Here’s the answer if you really want a Mk. I Lotus Cortina like the one sold recently through the site but don’t have the budget for a real one. This 1965 Ford Cortina GT is a warehouse find that both has extra parts but is incomplete in other areas. It’s located in Birmingham, Michigan and is listed for sale here on eBay, where the buy-it-now is $3,000, but bidding is starting at $1,500. Thanks to Jim S. for sending in this find!

Right away, you’ll notice that the car was originally maroon, that there are some creases down the right side that will take some finessing to get back out, and that the shell is relatively solid. It’s actually a “rust-free” California car that has been warehouse stored for a while.

While it may be “rust free”, I see surface rust at least in this dent in the right rear. I’m hoping this panel is easy to get to from the inside, as this will be a difficult repair even with access.

Unfortunately, while the car was in storage, some things went missing, including the complete drive train, side trim, gauges, trunk lock, and windscreen moldings. Some of those may be difficult to find. I’m wondering if would be better used in a “re-shelling” operation for someone’s rusty Mark 1 (not giving advice, and of course there may be legal issues with that). This car also doesn’t come with a title, making putting it back on the road that much more difficult.

The seats are original Mark 1 seats, but they didn’t come from this car. The original red rear seat is in the car. On the right, I’m wondering if we need to hold a Barn Finds Webinar on rust identification, because either I’m blind or someone’s discovered paint that looks just like rust! The seller suggests purchasing either the original type cross flow Ford drive train they have or a Duratec/Mazda 6-speed combination that they also have to re-engine the shell, but I think there are enough other missing components that I’d be looking for a rusty parts car, preferably with a title! Which avenue would you follow if you were to take on this project? Would you make it into a Lotus Cortina clone, or go in another direction? And what does the term “rust free” mean to you?