All Ford Day highlight - 1974 TC Cortina

While plenty of Falcons and Mustangs are a given at the annual All Ford Day in Geelong, the sheer size of this Ford-only event means you’ll encounter some lesser-known Aussie, American and British Fords, too. This year’s 33rd edition of All Ford Day saw more than 1,500 vehicles make the journey to Geelong’s Eastern Park, and amongst the ‘small Fords’ - Escorts, Anglias, Prefects, Lasers, etc. – there are usually some neat Cortinas to see, too.

Of the Cortinas, most on show this year were MkI and MkII versions. A rarer sight these days, even at a show as large as All Ford Day, is the MkIII Cortina, which was sold locally as the TC and TD Series from 1971 to 1976. In 1972, Ford Australia offered the 200ci and 250ci (3.3- and 4.1-litre) six-cylinder engines from the Falcon as an option on some TC/TD Cortina variants - a 1.6- or 2.0-litre four was the standard engine. While it offered more power, the six produced nose-heavy handling that was never really overcome. Build quality was poor in Australian-assembled Cortinas from this period, too.

Ford never offered a factory-fitted V8 in the TC/TD Cortina, but they did consider it. In 1971, Ford Australia mused on the possibility of a V8-powered Cortina replacing their GT-HO Falcon in touring car racing, as it would be a better like-for-like rival for the Torana V8 they were expecting in 1973. The ‘Supercar Scare’ of 1972 killed that off, as it did the XA Falcon GT-HO Phase IV and other high-powered road cars from our big three manufacturers.

Despite a V8 never being offered in a Cortina from the factory, that hasn’t stopped many enthusiasts from doing it themselves, as evidenced by this car. In the 1970s and ’80s, many Cortina-based Sports Sedans and drag racers ran V8s, too.

The Cortina featured has a 302ci (4.9-litre) Ford V8, matched to a four-speed manual transmission. The ‘XLE’ badging this car wears denotes the highest trim level available on the TC Cortina and was only seen in the Australian and South African markets. When new, a Cortina XLE would have had the 250ci six, three-speed automatic, bucket seats, a vinyl roof and colour-matched hubcaps as standard, along with full carpeting and fancier interior trim than the Cortina L and XL.

In addition to the V8, the transformation of this car into something of a “mini GT” has seen a sunroof and Bathurst Globe wheels on wider tyres added. Inside, there’s a modern Kenwood sound system, but the seats and door trims in the car featured appear to be from a different Cortina grade. The XLE had bucket seats with integral headrests and doorcards of a different design.

Among the small Fords at All Ford Day this year, this TC Cortina was definitely a standout. The judges thought so, too, rewarding it with the trophy for Best Cortina.

For JUST CARS’ report from the 2024 All Ford Day, click HERE.