ONE of the world's oldest Ford Cortinas can be spotted on Plymouth's roads, as the iconic car enters its 50th anniversary year.

City enthusiast Brian Ackland has spent four years restoring the car of his "boyhood dreams" from near-scrap.

His stunning Mark 1 was among the first to roll of the production line when the model was launched in September 1962.

Today, the ultra-rare two-door deluxe is the oldest known road-worthy Cortina of its kind in existence.

Britons bought a whopping 2.6 million Cortinas between 1962 and 1982.

But Brian said: "The early ones are very rare now. There are probably fewer than 1,000 left, and you hardly ever see them."

The 64-year-old's example, in classic Goodwood Green, rolled out of Ford's Dagenham plant in the first few days of production. It was given central London numberplates and taxed that December.

Brian bought it as an "abandoned project" four years ago and has been restoring it at his Plympton home ever since.

He said: "It's the earliest chassis number Mk1 two-door that is still running that anyone knows of. There are two earlier cars, but they're both four-door.

"It's taken a lot of work; three years just to get the grill. Now it's all original and, apart from the period wheels, 100 per cent as it left the factory."

Brian, who is no stranger to classic cars, takes in around 3,000 miles and 25 shows each year in the Cortina.

Hundreds of Mk1 fanatics will celebrate the 50th anniversary at a show in Straford-upon-Avon in August.

"The Mk1 GT is the car that brought rallying to people's televisions," Brian said. "As a boy, I always wanted one. I had a Ford Populous and a Ford Anglia, then I saw the Cortina GT and thought 'I have to have one of those'.

"It was the styling and the history, in particular the racing history. Owning part of that history was a little boy's dream."

Brian, then a 21-year-old apprentice carpenter, saved up religiously to buy one from Vospers Motorhouse in Millbay.

"But I got bored with its performance," he grinned. "I needed a bit more speed."

So the former hot-rodder fitted a 3000cc V6 Zodiac engine – and has gone on to own about 15 Cortinas over the years, even racing one with a 2000cc Pinto engine.

Brian co-founded custom car club The Cream County Cruisers in the 1970s, has won several awards at motor shows and once owned a garage in Stonehouse.

"It went from hobby, to passion, to business," he said. "At one point, really, it took over my life."

Brian's wife Rachel shares his passion, and their two-year-old daughter Hannah is poised to continue the tradition.

"She's into cars in a big way," he added. "I don't know where she gets it from."

FORD CORTINA: The Facts

TEN things you might not know about Ford Cortinas:

The Cortina took its name from the Italian ski resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo

Several were driven down a bobsled run at the resort, including by racing driver Jim Clark, as a publicity stunt

A Ford Cortina like Brian's would have cost around £625 if bought new upon its release in September 1962

The Cortina was Britain's best-selling car every year between 1972 and 1981

Nearly 2.6 million Cortinas were sold in Britain alone

The model built by Ford with Lotus was used as a getaway car in the 1963 Great Train Robbery

The exact car used by Bruce Reynolds, Ronnie Biggs and others in the famous heist is now owned by a collector in Exeter

The Lotus Cortina was also a star of 1960s motorsport, winning prestigious races and rallies

Cortina parts are in such demand that many are now being reproduced

The Cortina was replaced in 1982 by another famous Ford creation, the Sierra

Ten things you might not know about Ford Cortinas:

The Cortina took its name from the Italian ski resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo

Several were driven down a bobsled run at the resort, including by racing driver Jim Clark, as a publicity stunt

A Ford Cortina like Brian’s would have cost around £625 if bought new upon its release in September 1962

The Cortina was Britain’s best-selling car every year between 1972 and 1981

Nearly 2.6 million Cortinas were sold in Britain alone

The model built by Ford with Lotus was used as a getaway car in the 1963 Great Train Robbery

The exact car used by Bruce Reynolds, Ronnie Biggs and others in the famous heist is now owned by a collector in Exeter

The Lotus Cortina was also a star of 1960s motorsport, winning prestigious races and rallies

Cortina parts are in such demand that many are now being reproduced

The Cortina was replaced in 1982 by another famous Ford creation, the Sierra