1969 Lotus Cortina

Ford valued the Mk 1’s competition record, highlighted by the racing achievements of drivers such as Jim Clark and Sir John Whitmore. The Mk 2 was a worthy successor to the Mk 1; though slightly shorter and heavier than the Mk 1, it delivered 109 horse horsepower, matching the Mk 1’s Special Equipment specification. The Mk 2 racing versions maintained a strong competition record until the Ford Escort replaced them.

This Ford Cortina Lotus Mk 2 has a notable history with Colin Chapman. Ford presented it to Lotus founder Colin Chapman, reportedly as a farewell gift for his years of continuous support. Chapman reportedly used it as his daily vehicle until the late 1970s. When placed in the Lotus museum, it showed only 14,223 miles.

The second owner, Jamie Kitman of New York, an attorney and motoring journalist, acquired it from the museum in 1998. Paul Matty Sports Cars in United Kingdom, then fully recommissioned it before shipping it to the United States. In 2003, the second owner drove the Mk 2 from New York to Detroit for Ford’s 100th anniversary celebration, where it was displayed alongside John Whitmore’s racing Mk 1 Cortinas. The car showed approximately 24,700 original miles at the time. In 2014, it was shipped back to the United Kingdom and remains in exceptionally original condition. This historical Cortina Mk 2 eventually entered a Hong Kong collection, where it has been carefully stored and maintained ever since.

This Cortina, distinguished by its association with Colin Chapman, low mileage, and low number of ownerships, represents an exceptional collectible opportunity for enthusiasts. Please contact us if you are interested in this pristine Cortina Mk2, which boasts significant provenance with one of the most famous motorsport icons in the industry.