Lotus Cortina (1966)
Sale price: US $52,500.00 Make an Offer
| Condition: | Used | Year: | 1966 |
| VIN : | BA74FS59280 | Mileage: | 78000 |
| For Sale By: | Private Seller | Vehicle Title: | Clean |
| Make: | Lotus | Model: | Other |
Brunswick, Georgia, United States
Vehicle description
You are bidding on a 1966 Lotus Cortina, one of only 225 that were exported to the US in 1966. This car underwent a complete, authentic, rotisserie restoration 6 years ago to #1 show condition, looking and operating exactly as it did when it left the factory. Since that time, I have used it as a daily driver, putting 15,000 miles on it. It is now a solid #2 car, based on Hagerty"s valuation table of classic cars, and is valued at $77,500, according to their valuation table.
The car is still authentic except for the following: 1) I changed the driveshaft from the original 2-section one to a single one because I thought that a vibration I began noticing was due to the driveshaft. It turned out to be the flywheel, which lost some added weights, so I obtained a NOS flywheel from the UK, installed it, and the vibration problem was solved. I didn"t change the driveshaft back to the original one, but I still have it, along with all the connections, and it goes with the car. 2) I changed the starter to one that did not have the solenoid attached to the top because they are nearly impossible to install without removing the motor. I then mounted a solenoid in a discreet place on the right firewall instead. The original starter with the solenoid attached to it also goes with the car. 3) I added an electric fuel pump near the gas tank that is operated by a toggle switch mounted under the glove box to fill the carbs with gas before starting the car when it hasn"t been started for a week or two. I rarely use it because I"ve been driving the car 25 miles round trip between my home and shop at least every 2 or 3 days for the past 6 years so the carbs stay full of gas.
The engine starts right up and runs good. Everything on the dash works but the tachometer and speedometer should be recalibrated. The speedometer reads exactly 1.5 times the actual speed, so it hasn"t been a problem for me knowing how fast I"m going in it.
Enzo Ferrari apparently said that the Jaguar XKE was the most beautiful car ever built. He, of course, was wrong, because the 1966 Lotus Cortina is the most beautiful car ever built. With its low, hunkered-down stance, the body hanging low over the deep-dished wheels, it is the proverbial wolf in sheep"s clothing. I"ve had a lot of enjoyment driving it for the past 6 years, and now it"s someone else"s turn.
The car is still authentic except for the following: 1) I changed the driveshaft from the original 2-section one to a single one because I thought that a vibration I began noticing was due to the driveshaft. It turned out to be the flywheel, which lost some added weights, so I obtained a NOS flywheel from the UK, installed it, and the vibration problem was solved. I didn"t change the driveshaft back to the original one, but I still have it, along with all the connections, and it goes with the car. 2) I changed the starter to one that did not have the solenoid attached to the top because they are nearly impossible to install without removing the motor. I then mounted a solenoid in a discreet place on the right firewall instead. The original starter with the solenoid attached to it also goes with the car. 3) I added an electric fuel pump near the gas tank that is operated by a toggle switch mounted under the glove box to fill the carbs with gas before starting the car when it hasn"t been started for a week or two. I rarely use it because I"ve been driving the car 25 miles round trip between my home and shop at least every 2 or 3 days for the past 6 years so the carbs stay full of gas.
The engine starts right up and runs good. Everything on the dash works but the tachometer and speedometer should be recalibrated. The speedometer reads exactly 1.5 times the actual speed, so it hasn"t been a problem for me knowing how fast I"m going in it.
Enzo Ferrari apparently said that the Jaguar XKE was the most beautiful car ever built. He, of course, was wrong, because the 1966 Lotus Cortina is the most beautiful car ever built. With its low, hunkered-down stance, the body hanging low over the deep-dished wheels, it is the proverbial wolf in sheep"s clothing. I"ve had a lot of enjoyment driving it for the past 6 years, and now it"s someone else"s turn.