If it's a late Mk1 Cortina (1965 or 66), then the differences between a GT and the Lotus are not so big Alex. It's really down to the battery moving to the boot, the positioning of the servo and horns under the bonnet, and of course the instruments / handbrake and a few bits and bobs. It really depends on how close he wants the GT to look like a Lotus.
Ask any questions of course.
The M100 is a superb car, and Carol had one for a few years in the late 90s which we both enjoyed very much. I still only hear good things about them, and the front wheel drive is just incredible...you would never know it wasn't rear wheel drive. If you want fast, reliable hood-down Lotus driving, then you can't go far wrong with a good, low miles and cared for car. There are a lot of cars in the ?3k - ?5k bracket around, but they seem to all need a fair bit of work
This one looks like stunning value...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LOTUS-ELAN-1 ... Sw2xRYhhG9The BDA Elan should only really be of interest if you want a project. It's a long way from being a restoration, as the body, paintwork, interior, chrome, engine, gearbox and diff are all restored and to very good standard. But the rest needs doing, mechanically to be reliable and safe, and cosmetically to bring it all up to showroom condition. Essentially for a top job, it's the refurbishment of the rolling chassis and it's bits.
I think that maybe you should enjoy an M100 for the summer! There's no point in taking on something that is just going to be work, even if the challenge sounds appealing.
I decided a couple of year ago that I wouldn't take on any more projects, but concentrate on a couple of the cars I have that have been tucked away for too long. But last November a car turned up in Zimbabwe that was just too appealing, and I couldn't resist. I'm sure you know about the Cortina 1600E that Ford made in 1967 - 1970, with around 60,000 being produced. Of those, 2700 were two door cars, left hand drive only and only for export. Except, there were 'a small handful' of right hand drive 2 door cars made, probably 7 or 8, for execs and a couple of their mates. Only 1 was known to survive, until November when the second one tuned up in Zimbabwe. I just had to have it, but it took 5 months and a lot of bribes / sleepless nights to get the paperwork together, liberate the car and get it transported to Johannesburg, from where it was easy to ship back to the UK.
I do love a car with a story, and although the story for this car is unknown currently, finding out how and why it got to Rhodesia when it was new is part of the restoration mission.
So my plans for an easy potter around with the cars are out on hold for 12 - 18 months now!! But I'm having a ball. The car has caused quite a stir in Cortina world, and I have described it as being like the ugly baby that only a mother would love. But underneath the surface rust and dust is a very solid car, and I'm having a ball!