The Ford Cortina was one of the most important and successful British family cars of the post-war period, and by 1979 it had evolved into a comfortable and well-equipped model aimed at both private buyers and the company-car market. The Cortina Ghia 2.3 represented one of the most luxurious versions available, combining the familiar Cortina formula with Ford’s smooth V6 engine and a notably high level of equipment.

The 1979 model belonged to the Cortina Mk IV generation, which had been introduced in Britain in 1976. Closely related to the European Ford Taunus, the Mk IV adopted a more angular and contemporary body design than the preceding Mk III while retaining the conventional front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout that had become central to the Cortina’s character.

At the top of the range sat the Ghia specification. The Ghia name had become Ford’s designation for its more luxurious models following the company’s acquisition of the Italian coachbuilder Ghia earlier in the decade. On the Cortina, it brought additional exterior brightwork, distinctive wheel trims and a more comprehensively appointed interior.

The 2.3-litre model was powered by Ford’s Cologne V6 engine. With its six-cylinder configuration, the engine offered considerably smoother and more effortless performance than the four-cylinder units fitted to most Cortinas. Producing around 108 bhp in British specification, it gave the Cortina strong performance for a mainstream saloon of the late 1970s and made it particularly well suited to relaxed motorway driving.

Most 2.3 Ghia examples were equipped with an automatic gearbox, reinforcing the car’s emphasis on comfort rather than outright sporting ability. A manual transmission was also available in certain specifications. Power was delivered to the rear wheels, while the Cortina retained relatively straightforward suspension and mechanical components that contributed to its reputation for ease of maintenance.

Inside, the Ghia was considerably more luxurious than the basic Cortina models. The cabin featured upgraded upholstery, additional instrumentation, wood-effect trim and deeper carpeting, together with a range of comfort features that helped distinguish it from the L and GL versions. For many buyers in the late 1970s, a Cortina Ghia represented a significant step towards executive-car levels of comfort without moving away from the familiar Ford range.

The Cortina was particularly successful in Britain, where it became closely associated with the rapidly expanding company-car market. Higher-specification versions such as the 2.3 Ghia were especially desirable as managerial company cars, offering greater status and performance while remaining practical enough for everyday family use.

In 1979 Ford introduced a substantial revision of the Cortina, commonly known in Britain as the Mk V, although Ford officially regarded it as an updated version of the existing model. The revised car received larger glass areas, redesigned lights, updated bumpers and numerous detail improvements. Consequently, Cortinas registered during 1979 can belong to either the Mk IV or the later revised generation depending on their production and registration date.

Production of the Cortina continued until 1982, when it was replaced by the radically different front-engined, rear-wheel-drive Sierra. By that point the Cortina name had been a familiar sight on British roads for two decades.

Today, the 1979 Ford Cortina Ghia 2.3 is an appealing reminder of an era when the Cortina was at the heart of British motoring. The combination of Ghia specification, traditional rear-wheel drive and the smooth Cologne V6 makes the 2.3 one of the more distinctive and desirable versions of the later Cortina range.