We can’t be alone in thinking it would be amazing if our favourite Norfolk brand that specialises in lightweight sports cars would collaborate with Ford and come up with a racing edition of today’s equivalent Dagenham-bred workhorse.

We suppose that territory is currently covered by the spectacular Focus RS – but surely a Lotus badge and some drivetrain trickery in the Chapman tradition would yield something special.

Back in the day a Cortina competing successfully on the world rally stage must have been like a cheeky upstart from Dagenham taking on Cassius Clay in Madison Square Garden.

There’s something heroic, almost Shackleton-like about the picture above – which shows Peter Huth and Ian Grant celebrating a brilliant 2nd place finish in the notoriously difficult East African Rally of 1968.

And it’s a heroism that is somehow encapsulated in the unassuming countenance of the car itself.

From esturine Essex to the badlands of Nairobi. That’s a big leap of mechanical efficiency and reliability.

Worthy of a re-issue, surely?

For details of all things Lotus Cortina, go to lotuscortinainfo.com images courtesy LCI.