My uncle had one in the early 70's in Canada. I loved it. I was dark green and was a sporty 2 door version. Not sure if it had a vinyl top or if it had brown or black interior. I do vividly remember him telling me that he had to go back to the dealership at one point because they said there was an issue with the back side windows would just spontaneously shatter. I actually remember going to the dealership with him. I was definitely under 8 years old. Then I remember him pulling up in a red Capri that was much more sportier a couple years later.
Nice review! In British Columbia we did see a good number of Cortinas, including the GXL and Lotus variants (with GB stickers, meaning someone imported them). We also saw many Minis, TRs, and "Austin" Marinas. I miss my 1970 Rover, and wish Canada had allowed more British marques after the British Leyland implosion.
Interesting to see the Canada spec Cortina. We got the Cortina as well here in Finland in the early 70's, but also the Taunus. Later they imported only German made Fords here, like Taunus and Cortina was dropped. I remember seeing some of these Cortinas as a kid.
nice too see this ford cortina mk3 brochure for Canadian market, this is the best family car that time, in Canada now is this model still on the road now
Interesting - I was a kid in the early 1970s in Alberta and was an avid car spotter - I don't remember seeing this mark Cortina in Alberta. There were a fair number of the previous generation (although they rusted out quickly) and a lot of Capris. Lots of BL cars as well although they were gradually replaced by Japanese cars throughout the 70s.
Really nice video. I do like seeing these kind of videos where you compare models we got in the U.K. with the same model abroad. This Canadian one looks good. I do wonder why they decided to import the Mk3 model and not the previous ones. I guess they didn’t think the Mk1 or Mk2 was large enough for their market. The Mk2 was in the film Get Carter and did look like now how a focus would look. Also I guess the Americana styling helped it sell. They also had a soft ride so that would also match larger American cars of the time. Great video and I like your comments on here.
My Dads UK spec J registration July 1971 1600L 4 door didn’t have a heated rear window or hazard flashers . Was in diamond blue and a great reliable car
I doubt that any are still alive over there - they dropped like flies in Australia. Phun Phact: At that time, Canada were using Imperial gallons, just like ours.
I guess the lack of Ford badging on the Canadian Cortinas would be because they were sold through Mercury dealerships, as indicated in the brochure. From other videos I've watched in the past, a 105 inch wheelbase was considered small in the USA, so 101.5 inches is little. The taillights on the Canadian spec Cortinas look like those that I remember the Aussie Cortinas had. I don't remember seeing any Aussie Cortinas with the narrow, Capri like taillights. I'm also not sure if the 1600c.c. Kent engine was offered in Australia, but certainly the 2.0 litre was. Head restraints were mandatory for front seats in Australia at the time, and had been for a few years. Front seatbelts were also mandatory on all vehicles manufactured from 1971 on. These days in Australia there is a maddeningly long list of ADATS (Automated Driver Assistance Technology Systems) that have to be fitted as standard if a vehicle is going to get a five star safety rating. They add to the price of the vehicles, and are often more distracting than helpful. I think the worst one is facial recognition cameras that give annoying warnings if you look over your shoulder as you should in a number of situations while driving, and that complains that it can't see a face when driving into the sun when the sun is low. It's Nanny State gone mad. Fortunately in the Philippines it's not so crazy.
1600CC Cortina model was sold as an economy model, for possibly those families who did not have much money on a tight budget. As Canada is such a large and vast country .Fiat did the same with their Fiat 131 Mirafiori model 1.3 Litre push rod engine, that was Fiats economy model
These were rare in Canada...not all Ford dealers carried what we called the "English Ford" line, and they were priced as much as a Maverick, which was bigger, with 6 and 8 cylinder engines
At that time in Canada an Austin America (AD016/ BMC 1100/1300) would have been a better choice. Because it and the mini were front drive and much better suited for a canadian winter. I know they were both smaller than the Cortina. Back then most folks bought a euro small car as a 2nd car for urban runabout.
Hi unusual car, well not the Cortina, but for Canada, that is unusual and calling it a European car as it wasn't available on main land Europe apart from Malta and Cyprus as the drive on the left hand side. The Cortina was for the RHD market the LHD version on this car was the German built but more square looking Taunus. Was the Cortina UK built and shipped to Canada using the dash board and steering lay out from the Taunus being LHD. May be Canada being a commonwealth country might have preferred the Cortina to the square looking Taunus. Intresting video on a unusual LHD Cortina, catch you soon, Take care
Interesting and unexpected for the Canadian market. Like Australia, New Zealand etc, was the Cortina assembled in Canada, or directly imported from the UK?
1600 cc was underpowered and not worthy of the reduced cost under the much more efficient two litre overhead cam which is a classleader in power but its noisy and the fuel economy could be better. A great sized package and attractive styling.
