The Ford Cortina is the epitome of the late twentieth century medium-sized motor car. It was produced at Dagenham for twenty years. Introduced in 1962 following a £13 million investment programme, the name was chosen to embody a sense of Italian spirit. Much attention was given to the ease of production and simplification, as well as offering a wide range of engine and trim choices.

The final iteration of the Cortina, officially called the '80' but popularly known as the Mark V, was introduced in 1979. This particular car is one of the last of more than 4.2 million Cortinas produced and is in top level Ghia specification.