Mk1 cortina savage, mega rare, is it still about

[Discododge]

Here's another rare beast we used to have. My dad bought it in about 1983/4 maybe, we knew of the mk2 and 3 savage but had never heard of a mk1. We had it a while a took it to fast ford rally at billing, it attracted a lot of attension and eventually found out it was one of only 6 built. As far as we know because of the time and cost of the body mods as well as interior modifications jeff uren was not allowed to build any more, this is why the mk2 and 3 look standard compared to this. The body was i think a lotus it had alloy doors and i think bonnet and boot, such a long time ago can't be 100% about the latter. The front and rear spoilers were fiberglass but the arches were steel. The suspension was very low and uprated, the handling was incredible, although very heavy on the steering at low speeds. Very quick to it would loose traction if you give it bootfull in 3rd. The savage badge on the bonnet was pressed out in the same style as the original cortina one. We tried hard to confirm the back ground on this car with no luck. Was hoping that to find out more about. Maybe jeff uren himself uses this site. We had the savage about 4 years, it stayed local for another couple of years, then vanished. Has anyone seen it ? I will try and dig out some more pictures.

[JAY PS]

Looks like its gone abroad
The enquiry is complete

The vehicle details for HDJ 167D are:

Date of Liability 01 09 1990
Date of First Registration 10 02 1966
Year of Manufacture Not Available
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 3000CC
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type Petrol
Export Marker Export
Vehicle Status Unlicensed
Vehicle Colour RED
Vehicle Type Approval

Vehicle Excise Duty Rate for vehicle
6 Months Rate £112.75
12 Months Rate £205.00

[UK RUSS 1960 OLDS]

Hi Discododge,

Unfortunately Jeff Uren passed away after battling cancer on 6th April 2007.

After successfully racing various Fords Jeff approached Ford Motor Co in 1959 with a view to them hiring him as a driver for the Ford Zephyr, Ford told him to get lost as they didn't need his help.

Almost immediately after this Jeff met the Ford team at Silverstone in his Zephyr where he beat the three works prepared Zephyr's by half a lap and also went on to win the BRSCC (British Saloon Car Championship) that year. Needless to say Ford contacted Jeff and asked him to be Ford team manager which he did until 1963.

Anyway i digress, Jeff formed his own company "Race Proved Performance and Racing Equipment Ltd" in 1966. To the best of my knowledge and research the savage name didn't come into being until 67/68 and was bestowed upon brand new cars only on that basis there would never have been a MK1 Cortina savage. Jeff's conversions were sanctioned by Ford and are as follows.

The Cortina Savage (3.0 V6 essex) was available as MK2, MK3, MK4, and MK5 although Jeff only ever did 1 MK5 Cortina and strangely that was an estate.

The Cortina Cheetah (2.5 V6 essex) was available as MK3, i think also as a MK2 (but stand to be corrected).

The Escort Navajo (2.0 V4 ???) MK1 Estate (not sure if this was available as a saloon but i would think so).

The Escort Apache (3.0 V6 essex) MK1

The Capri Comanche (3.0 V6 essex) MK1 available as 169, 180, and 194 BHP.

The Capri Stampede (4.7 V8 Ford 289) MK1.


The other odd ball Capri was South African built under the direction of Basil Green again sanctioned by Ford.

The Capri Perena (5.0 V8 Ford 302) MK1

Hope this info helps or is of some use.

Cheers.

Russ.

[55chev]

RUSS YOUR A WEALTH OF INFORMATION,enjoyed reading this thread.

[UK RUSS 1960 OLDS]

RUSS YOUR A WEALTH OF INFORMATION,enjoyed reading this thread.

Hi 55chev,

As usual i cocked up and missed a couple of Jeff's others.

Ford Granada Serena (3.0 V6 essex) MK1 (same engine options as the Capri Comanche)

Ford Transit EasiPower (3.0 V6 essex) MK1 (cant find any info on this other than Jeff would build you one).

Got a couple of pics/articles to post up once i get them loaded on to R'n'S.

Cheers.

Russ.

[UK RUSS 1960 OLDS]

Hi All,

Best pics i could find hopefully it will be readable.





Cheers.

Russ.

[Discododge]

Hi Discododge,

Unfortunately Jeff Uren passed away after battling cancer on 6th April 2007.

After successfully racing various Fords Jeff approached Ford Motor Co in 1959 with a view to them hiring him as a driver for the Ford Zephyr, Ford told him to get lost as they didn't need his help.

Almost immediately after this Jeff met the Ford team at Silverstone in his Zephyr where he beat the three works prepared Zephyr's by half a lap and also went on to win the BRSCC (British Saloon Car Championship) that year. Needless to say Ford contacted Jeff and asked him to be Ford team manager which he did until 1963.

Anyway i digress, Jeff formed his own company "Race Proved Performance and Racing Equipment Ltd" in 1966. To the best of my knowledge and research the savage name didn't come into being until 67/68 and was bestowed upon brand new cars only on that basis there would never have been a MK1 Cortina savage. Jeff's conversions were sanctioned by Ford and are as follows.

The Cortina Savage (3.0 V6 essex) was available as MK2, MK3, MK4, and MK5 although Jeff only ever did 1 MK5 Cortina and strangely that was an estate.

The Cortina Cheetah (2.5 V6 essex) was available as MK3, i think also as a MK2 (but stand to be corrected).

The Escort Navajo (2.0 V4 ???) MK1 Estate (not sure if this was available as a saloon but i would think so).

The Escort Apache (3.0 V6 essex) MK1

The Capri Comanche (3.0 V6 essex) MK1 available as 169, 180, and 194 BHP.

The Capri Stampede (4.7 V8 Ford 289) MK1.


The other odd ball Capri was South African built under the direction of Basil Green again sanctioned by Ford.

The Capri Perena (5.0 V8 Ford 302) MK1

Hope this info helps or is of some use.

Cheers.

Russ.

Thanks Russ, very informative, I don't know what this MK1 Savage? is all about then. Because I could not find any info about any MK1s I was thinking it was more of a kind of a tribute Savage. The thing that made it look so genuine was the badge on the bonnet. It was the identicle to the standard Cortina badge only with Savage on it, it looked like a genuine ford part. That's what threw use.

[Discododge]

Looks like its gone abroad
The enquiry is complete

The vehicle details for HDJ 167D are:

Date of Liability 01 09 1990
Date of First Registration 10 02 1966
Year of Manufacture Not Available
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 3000CC
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type Petrol
Export Marker Export
Vehicle Status Unlicensed
Vehicle Colour RED
Vehicle Type Approval

Vehicle Excise Duty Rate for vehicle
6 Months Rate £112.75
12 Months Rate £205.00

Thanks for that, I hope that at least someone is enjoying it where ever it is.

[UK RUSS 1960 OLDS]

Thanks Russ, very informative, I don't know what this MK1 Savage? is all about then. Because I could not find any info about any MK1s I was thinking it was more of a kind of a tribute Savage. The thing that made it look so genuine was the badge on the bonnet. It was the identicle to the standard Cortina badge only with Savage on it, it looked like a genuine ford part. That's what threw use.

Hi Discododge,

You can/could buy the badges so may have been added by someone at some stage of the game. It is also a possibility that Jeff did do some Mk1's although i can't find any evidence of it. Obviously they couldn't have been done when new though as Jeff hadn't set his company up then and the V6 essex didn't exist.

Another thing i read none of the savages were Lotus MK2's, but i guess that would make sense as why would you buy the most expensive model only to have it all chopped/swapped about.

Ford used to supply the body shells to Jeff without the holes drilled for the suspension/cross member on the front as he fitted his own and it hooked up in a different place to distibute the weight more evenly and improve handling etc.

Cheers.

Russ.

[UK RUSS 1960 OLDS]

Hi All,

Just found an ad for the EasiPower Transit.



Cheers.

Russ.