2017 50c ANDA Sydney Ford Classics 1965 Cortina MKI GT500 PNC

The Cortina Consul (Cortina MKI) created a new class of ‘compact’ family vehicles. Smaller than the Falcon, it was built on the principles of durability, practicality and affordability. Although it was small, the Cortina MKI achieved remarkable success on Australian racetracks. A young Harry Firth and Bob Jane drove a Cortina MKI GT to victory in the inaugural 1963 Bathurst event and again in 1964. For 1965, the first locally developed ‘Bathurst Special’, the Cortina MKI GT500, was created with the single goal of securing a third win at Mt Panorama - which it duly did.