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Welcome, dear reader, to the July issue of Retro Ford magazine, celebrating (in case you hadn’t guessed) 50 years of the Ford Cortina. We certainly couldn’t let the anniversary of Ford’s 4.3 million-selling car pass us by without giving it a tip of the proverbial cap. As such, this issue is packed full of Cortina-based goodness from start to finish. There is a Mk1 police car, a Mk2 with a modern VTEC engine, a Mk3 base model in the studio and a Mk5 Crusader, too. We also take look at exactly what it is that makes this particular marque of Ford so special, we have a chat with a man who makes a living out of them and, to tempt you all in to joining the official run later in the year, we send RF contributor, Alex, to Cortina in, you guessed it, a Cortina. The Ford Cortina really is one of those cars that span several generations. It’s guaranteed that most people, even those who have nothing to do with the world of old Fords, will have had, or will know someone who’s had one at some point. And those who have owned one are sure to have nothing but fond memories of it. Although, that said, having owned a Mk1, a Mk2 and a Mk5, the sad news is that my overriding memory of the Mk5 is of driving home from work one day and getting really travel sick, so I had to sell it. But, it’s a memory all the same and looking back, for the sake of the £200 I got for it, I probably should have just kept it. But you live and learn. In case you wanted to look at something other than a Cortina, we have covered those bases as well, with a lovely pair of Mk2 Escorts owned by brothers, the annual gathering of Capris around a Lancaster bomber and a cool old-skool Anglia – so there is plenty for all to enjoy!