Cortina Savage
The Cortina Savage was an automobile first produced by Race Proved in the mid 1960s and came in the form of the MK2 Ford Cortina. It was designed and produced by former Ford saloon car racing driver Jeff Uren.
History
Jeff Uren managed the Willment race team, which fielded Ford Falcons, Galaxies, Cobras, GT40s and, most famously, the humble Cortina Mk1. When John Willment gave up racing, Jeff set up Race Proved Ltd as his own company. The first car to have the Savage treatment (ie dropping in a Ford 3.0 L Essex V6 engine) was the Mk2 Cortina, this then progressed to Mk3s /Mk4s and even a one off Mk5 Cortina. Race Proved then linked up with Weslake Engineering who did most of the engine tuning for Jeff Uren. The customers had various tuning choices; the standard Ford Capri-spec 3.0 L engine with 138 bhp and 182 ft-lbs of torque, the 170, 180, 190 and the mighty 210 bhp Tecalemit fuel-injected version.
Options
The most obvious feature on the Cortina Mk3 Savage, is the optional (generally ill-fitting) fibreglass bonnet. Many other options were also available, such as Mati headers and power pipes, Dunlop wheels, adjustable shocks, and various brake upgrades.
Along with the Cortina Mk3 Savage, there was also the less well-known Cheetah version. This used the 2.5 L version of the Essex V6 and was a cheaper option. It was also possible in 1978 for the home mechanic to buy a complete installation kit (minus engine) for the 2.5 L or the 3.0 L for £315 and install the engine themselves.
Cost
Cost of a new Cortina MK3 Savage in the early 70s would start at around £2,000 and then rise accordingly depending on the extra goodies.
Production
In total it is thought around 1,000 Savages were produced with between 50/100 being the Cortina MK3 versions.
Survivors
There are only five known surviving Cortina MK3 Savages known to Cortina Mark Three Owners Club (MTOC),[1] of which two are on the road.