Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ellis]

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Mark 2 Ford Cortinas of whatever description or engine size are sought after today but with the passing of years, 49 in fact, people overlook or forget that in the Autumn of 1966 another significant new model was unveiled by Rootes - the Arrow range and in direct competition with the Cortina.

The first one in this area was a 1967 metallic light green Hillman Minx , HCA 383E, which was bought new by the local printer and served him well for ten years.
My late father was a pharmaceutical chemist and I was interested in the cars the various representatives who called on him drove. Many used Cortinas and BMC Farinas but later in the late 1960s the Arrows cars appeared including the rather handsome estate versions.

My first ride in one was a gunmetal metallic 1968 Singer Vogue, GFF 453F which was bought as six month old demonstrator by my cousin and her husband in 1968.

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It was very bouncy sitting in rear seat but more comfortable than an equivalent Ford Cortina. The Vogue served them for three years until they bought an Austin 1800S.
I drove several Mark 2 Ford Cortinas but only two "Arrows" - a 1970 Hillman Hunter 1725 and a 1974 Humber Sceptre and I was very impressed with the latter, a superb car I thought.
I thought it was better built, nicer to drive and had a quality lacking in an equivalent Cortina 1600E. It was significantly more powerful too.



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Autocar did a comparative test between a Humber Sceptre and a Ford Corsair 200E in 1969 and the Humber won.

How do you rate the Rootes Arrows? Were they as good as or better than an equivalent Ford Cortina.
Just for interest, one of the rarest Arrows was a Humber Sceptre Estate.
I have not seen one but I would have liked to see one in the metal.

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[poodge]

In the mid 70's,I owned a mk2 Cortina 1200 2 door.Obviously this was a low spec home market car imported into new zealand.I was under the impression that mk2's came with the 1300 crossflow engine,but presumably,mine was a lowest of the low budget model,using leftover mk1 parts.
I spent more on that damn car in 9 months than it cost me to buy,and cars were not cheap in nz at that time.
The engine blew the top off one piston,and split another vertically.I replaced both front suspension struts,the brakes,and had the gearbox reconditioned.
I should have kept the mk1 I had before that,a 1500 deluxe.It was a much better car all round.
I've never owned the Rootes model,known here as the Hillman Hunter,but a friend of mine bought one new in 1971,and kept it right into the 21st century.He didn't look after his cars bodywork particularly well,but mechanically it never wanted for anything.
Unfortunately,the rust got on top of it,and he scrapped his car in 2006.
I always thought the Hunter better looking than the mk2 Cortina.The track on the Cortina looked too small,giving the impression it would fall over.

[peter scott]

I thought the MkI GT Cortina was really great. I didn't have any experience of the more sporting MkIIs but did drive one of the more pedestrian ones and thought it didn't compare well with the Hillman Hunter.I never drove a New Minx. The Cortina in MkII form was just a bit on the rolly polly side. Generally too soft.

I never really understood why Ford produced the Corsair.

Rootes came late to the game with their Arrow range clearly shocked by the comparisons of the 10 year old Minxes and Super Minxes with MkI Cortinas. The BMC Farina range compared reasonably with the old Minxes but if Rootes was late with the Arrows BMC (or whatever they were called, BLMH?) were really late with their Marinas.

Peter
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[emmerson]

Ellis, if you're counting votes, then mine goes unequivacally to the Rootes cars.

[Phil - Nottingham]

Underated and far superior IMHO have had 3 but worked on Mk2 and Mk2 Cortinas which were poor and cheap and cheerful even the top range ones.

Always rated to Estates too but never had one but welded up all over my brother in law's heap of Mk2 estate in the late 70's - not even painted underneath. At least the Metallic Brown paint hid most of the rust on top
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[bob2]

After spending some time with my hunter now, I must say that they are good cars! However I've never had a cortina so can't compare!
I prefer the styling of the cortina to be honest but the humber is a pretty car too. Actually if I could find some bumpers from a humber (arrow series), I'd happily swap them over for the standard hunter ones. I'm not bothered with originality cause I'm convinced they look so much better on all arrow cars!