Renault Estafette Van, Mk2 Cortina GT

This rad isn't the original. After asking lots of questions on the owner club forum I have found out it was fitted to export Cortina's. In this country it was a only fitted to early mk2 15GT's and the Lotus model. The chance of me finding another is slim. I paid £80 for this one. I know I won't be happy with this unless the guy really pulls a rabbit out of the hat when I return it, but I can't buy another I'm haemorrhaging money on this car at the moment and I've got lots more to source yet

The drain tap looks like it has been removed as there is definitely lead in that area. The header tank looks like it's been kicked around the workshop. To me lots of the dents look like the sort a radiator would gather of years and not through working on it- unless you had total disregard for it. The guy was adamant it was the only one he'd done recently so couldn't have got mixed up. He did he'd done a corsair one but that was 500mm wide and not 450 like mine. I googled some corsair radiators and they do look like the wider Transit type.

Thanks for the measurements Pete. It helps put my mind at rest a bit that the guy with the Corsair rad hasn't got mine. That rad of yours looks immaculate. Ok a couple of little dings but a lot better than my "refurbished " one

Not much has happened on the van / car front. My Avensis daily rear brake back plates disintegrated so It had no handbrake so that needed to get fixed. After I'd done that, I've started to re install the wiring harness on the Cortina. Only a few bodges found, but it's hard work when you didn't take it out and iv got several bits of Cortina looms in the pile of different model/year cars





I've not touched tha van.

This is an old photo from last summer.☹️ I haven't even taken a photo of it recently and I'm sure the insurance must if run out but I've not had a reminder from AF.

In other news I've got a new ride



I'm sick of spending half the morning fixing the old one and jump starting it off the rally car every time I go to use it. I normally stop cutting the grass when the the old one broke. So as usual before the first cut of the year I had to fix the mower. I bought to new inner tubes as they tires were always flat. I started it, which it did straight away put it in drive and ....nothing. I took a look underneath and there were belts and bits in places they shouldn't be. Took a look under the seat and the main drive pulley housing to the rear axle had bcracked and fallen off. I could have welded it but couldn't be arsed with it all. So I'm now the proud owner of a John Deere x166. I've not used it yet. I don't want to get it dirty😁.

So today was Drive It day. Cortina not finished, van not got the lights finished yet, mower to new so Rally car it was then. But first I had to change the rear wheels. Off with R88R's


And in with the Skid Master/Ditch finder Specials.


These were on the Cortina when I bought it as a pile of scrap. They are as hard as rocks, but have the advantage of making the 150bhp I've got feel like 400bhp.
So first off me and the boy drove to Burry Port harbour for Icecream.

On the way there an MG midget passed in the other direction and gave a wave. That was nice. I waved back and explained to the boy that no I don't know him, he just has an old car too. At the harbour there were some more classic cars (see above photo). They watched me drive in and pull up, they even saw me walk towards them for a look at the cars and then promptly blanked me😐. They were probably upset at the noise of the engine, straight cut box and the fact that it wasn't standard. Never mind. We had our icecream and Jonsey Junior played in the Park. We then drove over to the other side of the harbour and grabbed a burger and hot dog. One of the guys I race with was there also. We had a chat and the old lady serving said the was free racing at Pembrey circuit today so went and had a nose. We parked on the bank and watched for a bit it was a drifting competition.




They were to far away to take any photos. They were mainly Japanese cars, a few BMW's and this.





Very cool. It runs a Nissan turbo motor apparently. The sidevalve is long gone. We then drive home the long way round without seeing any other classics. A round trip of around 40 miles. We both enjoyed.

I can't remember if I've already mentioned this but the next Motorkhana (big auto test that I do in the Escort) is on my eldest Jonsey Juniors 14th birthday. This means he can now do it himself so I've bought him a MGZR 1400cc. Still MOT'd till August and cost £425. The electric fan doesn't work though so I've boil d it already. The fan works but the car doesn't turn it on. I'm probably going to hard wire it.




Here it is parked next to the dead mower.

And finally, almost forgot, Peteh has come up trumps with a set of GT badge inserts for the Cortina. After my previous post about these he kindly offered to scan a badge for me and get them etched in stainless steel.
They look bloody good too





I now need to somehow get them painted to look like this


Well happy.

So some words and pictures, but not a lot done. Ciao

Very Nice Progress.

Thanks Pete

That's the plan Pete. I'm not used to doing art and craft. I should of got the wife to do it.

Thanks Pete. I've tried some chrome paint in the grp front bumpers of the rally car. Obviously there are are a few types out there but the one I tried just looked like silver paint and not like the chrome finish it had on the cap.

Fair play. That is good. Am I brace enough to try it though 🤔