Ford Cortina "Works" boot hinges for a rally car

You realise you are getting sad when you spend so much time over a detail of car construction. Anyway, here is the definitive "gen" on the works Cortina rally cars and the problem of the scuttle-mounted fuel tank inlet pipe.

The problem is that with the original hinges, the boot lid moves through a particular arc which fouls the fuel filler cap, UNLESS it is very carefully positioned, but it ends up much too close to the rear windscreen. It is the height of the fuel filler that is the problem. If you had a VERY thin cap you may be ok, but with the normal Ford Cortina filler cap the edge of the boot lid fouls the cap.

With the Anglia hinges the lid moves through a different arc and doesn't interfere with the fuel filler. If I used the car in competition I could use a normal Ford Cortina filler cap. At other times I have enough room to fit a locking cap.

There is probably only a problem on rally cars where access is required to the boot. On racers such as the GT500, they needed to get fuel in as quickly as possible during a race, and boot access was not an issue.

ABOVE:- This photo shows a restored KPU 383C many years ago at Hagley Hall. The Anglia boot hinges can be seen, together with the Anglia boot opening "stay." This was the works cure for the front edge of the boot-lid fouling the petrol tank filler neck when used with a rally tank. I would guess it also saved quite a few pounds in weight getting rid of the Cortina hinges and the heavy counterweight springs. Photo © Tommy Sandham

ABOVE:- This is an extremely rare photo of the same car KPU 383C in "1965" condition taken at Silverstone in spring 1966. I don't know what it was doing there along with other red works rally Cortinas visible in other shots; possibly development testing or driver practice. Photo © John Wood.

ABOVE:- Another © John Wood photo of the same car showing the general arrangement of the Anglia hinges and the petrol tank filler. John had the pleasure of owning KPU383C, Roger Clarks works rally car which he restored. This is the only remaining works rally car which is substantially original and in authentic condition. John did lots of research to verify the original features and the boot hinge arrangement was one of them.

ABOVE:- Here's what I'm doing on my own car. I have cut the hole in the scuttle, offered the metal tank pipe to the hole, using the rubber ring, and then tried the locking petrol cap. With the locking cap, the front edge of the boot lid fouls the petrol cap, but if a smaller, flatter cap is used there is no problem. However, by a stroke of luck I have just been offered a set of Anglia hinges together with a boot opening stay, and will be fitting them when they arrive. Photo © Tommy Sandham.

ABOVE:- A general view of the Anglia hinges fitted. There are two bolts in the boot lid and one on the scuttle. A photo of the hinge itself appears below. Photo © Tommy Sandham.

A view inside the boot, clearly showing the two bolts on the boot lid. The stay is also from a Ford Anglia, but similar stays were fitted to many other cars. I paid less than £10 for my pair of hinges and a similar amout for the stay (all from eBay). Photo © Tommy Sandham.

ABOVE:- Another general view of the installation. I made the brackets at the bottom of the stay and at the top. There is a lot of weight saved by removing two heavy metal hinges and two rather heavy springs. Photo © Tommy Sandham.

ABOVE:- A Ford Anglia boot hinge. I now discover hinges are seemingly handed, with left and right 105E-7042700-B is r/h and 105E-7042701-B is l/h. (Thanks to Roger Raisey for this info). So much for only needing one as a spare! I have so far been unable to find the differences between the hinges. This photo clearly shows the arrangement of the bolts, which are a little long when used on the MK1 Cortina. Photo © Tommy Sandham.