Two Coke-bottle Ford Cortinas owned by impressionist Jon Culshaw go under the hammer at auction next month.
The Dead Ringers star, a devoted classic Ford fan, has decided to thin his car collection because he doesn’t have time to drive them all.
Now Cortina connoisseurs have the chance to own two fine examples of the mark III classic, a 1974 2000E and a 1973 2000 GXL Auto similar to the one used in time-travelling cop show Life on Mars.
DCI Gene Hunt, played by Philip Glenister, drove a GXL-badged Cortina until replacing it with an Audi Quattro for the sequel, Ashes to Ashes.
Culshaw’s GXL, with 65,997 miles on the clock, has previously been on display at the Ford Heritage Centre in Dagenham, while the 2000E has been owned by the comedian since 2010 and undergone bodywork and a full retrim by Carisma Bodytech of Colchester.
Introduced in 1970, the curvy mark III Cortina marked a departure from the more boxy mark II, and was Britain’s best-selling car in 1972, usurping the ageing Austin/Morris 1100 and 1300.
Speaking of his love of old Fords, Culshaw told the Telegraph: “One of my neighbours had a lovely Coke-bottle Cortina when I was an impressionable youth.
“I’m doing my bit preserving them for posterity, and saving nicer ones from the ravages of banger racing. Ultimately, these are cars I want to own and feel good driving about in. I don’t get to drive them as much as I’d like to but when I do, it transports me straight back.”
The cars are expected to fetch between £8,000 and £10,000 at Anglia Car Auctions’ November 4 sale. Other interesting lots for sale at the auction include:
A rare 1962, twin-carb Volvo 122S Amazon with only 3,500 miles on the clock expected to sell for £8,000 to £10,000.
The car was bought new and used sparingly until the early 1970s, when it was unwittingly blocked into the garage by builders undertaking improvements to the owner’s home.
Rather than carry out further building work, the owner simply bought a new car, an MG Midget, and the Volvo remained trapped until it was liberated last year.
A collection of Alvis cars owned by the late Tom Poole MBE, the first blind man in Britain to qualify as a barrister who also founded the Cambridge Pianola Company.
Despite his disability, Mr Poole had a love of cars, and seven of his collection are up for sale, including the last Park Ward bodied Alvis TF built in 1967, a 1948 Alvis TA14 Tickford, and a 1937 Alvis TA 25/63 Crested Eagle for restoration.
Three vehicles stored for 30 years in a disused public convenience in Crewe, a 1980 Mini pick-up, a 1938 Morris Eight, and a 1938 Humber 16 saloon.
For those with deeper pockets, there’s a 1987 BMW M3 Evo 1 Tour de Corse, one of just 40 made, for a guide price of £110,000 to £130,000; a 1961 Austin-Healey 3000 BN7 for up to £65,000; and a 1983 Porsche 911 (930) Turbo for a guide of up to £75,000.