Mathewsons December 2026 sale
Lot 410: 1965 Ford Cortina at the Mathewsons December 2026 auction
By Jon Cosson · Last checked
Part of our Bangers & Cash guide.
Listing checked
What the listing says
Mathewsons' listing, based on information from the vendor, states that the vehicle is a Mk1 GT bought at Mathewsons, with about 98,000 miles.
What to check on any Ford Cortina (1962 to 1982)
- Mk1 and Mk2: front wings, headlamp surrounds and the offside front corner; strut tops, inner wings, bulkhead and scuttle; A-posts, sills, B-posts and door jambs; jacking points and floors; rear chassis rails, spring hangers and damper mounts; spare wheel well, boot floor, rear valance and bootlid leading edge.
- Kent engines: noisy valvegear usually means worn rockers, followers or camshaft; a cold-start rattle is typically the timing chain; blue smoke and fumes from the oil filler or breathers mean worn rings and bores. The early 1198cc unit is prone to worn crankshaft bearings.
- Worn second-gear synchromesh is very common. Jumping out of top may be a simple selector fault or worn dogs, which is more serious.
- Vague steering usually means a worn steering box, idler or joints.
- Earth faults are common and old looms go brittle.
- GT: do not rely on the badges or the logbook description. Two buyer's guides state that a genuine Mk1 GT has body code 77 (two-door) or 78 (four-door) immediately after the two-letter prefix in the vehicle number. Check this with an owners' club, as codes vary by mark.
Checks for this car
- Confirm that it is a genuine GT.
- Check the Mk1 rust points.
Questions to ask before you bid
- Can I see the V5C, and do the chassis and engine numbers match it?
- What history file, invoices and MOT records come with it?
- When was it last used on the road?
- What identifies it as a genuine GT?
- What history comes with it?
Viewing and bidding
Viewing at the Pickering saleroom runs Wednesday 25 November to Tuesday 1 December 2026: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 12 noon, closed Sunday. Entry is £5 per person, which includes admission on the day and a donation to one of Mathewsons' chosen charities. The sale is Wednesday 2 to Friday 4 December 2026, held behind closed doors, with bidding online, by telephone or by commission.
Every lot is sold as seen. Read Mathewsons' terms (opens in a new tab) before you register.
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