The Iconic & Classic Sale at The NEC Classic Motor Show 2025

+ buyer’s premium of 12.5% plus VAT (15% incl VAT) 169 The car presented here is a 1965 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk1, being an original left- hand drive, US-market model; it is a real survivor, reflected in a most-special and well documented history compiled by our enthusiast-vendor and is worth reading in full on our website to fully appreciate. This preservation and backstory, not to mention a £37,000 restoration, make this particular Lotus Cortina quite exceptional. Purchased by our vendor (a very experienced owner/restorer of numerous Lotus Cortinas) in April 2012 from New York State having been in storage for 32 years, it was remarkably found to be completely original and had seemingly never been taken apart or had any restoration work, plus there was no evidence of any previous accident damage or repair and it was accompanied by all its original service, warranty and handbooks. The car was supplied new to a (then) small dealership in Devon, Philadelphia; James (Jim) Carson and business partner Horace Pettit Jr. ran Carson-Pettit Automotive Imports, which, at the time, was an English-built Ford franchise. They also undertook sales of new Morgans and Triumph Roadsters. Jim was an avid car collector and, whilst he owned the Lotus Cortina, it was regularly maintained by his mechanic at the dealership, a Mr Ramsey. Jim only kept it a short while and sold it to a regular customer, William C. Park, who maintained a detailed service record in a hand- written notebook from the day he bought it (22nd April 1966) until he sold it, the last entry being the 23rd August 1972, when the mileage was 35,226. During his ownership, the car was still maintained by the same mechanic, Mr Ramsey. When Mr Park decided to sell it, Mr Ramsey was the first in line, and he became the car’s third owner. Mr Ramsey used it for his family for the next eight years, his son William Ramsey growing up with the car, before it was eventually laid up in the 1980s. It was subsequently passed to William Ramsey who became the fourth owner, with a mileage of 52,589 (it was still 52,589 when our vendor bought it in 2012). The car arrived in the UK a couple of months later and so began an 11 year restoration overseen by our vendor. Accompanying it is a 3” thick, fully documented history file which includes a letter from the Lotus Cortina Register, who fully inspected the car in 2024 and confirmed that it is genuine and retains much originality. There is also a letter from William Ramsey, confirming the authenticity/ originality and the mileage. Also present are invoices for the restoration costs of over £37,000 plus 550-hours of our vendor’s/specialists’ engineering time. The restoration details are simply too much to list here, however can be read in full on our website. We strongly recommend having a look and satisfying yourself with the level of care taken and money spent. Now ready to be enjoyed once again by a new custodian, this superbly presented Lotus Cortina will be a credit to any collector or enthusiast and with values of these iconic 1960s saloons continuing to strengthen year on year, this is an opportunity that must be worthy of your serious consideration. Discovered after 32 years in storage, with a fully verifiable ownership history and 55,000 miles, in a remarkable state of preservation/originality; proudly boasting its original shell and engine/gearbox, now fully restored with £37,000 and 550 hours invested. Registration: GVU 825D Chassis No.: BA74EE50024 Estimate: £40,000 - £50,000 Specialist: Joseph Watts Telephone No: 07779 082707 Lot 316 1965 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk1 More Details Lot 316 Bid On Lot 316