Ultra-rare Ford dubbed ‘most important in history’ by Jeremy Clarkson up for sale for eye-watering price

A RARE Ford dubbed the "most important in history" by Jeremy Clarkson has gone up for sale at an eye-watering price.

The motor kickstarted the success of the UK's best-selling car of the 1970s and paved the road for the model as a cultural icon.

The MkI Cortina made its bow in 1962 but the version that put it "on the map" came a little later in the form of what former Top Gear host Clarkson called "the first-ever fast Ford."

Beginning production in 1963, the Ford Cortina Lotus was made in collaboration with the legendary sports car brand of the same name.

It featured a "revolutionary" four-cylinder, twin-cam engine which, according to the TV star, "sounds like a murder of mad bees" as it lays down its 105 horsepower.

Reviewing the car for an episode of The Grand Tour, he said: "This is Genesis, the first chapter in easily the most important book in British motoring history.

"Life doesn't get much better than this...This thing is a riot.

"The road cars would do 108mph and, in race trim, that would shoot up to 145mph.

"That was the stuff of spaceships back then."

Now, a pristine MkI Lotus Cortina has gone up for sale for a hefty price.

This particular Cortina has been used mostly for classic car race events and was maintained professionally by Alan Henderson Racing.

The engine has been fully rebuilt and the car has not travelled a single mile since.