Car Review, Figures and Specs for the Ford Cortina Mk4 1600 GL - [1976]

Ford Cortina Mk4 1600 GL - [1976]

Throughout its lifetime, the Mk4 was the most popular new car in the UK. Despite this it is also now the rarest of all Cortinas with only 200 to 250 left in the UK according to DVLA records. Much of this lack of remaining Cortina's was due in part to the Mk 4's lack of rust proofing. Although this was not isolated to the Cortina or Ford's, but more a general car industry disease of the era. The Mk 4 was really just a re-shaped Mk 3, and a re-badged Ford Taunus. The Mk 4 was launched in the UK on 29 September 1976 but was already being sold by the ship load for several months in Europe. Ford designed the new shape Cortina to feel roomier and brighter inside, this was achieved in part through larger windows and also provided better visibility. Despite the new exterior many parts were carried over from the later Mk 3 Cortina; the running gear, the raised driving position, instrument panel and suspension upgrades were introduced to the Mark 3 in 1975. Typically the Cortina arrived in two-door and four-door saloons and a five-door estate, but was also offered in pick-up and convertible form.

The Mk 4 was the first generation of Ford’s which had the Ghia top-of-the-range model, this replaced the 2000E. The 2.3-litre Ford Cologne V6 engine was introduced in 1977 as an alternative to the slightly smaller 2.0l Pinto engine. However the V6 despite being popular with the Capri and Granada was never really sold in significant numbers particularly in the UK. The Cologne V6 was certainly a much smoother and more refined power unit than the Pinto, but the V6 models were more expensive to fuel and insure and were only slightly faster, being about 0.5 seconds faster from 0-60 and having a top speed of about 109 mph compared to the 104 mph of the 2.0-litre models.

Ford Cortina Mk4 1600 GL - [1976]

Despite Europe's desire for frugality, Ford Australia built its own versions of the Mk 4 but for an Aussie/New-Zealand market which demanded bigger power outputs. To accommodate this thirst for power, the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder Pinto unit was accompanied by much larger units including the Ford Falcon's 3.3 and 4.1L 6-cylinder engine’s. Similarly in South Africa the Mark IV was built with the Kent 1.6 and the 3.0L "Essex" V6.

  Getting Rarer, 1970's Family Memory Mobile

   70's Rust Bucket.

Car Figures:

Maserati Merak SS 3.0 V6
Engine: Naturally Aspirated Petrol | 2965cc 12v V6
Top Speed: 155 mph
0-60mph: 7.30 seconds

---

Ford RS200 1.8T 16V
Engine: Turbo Petrol | 1804cc 16v St4
Top Speed: 228.5 kph
0-100kph: 5.2 seconds

---

Links: