CORTINA SUPER AND ESTATE CAR

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30110, 19 April 1963, Page 7

CORTINA SUPER AND ESTATE CAR

H'HE Cortina, announced last year by Ford of Britain hai proved one of the most popular cars built by a Briish manufacturer. More than 140.000 Cortinas have been sold. 80 per cent, being exported.

The Cortina range includes the basic Cortina, the Cortina Super 1500, the Cortina estate car, the Lotus-Cortina, and just announced, the Cortina G.T. Most of these models are available in standard or de luxe versions. The Cortina Super 1500 and the Cortina estate car were made available recently for a short test run. Both vehicles impressed as being solid, reliable family models, rather than being outstanding in any one department.

Performance and comfort are both good, the generous amount of passenger space in a compact body being a special feature. Both the saloon and the estate car are powered by the 1500 c.c. four-cylinder fivebearing Ford engine. This overhead valve unit produces 84 b.h.p. at 4800 r.p .m. and is notable for the smoothness with which it does its work.

Instruments

The Super 1500 saloon can be distinguished from the ordinary Cortina by the chrome strips along the sides and a small emblem on the rear wing. Inside, the trim is more comprehensive than on the 1200 c.c. model.

The car tested had recorded only 298 miles, and the engine

was still rather tight. As a result performance was not as good as it might have been. Never.heless it was obvious the car is greatly im-’ proved by the bigger engine. The suspension is conventional. and does its job well. The ride is smooth yet sufficiently firtn to provide safe and predictable handling The steering is light and direct, and the pedals and all controls seem well placed. The four-speed allsynchromesh transmission is controlled by a columnmounted lever, which has fairly long movements and on the test car was still notchy, this being attributable to the low mileage.

Large Boot

The instruments are steady, but the fuel gauge is uncalibrated, having nothing but two dots which show the full and empty positions. At the least, there should be marks for three intermediate positions. Coloured lights show any drastic loss of oil pressure or generator charge. Visibility is good, and a driver of average height can see the rear of the car fairly easily through the rear window.

The seats are firm but soft enough to be comfortable. Being of the flat bench type they give no lateral support, and the seats are too narrow to give sufficient support under the thighs. There is an- pie legroom. The dash is padded and safety visors and a safety type rear-vision mirror are fitted. No mounting points are provided for safety belts, and Ford is well behind other manufacturers in providing this feature. The boot is very large but has a high sill. General finish is fair, but as on nearly all of today’s new cars, is a little rough around welds and joins. The stalk on the right side

of the steering column which controls lights, indicators and num seems clumsy at first. However, one soon becomes used to it. and it then seems very convenient. The plastic emblem in the centre of the steering wheel came off during the test. The glove-box is of only average size but is supplemented by a parcel shelf stretching across the width of the car. A screen washer and cigarette lighter are fitted as standard to the Super 1500, but a heater is not.

The steering wheel is of a comfortable size, but when the seat is in a position to give a comfortable “reach” to the pedals, the wheel seems a little too close to the driver.

Estate Car

The front half of the estate car is almost identical with that of the Super 1500. In the estate car tested the mileage was somewhat higher and the engine provided a much better performance than that in the saloon.

As well as being more lively the engine seemed quieter, and the seats also seemed more comfortable than on the saloon, although still too narrow.

When the rear seat is lowered there is 50 cu. ft. of space in the rear of the estate car. and the 6ft sjin between the rear gate and the back of the front seat

gives sufficient room for sleeping. The gate opens upwards and is self-supporting, giving a generous opening for loading operations.

As with the saloon, the turning circle is excellent, although, not surprisingly, visibility to the rear is not as good. With the vehicle unloaded there is a light, but by no means unsafe or unpredictable feeling about the handling. With a load in the rear it would be very good.

This 1500 c.c. estate car fills a definite gap in the range of popular estate cars available in New Zealand, and should sell well. It costs £1057.

The Cortina Super 1500 will also be popular, although with a price of £989 it comes close to doubling up in the range with the Consul Classic 315. Nevertheless it will be a strong competitor in its class.