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Mazda MX-5 Power: 1970 Ford Cortina
3/6/2013 Update: Well over four years later, this hot rod Cortina is again for sale, this time at a dealer in NorCal who is calling it a 1969 model. It remains one of our favorite MkII’s we have ever featured, with slick aesthetic details and an interesting Japanese power swap with a 6-speed. This is one of the best Melee options we can imagine. Find it here at Luxury Motorcars in Sacramento for $17,995. Special thanks to BaT reader Elliott B. for this update!
7/9/2008 Update: This Cortina sold for $10,952.86 with 4 bidders… a pretty amazing car for that money.
From 7/1/2008:
This 1970 Cortina is the final year of the model and was restored by the seller in the style of the vintage English rally cars. Everything is vintage except for an engine and transmission transplanted from a 2001 Mazda Miata which produces 142 hp. Find it here on eBay out of Torrance, California.
The contrasting hood, light bar, and alloys are all period correct. The seller also added subtle period-correct details like a bullet mirror and English Ford fender decals.
The interior is stripped of carpet and headliner but does run relatively quiet with the modern injected engine. The seller added seats, gauges, and switchgear from the Miata, which we would have to see in person to decide on. We would swap out the seats for vintage rally seats for sure, and would definitely keep the rollbar.
The engine looks very clean in the engine bay, and it is backed by a 6-speed manual. The seller claims that only minor mods were necessary to the radiator support to make the swap.
We love the details on this build, and since it is the usually less desirable Mk2 body style we think that the engine swap was a good call. With a Mk1 we’d go with a Lotus Twin-Cam for aesthetic and re-sale, but the performance of a modern upgrade like this would be pretty impressive. We even know a guy who is swapping in a Honda S2000 powerplant into one. Buying this car turn-key saves a ton of hassle. We like it.
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