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Description
The GXL automatic modelled was purchased from Ford dealers K.T. (Dartford) Ltd. on May 27th, 1972, by former RAF NCO Arnold Watkins. In civilian life he was a gentleman’s tailor with three shops in the North Kent area. He’d initially looked at ordering a lower specification Cortina but managed to drive a hard bargain with the salesman at K.T. to get this top of the range, unregistered showroom display GXL for only £1391.41, a substantial discount. This included 2 wing mirrors, which cost £4.50, and a M/L Radio for £30. He garaged the car, looked after it fastidiously and used it until the mid-1990s by which time it had covered over 100,000 miles.
London-based James Bradley, Arnold Watkins’ grandson, put it back on the road in 1999 and enjoyed using it but didn’t have a garage and, no longer needing a commuting car due to a change of job, returned it to his grandmother’s garage in Bexleyheath for safekeeping in 2000.
In 2016, after her passing, James reluctantly decided to sell the car and it was purchased by Yorkshire-based enthusiast Mark Bodenham who immediately started its restoration. It didn’t need any welding but required some minor damage repair at the rear and a thorough mechanical refresh. It was then treated to a full respray and new chrome components, although the perfect original vinyl roof was retained. The resulting car is one of the UK’s most admired Mk3 Cortinas.
