Project Cars Update: Racin’ Jason’s The Green Hornet

His motto is simple: ‘Once you go Rat, you never go back!’

t, you never go back!’

I grabbed this Mk2 Cortina from a local breaker recently. It’s a pretty-rare, Australian-delivered 1971 Mk2 Cortina 440 L, which is like a 1600E in the UK without the hot GT parts. It’s very original, with rare reclining seats, rear chrome trim, and other quirky factory parts. Body-wise, it’s solid like most Aussie Fords, no heater box rust, no strut top rust and mint front wings!

It’s ‘weathered’ immensely with is perfect for a Rat Rod, as the patina is part of the attraction of this style of modifying. With some work it will come up a treat, and I have some pretty cool touches planned.

The very average interior has the pungent aroma of a 10-year-old taxi seat cover, but plans are afoot for a complete makeover. Expect the unexpected in here.

A quick photo-chop session on my PC came up with this. Slammed in the weeds, red rims and whitewalls, all classic Rat rod stuff. Check out the rear wheel spats, not a common thing, so I’m going to have a crack at making them myself.

Under the bonnet the old beast sports a sweet-running 1600, hooked to a very cool column automatic. It needs some love, so a quick tune up and a new fuel pump will get things sorted. I’ve hatched a plan to jazz up the engine bay in true Rat Rod style, and I have a feeling you’ll like what’s coming.

My aim is to create a unique and individual Mk2 Cortina, which won’t break the bank. Having a young family means money is tight, probably like it is on that side of the globe too, hey? This means I’m going to make this project a reality for as little folding stuff as possible.

Each good project deserves an identity, so I have named this one, The Green Hornet.

For regular updates on the Green Hornet Rat Rod Cortina, check out Classic Ford magazine every month.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 24th, 2009 at 10:01 am and is filed under Project cars. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.