15-3-2023

Okay, they’re not exactly what everyone might use day to day but heck they’re fun! Terrific sounding too with the right engine, obviously a V8. And NI has some fine examples.

Love them or loathe them they’re part of the world’s transport history. Another from the United States gave us plenty to smile about.

When it comes to Hot Rods the Ford Anglia and Prefect appear suited to the task of accepting large engines to propel them down the road at insane speeds. Appearance is everything in the modified world of motors. Simply dropping a V6 or V8 into a standard motor and walking away will never be good enough to properly call a modified car modified. Brakes, suspension, and the interior too must all be changed to show the effort that has gone into making what might otherwise be considered a dull motor offering a dull motoring experience into something that far exceeds all its manufacturer’s expectations. For me, it began around 1967 when I lived in the Ilford area on the outskirts of London. Up the road was Young’s garage, a place where Ford Anglia’s were transformed into monsters of the road. Ford 105E Anglia’s in particular were much admired after they rolled out of the garage wearing a Red Rooster logo denoting that the 1000 or 1200 engine had been replaced with a fire-breathing 1500 GT lump. At the time the difference in performance was breathtaking especially if you were a teenager. With a 0-60 around 10.0 seconds.

Conversions to the Ford Anglia 105E have been ongoing since the 1960s when they were first introduced. Little wonder then that there are more examples of modified 105Es than there are standard cars remaining. The figures below are taken from government DVLA records. If you want to modify an Anglia 105E check out below the number still available in the UK.
Total 105E production= 1,594,486
ANGLIA Licensed 2260
ANGLIA SORN 1102

Ford is a definite favourite for the modified treatment. Above are some examples of what’s possible with Mark I. If you want to modify a Cortina Mk I check out below the models still available in the UK.
Total Cortina Mk I production= 933,143
CORTINA MK I Licensed 52 (1200cc)
CORTINA MK I SORN 27 (1200cc)
CORTINA MK I Licensed 2 (1500cc)
CORTINA MK I SORN 0 (1500cc)
CORTINA MK1 GT Licensed 68
CORTINA MK1 GT SORN 27
CORTINA MK1 LOTUS Licensed 171
CORTINA MK1 LOTUS SORN 81
CORTINA MK1 LOTUS Licensed 1 (revised model)
CORTINA MK1 LOTUS SORN 0 (revised model)

When you study the images of each version of the Cortina it’s tough deciding which version takes to customization best as they all look good when the job is properly done. If you want to modify a Cortina Mk II check out below the models still available in the UK.
Ford Cortina Mk II Total production= 1,159,389
CORTINA MK2 Licensed 15 (1.2;1,3;1.5;1.6)
CORTINA MK2 SORN 4 (1.2;1,3;1.5;1.6)
CORTINA MK2 1600E Licensed 298
CORTINA MK2 1600E SORN 157
CORTINA MK2 GT Licensed 9
CORTINA MK2 GT SORN 4
CORTINA MK2 LOTUS Licensed 109
CORTINA MK2 LOTUS SORN 56

The Ford Cortina Mk III introduced the coke bottle body style that other manufacturers such as Vauxhall had used with their Victor range. The look proved popular as statistics regarding the number of Mk IIIs produced confirm. If you want to modify a Cortina Mk III check out below the models still available in the UK. As you will appreciate model variants were numerous so we’ve used records relating to the most popular models while excluding the automatics of all models. Total Ford Cortina Mk III production= 1,126,559 CORTINA 1300 BASE Licensed 23 /2 door CORTINA 1300 BASE SORN 40 / 2 door CORTINA 1300 L Licensed 33 / 4 door CORTINA 1300 L SORN 39 / 4 door CORTINA 1300 XL Licensed 2 CORTINA 1300 XL SORN 1 CORTINA 1600 BASE Licensed 72 CORTINA 1600 BASE SORN 59 CORTINA 1600 GL Licensed 16 CORTINA 1600 GL SORN 20 CORTINA 1600 GT Licensed 102 CORTINA 1600 GT SORN 60 CORTINA 1600 GXL Licensed 20 CORTINA 1600 GXL SORN 7 CORTINA 1600 L Licensed 118 CORTINA 1600 L SORN 95 CORTINA 1600 XL Licensed 90 CORTINA 1600 XL SORN 64 CORTINA 2000 BASE Licensed 25 CORTINA 2000 BASE SORN 21 CORTINA 2000 GT Licensed 46 CORTINA 2000 GT SORN 43 CORTINA 2000 GXL Licensed 67 CORTINA 2000 GXL SORN 45 CORTINA 2000 L Licensed 5 CORTINA 2000 L SORN 7 CORTINA 2000 XL Licensed 28 CORTINA 2000 XL SORN 27 CORTINA 2000E Licensed 63 CORTINA 2000E SORN 56

Ford Cortina GXL Mk III Cosworth Cosworth engine installed in Cortina Mk III

The Cortina Mk IV & Mk V are fairly good-looking models but unlike their predecessors, Ford appears to have avoided using them as race cars or even introducing models that were specifically sports orientated. The closest they came was the installation of a V6 2.3 engine that never really provided the kind of performance that would make enthusiasts crave one. There never was an XR or Cosworth model, quite why remains a mystery. However, that does not appear to have prevented customers from performing sporting improvements. If you want to modify a Cortina Mk IV or V check out below the models still available in the UK. As you will appreciate model variants were numerous so we’ve used records relating to the most popular models while excluding the automatics of all models.
CORTINA CAROUSEL Licensed 5
CORTINA CAROUSEL SORN 43
CORTINA CRUSADER Licensed 64
CORTINA CRUSADER SORN 203
CORTINA GHIA Licensed 99
CORTINA GHIA SORN 127
CORTINA GHIA S Licensed 7
CORTINA GHIA S SORN 11
CORTINA GHIA S Licensed 0
CORTINA GL Licensed 0
CORTINA GL Licensed 128
CORTINA GL SORN 250
CORTINA GL Licensed 1
CORTINA GL SORN 3
CORTINA GL Licensed 0
CORTINA GLS Licensed 5
CORTINA GLS SORN 31
CORTINA GLS Licensed 0
CORTINA L Licensed 105
CORTINA L SORN 216
CORTINA L Licensed 1
CORTINA L SORN 1
CORTINA LS Licensed 1
CORTINA LS SORN 3

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