Stolen ford cosworth stories...
Discussion
Just popped up on ebay, photo no 4, wheres the numbers gone?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221377248494?ru=http%3A%...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221377248494?ru=http%3A%...
k-ink said:
Loosely related, in that it was an old 80s Ford with crap security... My first ever car for a few months was a Fiesta. I managed to lock my car keys inside it like a muppet. My girlfriend had a crazy idea. She waved down the next passing Fiesta and asked to borrow their keys for a second. To my amazement she opened MY car using THEIR keys! How mental is that! My girlfriend was laughing and everyone else was open mouthed 
Worst security ever!!
Same thing happened to my nan years a go with her white fiat tipo. She had been around town and went back to the car, sat in it, and thought Jesus these seats are low (she's was a bout 4ft) then realised she had got I to the wrong car! It was somebody else's white tipo haha Worst security ever!!The problem with ford was that the lock plates were wearing groves into the alloy housings. I took one apart on my escort and swapped the innards to a passenger lock.
Remember, this back when you used the key every time. No key fobs.
So even though there were plenty of key profiles, the locks themselves just plain wore out.
Remember, this back when you used the key every time. No key fobs.
So even though there were plenty of key profiles, the locks themselves just plain wore out.
Hol said:
The problem with ford was that the lock plates were wearing groves into the alloy housings. I took one apart on my escort and swapped the innards to a passenger lock.
Remember, this back when you used the key every time. No key fobs.
So even though there were plenty of key profiles, the locks themselves just plain wore out.
My first Escort had had the passenger lock rebuilt by the previous owner. EVERY Ford key we tried in it worked (unfortunately no-one nicked it Remember, this back when you used the key every time. No key fobs.
So even though there were plenty of key profiles, the locks themselves just plain wore out.
)Sir Bagalot said:
Wasn't there a competition run by an alarm company and magazine where they had developed a new alarm system. They claimed a car fitted with it would be un-nickable.
They fitted it to a Sapphire Cosworth and said that anyone who could break into it and drive it away would legally be allowed to keep the car. There was a time limit of something like 15 mins(?)
A queue was formed.... the first one to attempt it won the car.....
and the second one followed him home and nicked itThey fitted it to a Sapphire Cosworth and said that anyone who could break into it and drive it away would legally be allowed to keep the car. There was a time limit of something like 15 mins(?)
A queue was formed.... the first one to attempt it won the car.....
Dog Star said:
dudleybloke said:
i could unlock the door on my dads early 80's transit using my thumbnail.
We've gone from twigs to thumbnails! Is this some kind of crap Ford locks one-upmanship (downmanship?)? 
carmadgaz said:
Hol said:
The problem with ford was that the lock plates were wearing groves into the alloy housings. I took one apart on my escort and swapped the innards to a passenger lock.
Remember, this back when you used the key every time. No key fobs.
So even though there were plenty of key profiles, the locks themselves just plain wore out.
My first Escort had had the passenger lock rebuilt by the previous owner. EVERY Ford key we tried in it worked (unfortunately no-one nicked it Remember, this back when you used the key every time. No key fobs.
So even though there were plenty of key profiles, the locks themselves just plain wore out.
)Before i changed mine, I could open the drivers door with an icelolly stick.
Afterwards, the aforementioned wooden key, would not work. Neither would my house key, as the tolerances of the lock were restored.
I guess, you needed to take one apart and see it, to understand why any key would open them.
Edited by Hol on Tuesday 25th February 13:30
TonyHetherington said:
pti said:
JDMDrifter said:
Didn't Mr Clarkson have a cosworth at one point? Allegedly he was quoted £26k to insure it.
Have no idea if there's any truth in this though
Escort IIRC.Have no idea if there's any truth in this though
Dog Star said:
dudleybloke said:
i could unlock the door on my dads early 80's transit using my thumbnail.
We've gone from twigs to thumbnails! Is this some kind of crap Ford locks one-upmanship (downmanship?)? s m said:
Spoonman said:
Had several close calls with my Sapphire, despite a couple of alarms and a snap-off steering wheel. In the end, I stopped using it as my everyday car - not because of the thieves, but because the succession of lousy immobilisers (and worse installers) turned the wiring loom into a mass of dodgy connector blocks.
Here's a couple of photos of one attempted theft, which was directly outside our offices. The car park was 'patrolled' by a daft old sod of a security guard who complained, "That's a loud alarm, isn't it."
Enjoyed reading the "REVS" features with that oneHere's a couple of photos of one attempted theft, which was directly outside our offices. The car park was 'patrolled' by a daft old sod of a security guard who complained, "That's a loud alarm, isn't it."
To be honest, with getting on for 40,000 cars built with easy to overccme security, there were bound to be a few hundred stories over the last 25 years!
Edited by StoatInACoat on Tuesday 25th February 14:11
StoatInACoat said:
s m said:
Spoonman said:
To be honest, with getting on for 40,000 cars built with easy to overccme security, there were bound to be a few hundred stories over the last 25 years!
Edited by StoatInACoat on Tuesday 25th February 14:11
To be fair, I reckon half the Cossies on the roads back then suffered almost as badly in the hands of their owners as they did when joy-ridden by thieving scum. The car in those pics was certainly no exception. Poor thing.
Phil Dicky said:
andymc said:
Actually for numbers produced, the Fiesta RS turbo was the most stolen car at the time, I had two
I had two of these a black one that was stolen the first night I got it !!!!Second one in grey had various alarms including a Laserline System and also a reverse gear lock (cant remember its name). This locked the car in reverse via a lock on the gearbox tunnel. Once locked in reverse the car was immobilized as well. Kept it for 4 years and was never touched.
On a side note, paid 4.5k for the grey one at 18 months old with 9k on the clock had cost him 12k new. Guy selling it had loads of offers but no-one could insure it. I kept it for 4 years and 30k miles and sold it for just over 5k..
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