1:18 Classic Carlectables 1965 Ford Cortina GT 500 in Satin Red

Features Include:

• Diecast chassis
• Featuring the aeroflow interior, twin fuel fillers and front brake ducts
• Opening doors & bonnet
• Full interior, engine and chassis detail with working suspension

A model unique to Australia, the GT 500 was to be the car that took Ford tot the top of the mountain at the Bathurst 500, hence the name. Something special had to be developed to mix it with the imported cars that were allowed for the first time in 1965. The Lotus-Cortina would have been more than adequate, but the elegibility rules required 250 be imported to qualify it, as opposed to the production of 100 cars to qualify a local model, so the GT 500 was born. It was designed for Ford Australia by Ford's Works Teams Manager, Harry Firth, in his Queens Avenue workshop in Auburn, Melbourne.

It had an 8.5 gallon aluminium auxiliary fuel tank that increased the fuel capacity to 17 gallons, with the two tanks interconnected, and fed through twin snap-on fuel caps, located behind the rear window. These twin fillers were the result of a bit of craftiness on Harry Firth's part, who realised that they would help reduce time spent by the car in the pits.

Large air scoops under the front bumer directed air to the front discs, which had no backing plates. The car was released in July 1965 and only a 2 door was available, with fixed rear windows that didn't flip open. Only 112 were produced, all between May and August, which sold like hotcakes. They achieved their intended destiny in the 1965 race, finishing 1-2 in Class D, and 1-2 outright. The success of the GT 500 led to elegibility rule changes for the 1966 race.