Barry Priestman is the registrar for the Crayford Convertible Car Club, and he recently received a call out of the blue from an owner asking for advice on selling a rare car by Crayford Auto Developments.
The caller explained that he had owned WGW 4G, a Ford Cortina Mk2 Crayford drop-top, for around 45 years, and that it had been four years old when he bought it. The following day he sent Barry some photographs, which revealed that it was no ordinary Mk2 Cortina conversion but the much rarer Cabriolet. “This model had a longer rear deck and a smaller hood,” says Barry. “Because of this, the hood drops inside the car and can be pulled up in seconds from sitting in the driverʼs seat.”
The ownerʼs name was Witek Lakomy, a retired school teacher living in London, who in his retirement had built up a model-shop business. He had stopped using the Crayford Cortina some 20 years earlier. “Many years ago, in my youth, I rode motorcycles and liked convertibles,” says Witek. “My first soft-top was a Hillman Minx factory convertible, and the Cortina was my pride and joy. Then 21 years ago I told my son the Cortina was his: he was 18 and had just passed his test, so I was a little taken aback when he declined.
I thought he might change his mind, but he has not. No one in the family wants it and I am too old, so it has to go. I will use the vacated space for a model railway.”
Since the Crayford club was formed it has only had 13 Cortina Cabriolets on the register, and this one had never crossed Barryʼs radar. If you are interested, email wlakomy@yahoo.co.uk
ROTTING POCKET-SIZED ROADSTER RESCUED
Germany built a number of frugal microcars after WW2, among them the Kleinschnittger. This miniature two-seater roadster, with 125cc single-cylinder power, was also built under licence in The Netherlands by Alco, a manufacturer of wheel
