Ford Cortina XR6 Interceptor: SentiMETAL Episode 12

The owner preferred to conduct this interview in his mother tongue, Afrikaans.

“Buckle in for the drive of your life.” That was the heading of the print advertisement at the time for the Ford Cortina XR6 – but, there was more to come from the local arm of Ford in South Africa.

Bertus Ferreira has been involved with cars all his life and his love for cars, especially Fords, is visible when he took us for a tour through his personal car collection and his workshop. One can sense that the Interceptor is one of his personal favourites, and he also owns the Cortina 3.0 S of the same era.

The Mark V Ford Cortina model range was introduced in South Africa in 1980. Although the range included engine sizes spanning from 1,3-litre, 1,6- and 2,0-litres, it was the XR6 with its 3,0-litre engine that sat at the top of the range and which became a local icon on its own. However, come 1981 and Ford introduced the XR6 Interceptor. This car was developed and released as a homologation special to allow Ford to compete in the local production car race series called Group One. The XR6, although not the Interceptor, was also known for being used as police cars while the big Ford sedan also become notorious when policeman André Stander started robbing banks during his lunch hour!

Bertus bough the car in 2014 in Vierfontein, a 120 km drive from his hometown of Riebeeckstad in the Free State. It was advertised on Facebook, but it was the same car Bertus tried to purchase before when the owner passed away and he wanted to buy it from the late owner’s wife. However, at the time she was not ready to part with the car.

Driving to Vierfontein and after attending to a problem or two, they finally started the journey home. Over time Bertus has fixed and improved a number of things on the car. These included fitting new tyres, windscreen, exhaust system and alternator, while the rims were refurbished. Inside, the upholstery was redone in the correct material, Bertus having sourced seats from another car.

Bertus calls the Ferreira's love for Ford and old cars a "family sport", because his 3 daughters and sons-in-law as well as the grandchildren are all somehow interested or involved with the cars.

Visually the XR6 Interceptor can be easily identified, owing to the notable matte black highlights and more importantly, the number of each individual car on the C-pillar, in this case number 201. Interestingly, this number should correspond with the number on the car’s chassis plate. There is also a small winglet on the bootlid and “XR6 Interceptor” script behind the rear wheelarches and above the rear headlights. Inside, the cabin also features sport seats that offer improved side support. Buyers also had no choice in terms of colour, as all the cars featured the Wild Coral Red, immediately visible from a distance or in your rear-view mirror.

But, it is under the body where the important improvements were made. Interceptors featured triple-downdraft 42 Weber carburettors, an aggressive camshaft, a different exhaust manifold and suspension updates. Assisting with a better foot print, wider Ronal 13-inch wheels were also fitted. This is the only part of this specific car which is not completely standard. Somewhere along the car’s life an owner decided to paint the inside of the wheels black – it should only be in the pure aluminium-grey finish. However, it does suit the car though and Bertus decided to leave it that way.

In terms of performance the 3,0-litre V6 engine developed 118 kW at 5 800 r/min. This was an increase of around 15% over the standard “Essex” V6 engine. These mechanical changes also resulted in a more fruity, deeper exhaust note.

The suspension on offer was independent coils and anti-roll bar at the front and a five-link system with anti-roll bar at the rear. Although some sources suggest that only 200 were made, that is incorrect. As the number on this car suggests, the true figure is more likely 250.

Interestingly, the last Ford Cortina was sold in South Africa in 1984. At the time it is was often one of South Africa’s best selling cars, which further contributes to the sales success of the homologation special.

0:00 Intro
1:35 Ford Cortina XR6 Interceptor Engine Sound
3:14 A Unique Ford
3:40 Purchase Availability
4:00 Working On & Improving The Car
4:23 Car Maintenance
6:02 Owning A Ford Cortina XR6 Interceptor
6:32 Passion For Old Cars
7:05 Conclusion
7:38 Outro

Specification

Car: Ford Cortina XR6 Interceptor (1981-1982)
Engine: 2 994cc, V6
Power: 118 kW @ 5 800 rpm
Gearbox: 4-speed manual
Weight: ±1 200 kg
Top speed: 196 km/h
0-100km/h: 8,6 or 8,8 sec (sources differ)

Directed By: Justin Pinto
Story and Research: Hannes Oosthuizen
2nd camera and Gimbal Operator: Warrick Le Sueur
Online: Sanchez Labs

[bosse]

Back when cars were truly driver's cars. Miss those times.

[miles.a.]

Nostalgia is a beautiful for the good memories.

[wiedietie]

I am a Dutch man, I can understand what he is talking about 😂
Greetings from Holland 💖

[ChristiaanKarsten]

This video is absolutely stunning, not only is the production quality next level, but the video I feel really captures the essence of these classic cars as best possible, so that the younger generation of car enthusiasts, like myself, can imagine what it would have been like in the old days

[ernstlombard]

So veel beter dat dit in Afrikaans gedoen is. Dankie!

[Vnster]

Ah, such memories. I can't remember the last time I saw one of these on the road. Definitely the end of a generation in terms of styling - back in the day, the subsequent Sierra and Sapphire were positively futuristic by comparison, but haven't aged nearly as well.

[davejones]

As the man said, there were only 250 of this particular model made, in order for it to be able to compete on the racetrack. During my time in South Africa, I had the privilege of working on no 250 at the Garage where I worked. I also believe Ford SA had a Sierra XR8 with a tuned V8 engine.

[anzionolan]

The way my father made the interceptor sound made me watch this to see what's so amazing about it and I must say I love it.

[aowen]

First cars I ever drove was all Fords and all before I was 16 without a license in the early to mid 90's. Its some of the best memories I have as a child when someone hand you the keys to literally pop to the shops for a bread and milk. These cars all belonged to one guy except for the Mk2 Escort 1.3 L which belonged to my brother in law which was also the first car I ever drove at the age of 12. The other cars were Mk3 Cortina bakkie V6, Sapphire 3.0 Ghia, and the big daddy which I enjoyed so much and hand on heart so glad I got to experience it, was the Sierra XR8. Ive never owned one personally because VW got in the way of that, but I will always respect the old Fords because they gave me so much joy and the sound of them was amazing.

[mariusvanniekerk]

Remember back in 1985 the teacher that gave me the biggest hiding drove a red one like this.
Old cars, and punishment in schools. Two of best thing of the years gone by.

[T.Ozantsi]

Beautiful video. Beautiful car. These guys in the FS are doing wonders maintaining these classics.

[howardkerr]

As a fan of Fords, especially Fords built outside the U.S. this is an interesting video. I would say each generation of the Cortina has it's own appeal, though my personal favorites are the 2nd and 4th.
I didn't learn to drive in a Ford, my family's "other" car was a Plymouth, but my family, and most of my aunts and uncles, owned Fords many of which I got to drive.
In nearly 50 years of driving, probably a third of the more than 2 dozen vehicles that I have owned were/are Fords.
My personal car now is also a Ford Interceptor...a 2009 Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. The engine displaces 4.6 liters, develops 235 horsepower (which is easily eclipsed by newer cars with 4 cylinder engines), and has 235/55x17 inch tires. The upholstery is nothing special, a sort of tan cloth and vinyl for the front seats and full vinyl for the rear....just like it's taxicab "brothers". Unlike this car, my Interceptor was produced by the tens of thousands over the models lifetime.
But if nothing else, like most Fords, it is tough as nails.

[elizabethcherry]

I envy you guys and the Australians, we in the US don't get cars like this, lovely car and the sound that big 6 makes 😎

[BLOWNCYLINDER]

Just got to love the sound of the ''Essex'' V6

[frankrault]

Ja, het was in Zuid Afrika en Australië dat die echt mooie Cortina's verkocht werden, niet bij ons in Europa niet!
Ik ken de sentimentele band met de Cortina, met de Mk1 en de Mk2, en ook met deze versie. Die heet op die Europeese vasteland Taunus. Maar hij praat nooit terug nie, en deze wel! Gefeliciteerd en baie veel plezier met deze fantastische voertuig!

[Mshula_Day]

My dad's friend Boeta Nash from Gelvandale had a brown metallic one. Used to visit my dad in New Brighton driving that beast. The sound will let us know when my dad is coming back...beautiful car!!

[garethcollocott]

OMW...This brings back memories. We had one but made the mistake of selling a few years ago, number 112 was ours, all came with "birth certificates" and everything. Damn well wish we had held on. The car I worked on every weekend with my dad and learnt to drive in! Hang onto that when we sold there only 11 still on the road apparently.

[WorksOnMyComputer]

I owned a TF Cortina in Australia for many years and while it was a flawed car in some ways looking back, I absolutely loved it. Fun to watch and see so many familiar things in this car and so many different things too. The Aussie Cortinas had some Ford Falcon trim parts in them, an Aussie straight six from the Falcon as an option and unique bumper bars, so it seems every market had its own unique adaption of this car. Still think they look great and this interceptor sounded absolutely fantastic.

[howardlake]

I have an Alfa Romeo from South Africa, and it is very different to European specification, but this car really astonishes me. I am sure I saw a 5 speed gear knob. All 4 speed in Europe, and there was a 2.3 V6 here, but South Africa had the top Cortina.

[ricardojansen]

The Interceptor was a car to be reckoned with in 1980/81...