One of the most popular cars that have ever been on the road is the Ford Cortina. This was first built in the UK in the early sixties and production continued for the next twenty years, with various upgrades taking place and new models being developed. In late 1962, Ford of Britain was looking for a way to promote the brand new Ford Cortina, which they knew was a durable salon car ideal for the family. Their challenge was to create an event which would capture the public’s imagination in a unique way and a chance meeting between a rally driver and a casual acquaintance led to an epic drive that shot the Cortina to fame.
Some years before, three men had driven from London to Cape Town in South Africa and had broken the existing record for the trip. Ford’s challenge was to beat the existing record. The Cortina was prepared with just a few modifications by Ford Motor Company and in January 1963, two rally drivers who were also Ford dealers, set off on a marathon drive. Could this new and as yet untested car meet the challenge? The two drivers, Eric Jackson and Ken Chambers drove through Europe and sailed to North Africa, then proceeded to make their way through darkest Africa to achieve their goal. At many times it seemed that the pair wouldn’t make it due to bandit attacks, encounters with wild animals and other adventures but on January 20th, a battered Ford Cortina containing two weary and unshaven men, drove into Cape Town and an RAC observer confirmed that they had broken the existing record by just few minutes. The car had held up amazingly well.
The drivers had experienced only minor problems with the vehicle itself. Tyres had been a huge problem thanks to the back of availability and the appalling condition of the African roads but the Cortina had proved itself beyond all expectations. Fort Motor Company had proved to the world that this new little car was indeed a world breaker. It went on to be one of the most popular cars every produced.
