For those of you currently drafting your strongly worded emails informing us we’ve made a boo-boo, please stop typing, take a deep breath and step away from the keyboard. Many so called classic car aficionados have in the past (and will no doubt continue to do so way into the future) decreed vehemently that Ford never made a Mark I Cortina estate in GT trim, erroneously claiming that this top of the range package was reserved solely for saloons. But they’re wrong.

To be fair to them it’s an easy mistake to make. It’s not like they’re saying Ford never made an estate version of its hugely popular medium-sized family car at all, because they did, in decent numbers, but when only 26 GT-specced examples of its stretched saloon are believed to have been made, for a niche group of people on the other side of the world no less, we can probably cut them some slack.

The GT was Ford’s performance-oriented incarnation of the Cortina that was developed to bridge the gap between the boggo Cotinas and the now world famous Lotus variant. Debuting in ’63 the GT featured a hike in power to a heady 78bhp thanks to its uprated 1.5-litre four-cylinder. Featuring a different camshaft profile, a re-cast cylinder-head with larger ports, tubular exhaust headers for improved flow and a twin-choke Weber carb, the GT had a whole 18bhp on the standard cars.

It wasn’t just the engine that got a going over though. The suspension was also lowered and Ford slapped on some wider wheels, too. The ‘Deluxe’ interior received a smattering of improvements, including auxiliary dials, and the GT estate was born. But why? Who knows? For some reason Ford made 26 Mark I Cortina GT estates for the Nairobi police force. It would certainly have been quick enough to catch the crims and with more than enough space to sling them in the back it’s a practical choice, but was it a random act of kindness by Ford? Was it a specific test to see how the cars performed? Nobody really knows but the fact of the matter remains that they do exist, making this particular example incredibly rare.

What is it? 

Said to have been used by the aforementioned police force’s captain and gifted to him as a retirement present, this 1965 Ford Cortina GT estate spent its life in South Africa before being repatriated to the UK. In fact the car is currently at sea on its way back to these fair shores as we write this. The car presents in astonishing original condition and shows just 55,000 miles on the clock, so not only is this a ridiculously rare car, but it’s also in superb shape. This is surely then the ultimate find for any classic Ford fan.

Why is it a project? 

What we have, ladies and gentlemen, is an unmodified and wholly original Mark I Cortina GT estate, which as is the law, has to be preserved. Them’s the rules. This means it needs an enthusiastic owner to fully register it with the DVLA here in the UK and ensure that it continues to be cherished, and indeed used. Reported to be wholly solid and mechanically sound, the car does carry some patina, along with some light wear and tear to the interior, but that’s to be expected for a classic Ford that’s almost 60 years old! Make no mistake though, this isn’t a wreck by any stretch of the imagination, far from it. It’s a true survivor but it will require continuous care going forward.

What should you look for? 

Rust
Yeah, shocker, we know. It’s so obvious we almost didn’t include it but corrosion is going to be the biggest deciding factor here. Thankfully the car appears to be in excellent condition and generally free from that dreaded tin worm, no doubt due to its life in a climate much kinder to metal than here in the UK.

If you’re not convinced by the myriad photos attached to the listing though, rust is most likely to make itself known around the strut tops, bulkhead, sills and inner wings but really you should be scrutinising anything made of metal. So that’s the whole car then. Original body panels are thin on the ground but reproduction items can be sourced.

Engine
The Kent four-pot fitted to these cars is a simple unit and this one benefits from low mileage but it is getting on a bit, bless it. A tired timing chain can cause unwanted rattling, whilst worn bearings will knock and if the piston rings are on their way out you’ll get smoke from the exhaust. Rebuilds are pretty easy and inexpensive in the grand scheme of things so buy on the condition of the bodywork rather than the engine.

Gearbox
Fitted with a four-speed manual with full synchromesh, the Cortina’s drivetrain is a pretty simple affair but worn second-gear synchro is a common issue so make sure there’s no crunching when swapping cogs. Issues with the mechanism itself are nothing to worry about and easily remedied but if the internals are fried then you’ll need to factor a rebuild or replacement into your budget. Again, not a deal breaker though.

Steering and suspension
Any play or vagueness in the steering will be indicative of a worn steering box. Although not the most assured feeling controls ever created, driving the car shouldn’t require a change of underpants every time you hit the road and it should go where its pointed. Links and bushes are easy to replace, however.

It’s a basic solid rear axle and leaf spring setup at the rear but check for any oil escaping from the diff and make sure everything is operating as it should. The MacPherson struts up front require regular lubrication to ensure the thrust race bearings don’t dry out and stiffen up.

Registration
As we mentioned earlier the car will need to be UK registered but it’s a straightforward process and nothing to be scared of. Having said that, all shipping costs and import taxes have been paid by the vendor (a former South African resident) and they are more than happy to handle the whole process for a small fee if required. The car will also undergo a voluntary pre-MOT inspection prior to collection.

What should you do with it? 

This is a super rare car and as such it really needs to be preserved, and regardless of whether you’re a classic Ford fanatic or simply an old car enthusiast this Cortina GT estate certainly deserves some TLC. We’re not sure if we’d give it the full nut and bolt resto treatment or simply refresh it and tidy it up a bit to in order to enjoy it straight away but whatever you decide, if you win the auction you’ll be the proud owner of one of the rarest and most interesting fast Fords ever made – bragging rights most definitely included. Just be prepared for the nasal “Ford never made a Mark I GT estate” comments…