RE: My First Car: Mk2 Ford Escort 1.3

[FredBear]

Hi

I have just taken over my daughters 1981 Escort MK2 as she had left it unused on my drive for 2 years. It went through the MOT so I just need to get it off the SORN and decide what to do with it regarding making it standard or carrying on with the 'RS look' she wanted. A completely different experience to driving a modern front wheel drive car, and there is something about it that makes just going for a drive a pleasure (rather than getting from A to B as quickly as possible), something I have not felt for a long while. Link to photos of my new baby are below, and I like the registration!







Regards
Fred
Sunny Southend, Essex

[dinkel]

This race RS1600 is Gp2 1974 specification. 2 litre dry sump Wilcox BDG on 48 dcoes 245 bhp. Correct 5 speed ZF direct top gearbox and Atlas axle on 4 trailing arms plus watts linkage. AP 'Monte Carlo' calipers on front with 304mm vented d...iscs, 250mm vented on rear and bias adjustable pedal box. 15" Minilite wheels (real), Avon slicks (8.7" front, 10.7" rear).

Car timed at Portimao 2009 at 224 kph on start straight and best lap was 2.08.9. Wasn't able to match that 2010 with head gasket on way out! (Was spraying water onto left rear tyre.....)

Thanks Mike Bell!

[LRdriver II]

Heres my Mk2 project.


Going with a 2 ltr duratec and gr4 rally spec elsewhere.

[rallycross]

here's how to drive one;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-DqfrWq2wk&fea...

[SlimRick]

superduke07 said:

does anyone no wat year the first mk2 was built i just had arguement with the old man an he sed 1979 i sed ur rong cos mine a 1978 one lol

And again in English?

[Gompo]

superduke07 said:

does anyone no wat year the first mk2 was built i just had arguement with the old man an he sed 1979 i sed ur rong cos mine a 1978 one lol

1975

[SlimRick]

Oh, and 1975

[superduke07]

sumone sed they were based on the hillman avenger is that true or not

[SlimRick]

superduke07 said:

sumone sed they were based on the hillman avenger is that true or not

Not.

[OldSkoolRS]

Thanks for bumping this thread as I hadn't seen it before. My first car was also a 1.3L Mk2 1975 P reg one bought back in 1983. I'm currently doing some work on my RS2000 to get an MOT on it so after nearly 30 years I'm still messing about with Mk2 Escorts.

[superduke07]

does anyone no a good insurance company or a number for one so i can get my old girl on the road

[superduke07]

just bought my first mk2 escort i always been a mk1 astra man

[OldSkoolRS]

superduke07 said:

just bought my first mk2 escort i always been a mk1 astra man

Sorry to hear of your illness, glad you got better.

[superduke07]

OldSkoolRS said:

Sorry to hear of your illness, glad you got better.

lol yeh i gettin there

[dinkel]

:cough: AJP8 in . . .

[YBTurbo]

Well everyone else is posting up pics,

Mk1 1300E with Mexico arches and suspension.



Mk2 1300Ghia

[urquattro]

First car for son was 1300E, purple with black roof, very nice, old chap who sold it to him with my money said "look after it, my special little car" 6 Weeks later no front end due to confrontation with a Trannie Van, luckily the other guy had no license so he was to blame. !!
After repairs etc, it went well for a year and went when an RS 2000 Mk1 turned up, did the usual works on rust etc and he has had it for 22 years now.
My best investment ever from £2k to £K? now on his car. !!
Still loved by every one who sees it, Olympic blue with decals and black recaros etc.
Very few bad words now re Escorts - simple and practical to maintain etc.

[GBB]

My second car was a MK2 1600 Ghia, I'd wanted a Sport but the Ghia had the same engine but was an insurance group lower, plus less rusty as German rather than British built.

I loved that car but learnt first hand that power, light weight and RWD aren't a great mix when I spun it on my first time out. My previous Chevette was far better handling but somewhat lacking in power compared to the Escort.

I do look at values now and wish I'd kept mine.