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KPU 386C – full, correct ‘works’ specification
Lotus Cortina built by the Ford Competition Department. Tested by
Jim Clark in preparation for the 1966 RAC Rally. Offered for sale in excellent, highly original condition.
Warwickshire-based Nick Whale Sports Cars Direct, is offering ‘KPU 386C’, one of the hugely desirable, original series of ‘works’ Lotus Cortinas manufactured by the Ford Competition Department at its Boreham facility.
The works series cars feature registration numbers KPU 380C through to KPU 397C, and this car, KPU 386C, was supplied direct to the famous Alan Mann Racing team in 1965 to help with the development of their race programme. The car features the full and correct ‘works’ specification, including an aluminium bonnet, boot and door panels, original short-ratio gearbox with alloy tail shaft and remote shift aluminium bell housing and differential, long range twin fuel tanks and 5.5inch steel wheels. Today the car features a fully rebuilt engine with evocative ‘BRM’ cam covers.
The comprehensive history file of KPU 386C features photographs taken from Autosport magazine (dated 18th November 1966) which shows none other than Lotus world champion, Jim Clark, testing the car at Bagshot in preparation for the forthcoming
1966 RAC Rally. There is also a black and white picture of
Jim Clark and a very young future rally champion, Roger Clark, standing next to the car in period.
Interestingly, KPU 386C went on to become a Ford experimental car in 1967 and was used for developing an automatic Lotus Cortina, under Ted Davis - the chief engineer at Borg Warner. Even today, there is a visible modification to the centre consul that was made during this period by the factory.
This car is a very significant and important part of Ford competition history, and is offered in excellent ‘on the button’ condition, at a very realistic price of £49,990. The car can be seen on Nick Whale Sports Cars’ stand at Race Retro next week, between 12th and 14th March at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry.
For more information, please visit:
www.nickwhale.com