Sarah Armit Restoration of 1971 MK3 Cortina – Cortarino!
Well, we bought our ‘tina’ on the 5th February 2006. Not much to
look at really. Bit tatty round the edges, interior water logged
(well OK, that’s maybe a slight exaggeration) and if you rubbed
the paint work a little too hard it came off on your hand… but,
alas myself and Paul (faithful restorer & fiancé) still fell in love
with her and just had to have her!
So, we brought her home along the great distance of about 5
miles. Luckily it was not’ any further as half way home the
brakes seized so we gave the neighbours something to talk
about for a few hours with smoke billowing behind our ‘tina’.
Not to mention what I was inhaling through following behind
Paul in my car, all I can say is ‘rather pong-y’. Anyhow… when
we picked up our ‘tina’ she looked like this;
See… she looks much better in the pics than in person… we
also found the following;
But that said, she actually was not too bad at all especially
considering how much neglect she had suffered. In fact we
found out through a previous owner that in her entire lifetime
she had sat, mostly unused, for around 28 years. Not bad for a
car that’is only 35! So all in all we didn't feel too bad.
In weeks 1 & 2 Paul fitted a new radiator, new front & rear springs
and suspension. The engine was also given a flush. (See no
difference to the old radiator is there now?!!!). He also tried to
make head or tails of the wiring whilst I hunted high and low for
parts.
At the end of week 2 we got her ready for her longest trip god
only knows how many years. An hour long drive to the John
Martin Garage in Wallyford where Paul's brother works. Thanks
to him we managed to get her into the nice warm workshop
where Paul & his brother spent each weekend for a month (Paul
leaving home at 0500hrs!) working on the body work repairs,
sanding, filling, sanding, sanding and a bit more sanding to get
her ready to be primed and put through for her shiny new paint
job.
The priming started in week 6 followed swiftly in week 7 of the
restoration with the final coats of paint (and of course the
essential markings). After all she just wouldn't’t be the same
without her ‘flick’!
This is also when our ‘tina’ got her official name ‘Cortarino’
We got her home early on week 8 (where we are now) and Paul
has spent every night this week out in the cold and wind of the
driveway ripping out her wiring and replacing it with a loom we
took from a MK5 Saloon that has done the job nicely. We
couldn't’t work with what was there as we had no idea what car
the loom was out of and there were literally dozens of extra wires
that we had no idea where on earth they went! As of this evening
the wiring should now be finished.
Tomorrow morning (around 0600hrs) Paul will be heading over
with Cortarino to Wallyford yet again to spend the day with his
brother. On the list for tomorrow are;
Underseal
New Exhaust & Manifold
Lighter Duty Springs on front (the set we put on in week 2 have
her sitting a bit too high)
Fit New Calipers
Fit New Ball Joints
Fit new Clutch Cable
Fit new Prop Shaft Rubber
Track Rod Ends (if they get time).
So, all being well she will be 90% complete by Saturday evening.
Following that Paul will fit the new interior we have for her (out
the MK5 and some spares from a MK3 or two) and she will be
95% there. The other 5% consists of bits and pieces we still want
to do although these are more of the ‘little’ touches rather than
any major work that has already been completed. Things such
as re-spraying dash to black rather than brown can wait a few
weeks so that we can get out there and enjoy running about in
our Cortarino!
More pictures to follow as the restoration nears completion.
Well, we bought our ‘tina’ on the 5th February 2006. Not much to
look at really. Bit tatty round the edges, interior water logged
(well OK, that’s maybe a slight exaggeration) and if you rubbed
the paint work a little too hard it came off on your hand… but,
alas myself and Paul (faithful restorer & fiancé) still fell in love
with her and just had to have her!
So, we brought her home along the great distance of about 5
miles. Luckily it was not’ any further as half way home the
brakes seized so we gave the neighbours something to talk
about for a few hours with smoke billowing behind our ‘tina’.
Not to mention what I was inhaling through following behind
Paul in my car, all I can say is ‘rather pong-y’. Anyhow… when
we picked up our ‘tina’ she looked like this;
See… she looks much better in the pics than in person… we
also found the following;
But that said, she actually was not too bad at all especially
considering how much neglect she had suffered. In fact we
found out through a previous owner that in her entire lifetime
she had sat, mostly unused, for around 28 years. Not bad for a
car that’is only 35! So all in all we didn't feel too bad.
In weeks 1 & 2 Paul fitted a new radiator, new front & rear springs
and suspension. The engine was also given a flush. (See no
difference to the old radiator is there now?!!!). He also tried to
make head or tails of the wiring whilst I hunted high and low for
parts.
At the end of week 2 we got her ready for her longest trip god
only knows how many years. An hour long drive to the John
Martin Garage in Wallyford where Paul's brother works. Thanks
to him we managed to get her into the nice warm workshop
where Paul & his brother spent each weekend for a month (Paul
leaving home at 0500hrs!) working on the body work repairs,
sanding, filling, sanding, sanding and a bit more sanding to get
her ready to be primed and put through for her shiny new paint
job.
The priming started in week 6 followed swiftly in week 7 of the
restoration with the final coats of paint (and of course the
essential markings). After all she just wouldn't’t be the same
without her ‘flick’!
This is also when our ‘tina’ got her official name ‘Cortarino’
We got her home early on week 8 (where we are now) and Paul
has spent every night this week out in the cold and wind of the
driveway ripping out her wiring and replacing it with a loom we
took from a MK5 Saloon that has done the job nicely. We
couldn't’t work with what was there as we had no idea what car
the loom was out of and there were literally dozens of extra wires
that we had no idea where on earth they went! As of this evening
the wiring should now be finished.
Tomorrow morning (around 0600hrs) Paul will be heading over
with Cortarino to Wallyford yet again to spend the day with his
brother. On the list for tomorrow are;
Underseal
New Exhaust & Manifold
Lighter Duty Springs on front (the set we put on in week 2 have
her sitting a bit too high)
Fit New Calipers
Fit New Ball Joints
Fit new Clutch Cable
Fit new Prop Shaft Rubber
Track Rod Ends (if they get time).
So, all being well she will be 90% complete by Saturday evening.
Following that Paul will fit the new interior we have for her (out
the MK5 and some spares from a MK3 or two) and she will be
95% there. The other 5% consists of bits and pieces we still want
to do although these are more of the ‘little’ touches rather than
any major work that has already been completed. Things such
as re-spraying dash to black rather than brown can wait a few
weeks so that we can get out there and enjoy running about in
our Cortarino!
More pictures to follow as the restoration nears completion.
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