Franny's World Cup Ford could net £50K

CITY LEGEND'S CORTINA IS RARE SURVIVOR OF MEXICO '70 CAR DEAL

- ADAM MAIDMENT

A RARE car once owned by a Manchester football legend that sat in a garage in Salford for years could fetch over £50,000 at auction today.

Ford loaned 30 custom-designed Cortina 1600E vehicles to the England squad as they prepared for the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.

The heroes of 1966, such as Gordon Banks, Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst, were given use of the cars for a year before being given the option to buy them for a reduced price.

The white vehicles all featured 'Chosen for England' on their bodywork, alongside the England World Cup emblem and crossed flags of Mexico and the Union Jack.

It's thought that no more than four exist today, in various states of repair, but one in Greater Manchester remains in a good working condition and can still be taken out on the road today.

It was once owned by Manchester City legend Francis Lee, who bought the vehicle after the loan period ended and gave it to his wife, registering it under his James & Lee Waste Ltd. company.

In 1982, Ken Gratrix, who is related to former Blackpool and Manchester City player Roy Gratrix, bought the Cortina.

His grandson, Joseph, said: "He spent a lot of time restoring it to a drivable condition once again.