Was the Ford Cortina sold in the US?
No—the Ford Cortina was never officially sold in the United States. It served as Ford of Britain’s European family car and was exported to many markets outside North America.
The Cortina was produced by Ford of Britain and Ford of Europe from the early 1960s through the early 1980s, finding buyers in the UK, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, and parts of Asia and the Middle East. It did not appear in Ford’s North American lineup, where other models filled the small- to mid-sized segments. This article examines where the Cortina sold and why it never reached U.S. showrooms.
Markets where the Cortina was sold
The Cortina enjoyed a broad export footprint outside the United States, particularly across Europe and beyond.
- Other European markets (Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, and others)
- Australia and New Zealand
- Africa (including South Africa) and other regional markets
- Middle East and parts of Asia (various non‑European markets)
Together, these regions formed the core overseas footprint of the Cortina, while the United States remained outside official Ford sales.
Why the Cortina was not sold in the United States
Several business, regulatory, and market factors kept the Cortina out of U.S. showrooms.
In short, the combination of regulatory hurdles, high reform costs, and strategic focus on North American models meant the Cortina never became an official US offering.
Key Cortina milestones
A concise timeline of major Cortina generations and their market footprints.
- 1962: Ford Cortina Mk I is introduced in the UK and other European markets
- 1966: Mk II arrives with updated styling and power options
- 1970: Mk III debuts, adopting new styling and chassis updates
- 1976: Mk IV appears, featuring interior improvements and modernized mechanics
- 1982: Production ends as Ford shifts toward newer European models (the Sierra lineage)
These milestones illustrate the Cortina’s evolution across generations and markets, while the United States remained outside its official distribution network.
Summary
The Ford Cortina was never officially sold in the United States. It was a staple of Ford’s European lineup for two decades, with a broad global footprint outside North America. Strategic, regulatory, and market factors kept it out of the U.S. market, even as it helped shape Ford’s approach to compact and mid-sized cars in other regions. The Cortina’s legacy continues in Ford’s European car family and in the timeline of Ford’s global product strategy.
Were Ford cortinas sold in the US?
Ford in the United States imported both the Mark I and Mark II Cortina models. The Mark II was sold in the United States from 1967, achieving 16,193 cars sold in its first year. Sales of the Mark II in 1968 were 22,983. Sales in 1969 reached 21,496.
What is the value of a Ford Cortina today?
Typically, you can expect to pay around $10,700 for a 1965 Ford Cortina Mk I in good condition with average spec.
Does Jeremy Clarkson own a Ford Cortina?
“Always Ford Cortinas,” Clarkson says. “That's why I bought a Ford Cortina, I didn't know there were other cars. I was raised in a Ford Cortina, only ever went anywhere in a Ford Cortina so I thought I better buy a Ford Cortina then.” His example was a 1969 Ford Cortina 1600E.
What does Ford Cortina mean in English?
The Ford Cortina , which dates from 1962,was the second blunder. Cortina , which literally means "curtain "in Spanish, also has a colloquial meaning Spain, and that is "old jalopy".
