14-07-2025
Rare homologation specials to rev up 43rd Cars in the Park
The easiest way to understand the term 'Homologation Special' is to realise that these cars were built by manufacturers with racing or rallying as a primary consideration.
To race one of these special models, a manufacturer had to build a certain number of similar cars for sale to the public, so that they could be homologated by the controlling bodies of motorsport.
The reasoning was that, without such requirements, there would be nothing to stop a manufacturer from building a one-off special and then advertising its success as representative of the standard, road-going model. So homologation specials were normally built for general sale — but in very limited numbers — making them more desirable and collectable than their standard counterparts.
One of the first homologation specials was the Mk 1 Ford Lotus Cortina, built in England from 1963 to 1966. Inspired by Lotus chief Colin Chapman, it used a near-standard Cortina body fitted with a twin-cam Lotus version of the Ford 1,500cc engine. Special widened wheels, lowered suspension, lightweight doors and bonnet, trademark green side flashes, and a black-finished radiator grille completed the package.
The Lotus Cortina was never officially available in South Africa, but two of these highly desirable cars were brought in by Ford South Africa to race in the National Saloon Car Championship. The Lotus Cortinas you'll see at Zwartkops on August 3 were mostly sold in what is today Zimbabwe and later brought across the border in the 1970s and 1980s.
