Not Another Orion!
Discussion
There I was browsing the world wide web, minding my own business, when an image appeared that I knew could cost me some money. I regularly browse Mathewsons website in the lead up to an auction, and there she was, the car that I covered my maths book with in 1985. Now most 11 year olds dream Ford in 1985 would have probably been an Mk2 XR2, maybe a Series 1 RS Turbo, or even a 2.8 Special Capri. No, not this 11 year, mine was a Orion 1.6i Ghia in Rosso Red.
Fast forward 39 years and here I am, staring at a 1985 Rosso Red 1.6i Ghia in all her glory! The estimate seemed very reasonable, so the following week a 210 mile round trip was carried out to have a look. It needs some more work than first thought by watching the video and pics on the website, but would be a nice little project over the coming months if I was lucky enough to be the winning bidder.
Anyway, the auction was last Thursday so I'd registered to bid by telephone. I'd never purchased a car at auction before, so it was a little scary aswell as being quite exciting! At the end of it I was the proud owner of another Orion. I say another Orion as I currently have a 1989 Mk2 1.6i Ghia in Tasman Blue. I will probably have to sell this at some point in the future, as I'm sure the jealousy of having 2 Orions will be too much for most people!
Here's a few pics from when I went to have a look at it. I'm due to collect it in the next week or so, so I will update the post when it's back home and I've got my list of jobs to carry out. It's currently sitting on some 7 spoke RS alloys, which will be replaced with the original 13" wheels which are in the boot.
Here's my current Orion, I'm sure they'd make a nice pair if I keep it!
Fast forward 39 years and here I am, staring at a 1985 Rosso Red 1.6i Ghia in all her glory! The estimate seemed very reasonable, so the following week a 210 mile round trip was carried out to have a look. It needs some more work than first thought by watching the video and pics on the website, but would be a nice little project over the coming months if I was lucky enough to be the winning bidder.
Anyway, the auction was last Thursday so I'd registered to bid by telephone. I'd never purchased a car at auction before, so it was a little scary aswell as being quite exciting! At the end of it I was the proud owner of another Orion. I say another Orion as I currently have a 1989 Mk2 1.6i Ghia in Tasman Blue. I will probably have to sell this at some point in the future, as I'm sure the jealousy of having 2 Orions will be too much for most people!
Here's a few pics from when I went to have a look at it. I'm due to collect it in the next week or so, so I will update the post when it's back home and I've got my list of jobs to carry out. It's currently sitting on some 7 spoke RS alloys, which will be replaced with the original 13" wheels which are in the boot.
Here's my current Orion, I'm sure they'd make a nice pair if I keep it!
Edited by Darren390 on Sunday 18th February 08:53
Edited by Darren390 on Sunday 18th February 09:25
Well I've arranged to collect the Orion on Saturday, probably on a trailer just to be safe. A previous owner has sent me a few pictures when he owned it, with the original wheel trims that will be going back on. My first purchase has been an October 1985 Ford brochure, the bonus was the relevant page had a Rosso Red one displayed. Hopefully it will look something like this in the not to distant future!
Well I collected the Orion from Mathewsons this morning. Wasn't brave enough to drive it so hired a trailer. Arrived to find it parked in front of the main building so took the opportunity to take a couple of pics. Had a chat with Dave, nice guy who was very complimentary about the Orion, which i told him I didnt appreciate while I was bidding on it!
Gave it a quick once over when home, there's a few things I'd missed when I had a look at it prior to the auction, but hopefully no nasty surprises as work commences. Looking forward to getting it how I want it.
Gave it a quick once over when home, there's a few things I'd missed when I had a look at it prior to the auction, but hopefully no nasty surprises as work commences. Looking forward to getting it how I want it.
stevemcs said:
It looks like a good base to start with, stick the original wheels on, give the inside a good clean and I presume sort the OSR out
Pretty much my plans! Not sure what the RS alloys are worth, whatever I get for them will go towards the work. The interior is in really good condition, but needs a real deep clean. I'll take the seats out as the drivers seat needs a small repair anyway.Hub said:
Nice, the early ones must be pretty rare now. Orions in general seem rarer than Escorts, even accounting for fewer being sold to start with - so you probably own a reasonable percentage of surviving examples!
Love the blue one, always liked those Ghia i's in that colour
Mk1s are super rare, you just dont see many coming up for sale. I always wanted a Rosso Red one, so it was now or never. I really don't want to sell the Mk2, but I'm currently separating from my wife so not sure my bachelor pad, whereever that may be, will have room for 4 cars!Love the blue one, always liked those Ghia i's in that colour
Edited by Darren390 on Saturday 24th February 19:25
Thanks for the replies guys, it's nice to know there is some interest in an old Dagenham dustbin!
I had a few hours going over it today, it's very solid in all the right areas, just lots of little bits of bodywork to do. I may have to get both sides painted, as it may be easier than trying to blend bits in.
The boot area is excellent, it even has the original build stickers still attached. The battery tray is also thankfully very good, this is a well known rot area.I cleaned up the interior, came up really well. I haven't tackled the seats yet, they will need some serious cleaning as they are quite soiled. Any recommendations for cleaning velour is much appreciated!
I got the original steel wheels out the boot. They will need a coat of silver paint before going on, but I think they will improve the look of the car.
Here's a few pics.
I had a few hours going over it today, it's very solid in all the right areas, just lots of little bits of bodywork to do. I may have to get both sides painted, as it may be easier than trying to blend bits in.
The boot area is excellent, it even has the original build stickers still attached. The battery tray is also thankfully very good, this is a well known rot area.I cleaned up the interior, came up really well. I haven't tackled the seats yet, they will need some serious cleaning as they are quite soiled. Any recommendations for cleaning velour is much appreciated!
I got the original steel wheels out the boot. They will need a coat of silver paint before going on, but I think they will improve the look of the car.
Here's a few pics.
I've had a bit of time to spend on the Orion, so seeing as it's not booked into the garage for a service and tune up for two weeks, and the bodyshop can't get it in for a few months, I thought I'd tidy up the interior.
The seats were really soiled so I removed them and they have had a few deep cleans and have come up fantastic. The drivers seat has been to a local upholsterer who has refoamed the drivers bolster and repaired the stiching which had perished. I've still got the rear seat to do, but the while the seats were out I had the carpet up and the floors are in fantastic condition.
I've removed the rear bumper and all is good behind it. Ive ordered some new red bumper trim and hopefully I have a contact who can repair the bumper.
Here's a few pics, it is actually a very nice place to be, the seats are fantasticly comfortable. It certainly feels more luxurious than my Mk2 Ghia.
The seats were really soiled so I removed them and they have had a few deep cleans and have come up fantastic. The drivers seat has been to a local upholsterer who has refoamed the drivers bolster and repaired the stiching which had perished. I've still got the rear seat to do, but the while the seats were out I had the carpet up and the floors are in fantastic condition.
I've removed the rear bumper and all is good behind it. Ive ordered some new red bumper trim and hopefully I have a contact who can repair the bumper.
Here's a few pics, it is actually a very nice place to be, the seats are fantasticly comfortable. It certainly feels more luxurious than my Mk2 Ghia.
I've had a bit of time on the Orion over the last few weeks, and I've managed to do the repair to the rear panel ready for the rear bumper to be fitted when it returns this week from being repaired. I recently purchased a DA polisher so gave the paintwork a machine polish and I really happy with how the paintwork came up. I'll give it a polish and wax soon which should finish it off.
It went to my local garage a few weeks ago for a service and tune up. Ive done a few miles in it now, it drives really well and seems to get lots of positive attention. There's a few bits of bodywork that still need doing, which I will probably do at the end of the year now. The original wheel trims are still waiting to be fitted, just not sure if to keep the RS alloys as a backup. My plan is to get some miles on it and enjoy it this summer.
I collected my Mk2 from storage a few weeks ago, they do make a nice pair together!
It went to my local garage a few weeks ago for a service and tune up. Ive done a few miles in it now, it drives really well and seems to get lots of positive attention. There's a few bits of bodywork that still need doing, which I will probably do at the end of the year now. The original wheel trims are still waiting to be fitted, just not sure if to keep the RS alloys as a backup. My plan is to get some miles on it and enjoy it this summer.
I collected my Mk2 from storage a few weeks ago, they do make a nice pair together!
daqinggregg said:
Just to reinforce this, the lines of the Mark I look so sharp and much crisper than the Mark II. Same applies to the Golf GTi, we all know objectively the Mark11 is a far better car, just the Mark I is much more appealing, or maybe it’s just me.
I agree, the Mk1 just looks better to me. I also prefer the interior and seats in the Mk1, it just feels a bit more upmarket (if an 80s Ford can feel upmarket!) than the Mk2. Well I got the rear bumper back on after its repair, just need to fit the red insert to it now.
Took it to its first car show today, around a 50 mile round trip so getting more confident in its reliability now. I was amazed to see another mk1 Injection there, was great to see it.
The colour is Jade Green apparently, must be super rare now.
Took it to its first car show today, around a 50 mile round trip so getting more confident in its reliability now. I was amazed to see another mk1 Injection there, was great to see it.
The colour is Jade Green apparently, must be super rare now.
Few more bits done to the Orion over the last few days. I got round to fitting the original wheels and trims, a lot of people have said keep the RS alloys, but I'm a stickler for original, so here they are!
I also fitted the new red insert to the recently repaired bumper. It's starting to look like I want it now, just a small repair to the front bumper and the small bits of bodywork to sort now.
I also fitted the new red insert to the recently repaired bumper. It's starting to look like I want it now, just a small repair to the front bumper and the small bits of bodywork to sort now.
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