M25 Classics – 1982 Ford Cortina Crusader

Ford enthusiasts will know that the year of this car was the last for the long-running Cortina before it was replaced by the aerodynamic Ford Sierra. The Crusader was a special edition that marked the end of production.

The car we have here is believed to have had just a small number of owners, and it has been off the road since the 1990s. In pleasingly original condition, it is certainly ripe for restoration and once finished it will be welcomed at any classic car show.

It is a solid basis for such a project and is thought not to been subjected to any previous welding or restoration work. The Stratos Silver paintwork is also original, and is one of the popular colours offered on the Crusader.

The model was available in saloon and estate forms and with a range of tried and tested engines, and this one is powered by the reliable 2.0-litre Pinto unit. It will need an overhaul, along with the rest of the mechanicals, but the simple nature of the Cortina makes this a straightforward job.

It was easy to see the appeal of the Crusader, with this final version of the Cortina getting the plusher trim from Ghia models. It certainly added an upmarket feel to the comfortable cabin.

It was to prove very popular with buyers, too, and by the time production finally ended some 30,000 had been sold. In fact, this was the last type of Cortina to be built at the Dagenham factory with the final car rolling off the production line on 22 July 1982.

It is certainly a great opportunity to own a piece of Ford history, and for fans of the famous Cortina name this could be a very tempting project.