'Project Archbishop' was Ford UK's attempt to build a "C" class car that would be cheaper and simpler to produce than the over-engineered Ford Consul Classic. Ford Britain launched Project 'Archbishop' as the Ford Consul Cortina in 1962, dropping the 'Consul' brand in 1964. The sporting 1500cc Cortina GT was announced in Spring 1963, and developed into a 105bhp twin cam 1558cc unit for the Lotus Cortina in 1963. The Cortina was revised for October 1964. Launched in 1966 the MkII Cortina was altogether a bigger car than the outgoing Cortina MkI, or so it appeared. Body was designed by Roy Haynes before he was head-hunted to BMC. In 1967 the new 1600E was launched combining the tuned engine of the GT with the sports suspension of the Twin Cam and added wood trim and luxury fittings. The 'coke bottle' Cortina MkIII replaced the MkII in 1970.