AN EXPLANATION

WE have been taken to task for remarking that (a) the Hillman GT has acceleration better than that of the Ford Cortina GT but inferior to that of the Ford 1600E, and (b) that the Ford Capri 1600GT has to get beyond 80 m.p.h. before out-accelerating the well-liked Ford 1600E. Correspondents have queried our figures and remarked that the Ford Cortina GT and 1600E have the same engine and therefore virtually identical performance (in fact, Ford quote a 0-60 m.p.h. time o.6 sec. better for the Cortina GT than for the heavier 1600E). What we intended was comparing the earlier Ford Cortina GT with the present cars. Using figures from the same source we get : 1965 78 b.h.p. Ford Cortina GT, o-6o m.p.h. in 13.9 sec.; 1970 88 b.h.p. Ford 000E, 0.-6o in 13.1 sec.; 88 b.h.p. Hillman GT, 0-60 in 13.9 sec. Thus we are vindicated, but we should have said that the Hillman closely resembles the 1600E, not the old Cortina GT, and beats the old Cortina GT, but not the current Cortina GT, which does 0-60 m.p.h. in 12.5 sec.

So far as the Ford Capri 1600GT is concerned, although it has larger valves, hotter timing and other differences from the other versions of Ford 1600E, it develops the same b.h.p. and takes 24.1 sec. from 0-80 m.p.h., compared to 23.6 sec. of the Cortina 1600E. So, again we are vindicated. While on this subject, a misprint in our road test report last December did the V6 Ford Capri 3000GT an injustice in giving its acceleration time from 0 to 60 m.p.h. as 25.2 seconds. The correct figure is 10.2 seconds and, indeed, the car, notable for its impressive pick-up, gets from rest to 90 m.p.h. in less than the time we inadvertently quoted for 0-6o m.p.h.—W. B.