When launched in 1962, the Ford Cortina was an entirely new type of British car. Compared with its rivals - and with earlier Fords - it was light yet strong, inexpensive yet roomy, mechanically simple and cheap to maintain. It quickly established a totally new class of car, which even its rivals admitted should be called the 'Cortina class'. Not only did it sell well, but it was very profitable for Ford, which expanded considerably, and it became the most successful British car of the 1960s and 1970s. About the authorGraham Robson has been a motoring writer for many years and has always been attracted to the study of motoring history. A Cortina owner from the early days, he also rallied the cars and later became immersed in their motorsport heritage. He has written more than a hundred books, including several definitive histories of Ford models and Ford in motorsport. Other titles for Shire by this author are: The Lotus (currently out of print)Triumph Sports Cars