Overweight truckers stopped by tech checks

The Cortina was produced in five generations (Mark I through to Mark V though officially the last one was called the Cortina 80) from 1962 until 1982. From 1970 onward, it was almost identical to the German-market Ford Taunus (being built on the same platform) which was originally a different car model. This was part of a Ford attempt to unify its European operations. By 1976, when the revised Taunus was launched, the Cortina was identical. In fact, this new Taunus-Cortina used the doors and some panels from the 1970 Taunus.

in dealing with the "Taunus" name. The English version loses stuff

Unlike many of its rivals, the Sierra retained rear wheel drive, albeit with a modern, fully independent rear suspension, departing from the Cortina's live axle.

The RWD layout end the Sierra because it was competing against many FWD cars that offered more interior space and greater operating efficiency. In most markets, the only RWD "compebreastion" was entry-level BMW and Mercedes. i.e. tarted-up Sierras vs stripper BMW-Merc. -- "Bernd Felsche - Innovative Reckoning, Perth, Western Australia ASCII ribbon campaign "Laws do not persuade just because X against HTML mail they threaten." and postings Lucius Annaeus Seneca, c. 4BC - 65AD.