Not Another Orion!
Discussion
A mate had a diesel one in the late 90's, with mega miles on, been round the clock 3 times I think. Everything was worn out, including the door locks and ignition barrel. Which meant any Ford key would open it, start it and lock it.
Several mates had Ford's which meant we would often move it, or just simply turn it around when he parked it out the back of his house, or when he was at work.
We did this for months and months, to the point where we'd take it from round the back of his house and park it out the front, move it to opposite car parks at his workplace and he never said a word about it.
I haven't spoke to him for over a decade and now I'm wondering if he ever found out, or perhaps even noticed.
Several mates had Ford's which meant we would often move it, or just simply turn it around when he parked it out the back of his house, or when he was at work.
We did this for months and months, to the point where we'd take it from round the back of his house and park it out the front, move it to opposite car parks at his workplace and he never said a word about it.
I haven't spoke to him for over a decade and now I'm wondering if he ever found out, or perhaps even noticed.
Looks great. 20 years ago my mate had a carb 1.6 orion A660SHK. The rear shocks had gone which made it scary round corners even though it never let go. Just felt like it could at any moment. The starter motor stuck regularly so he carried a short length of scaffold pole between the seats (try explaining that officer!). It was always the passengers job to open the bonnet and tap the starter with the pole. Worked every time. Happy memories. Good look with it. Hope the restoration goes well.
God, that’s takes me back, was quite a sought after car at the time.
Worked at a place, boss returned after forgetting something, drove his blue one, few weeks old I tot the warehouse which was open as a way to get in quicker to grab whatever it was.
Warehouse doors were open as the warehouseman had nipped out on the Fork Lift, he comes back into the warehouse rushing in two plus tons of Fork Lift, tyres wet as it was raining and gracefully slides into the bosses Orion Ghia nearly skewering it at the back, I was grabbing my bike from the warehouse to ride home.
The blades pushed the back in and went through into the boot, it pushed the front into some cases, boss went apoplectic, warehouseman had been told about his FLT driving before, he got sacked, Orion was repaired but think was borderline for being written off, boss used the Pug 305 van until it was fixed, didn’t look happy about it.
Worked at a place, boss returned after forgetting something, drove his blue one, few weeks old I tot the warehouse which was open as a way to get in quicker to grab whatever it was.
Warehouse doors were open as the warehouseman had nipped out on the Fork Lift, he comes back into the warehouse rushing in two plus tons of Fork Lift, tyres wet as it was raining and gracefully slides into the bosses Orion Ghia nearly skewering it at the back, I was grabbing my bike from the warehouse to ride home.
The blades pushed the back in and went through into the boot, it pushed the front into some cases, boss went apoplectic, warehouseman had been told about his FLT driving before, he got sacked, Orion was repaired but think was borderline for being written off, boss used the Pug 305 van until it was fixed, didn’t look happy about it.
Today's ordinary cars are tomorrow's classics.
Always great to see ordinary cars cherished and original as possible, right down to overlooked things like main dealer stickers on the rear window and original main dealer numberplates.
On that topic, pre-51 reg standards meant marques had at least one particular chosen font/typeface on the numberplates as the one on these Orions was also used on VAG numberplates.
Always great to see ordinary cars cherished and original as possible, right down to overlooked things like main dealer stickers on the rear window and original main dealer numberplates.
On that topic, pre-51 reg standards meant marques had at least one particular chosen font/typeface on the numberplates as the one on these Orions was also used on VAG numberplates.
I'm no expert, but I would imagine these must be rare now, the pre-facelift ones were unusual at the time, let alone now. My mate had a gold one, and I always remember it had the little stick in it to direct the sound between the speakers.
Lovely to see one again! Find this stuff far more interesting than Singers and hyper-cars, which all bore me to tears now.
Lovely to see one again! Find this stuff far more interesting than Singers and hyper-cars, which all bore me to tears now.
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.
Fantastic car, Darren. Happy motoring in it.
I'm trying to decipher some of the symbols on the instrument cluster.
On the bottom row, is that a brake pad warning light? Next to what is likely washer fluid
Then the two to the left of the fuel warning light.
I'm assuming one is battery fluid.
The other, in the middle...not a clue.
I'm trying to decipher some of the symbols on the instrument cluster.
On the bottom row, is that a brake pad warning light? Next to what is likely washer fluid
Then the two to the left of the fuel warning light.
I'm assuming one is battery fluid.
The other, in the middle...not a clue.
Darren390 said:
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.
They'll definitely look original, although I prefer the "pepperpot" alloys that were an option I think. Anyway you should be able to get a few quid for those RS wheels!
That's tidy.
I owned a silver ghia i from around 1986 0r 7 to around 2003. A778BJR I think. Sold it with about 165K miles. Was a lovely car in it's day only prob we ever had was wheel wobble. And rust in the boot floor when I sold it.
There's a blue one near me wins car shows.
ps, just had a look, looks like mine died, no MoT history.
Edit;
the one local to me, has about 48K miles IIRC
I owned a silver ghia i from around 1986 0r 7 to around 2003. A778BJR I think. Sold it with about 165K miles. Was a lovely car in it's day only prob we ever had was wheel wobble. And rust in the boot floor when I sold it.
There's a blue one near me wins car shows.
ps, just had a look, looks like mine died, no MoT history.
Edit;
the one local to me, has about 48K miles IIRC
Edited by Skyedriver on Sunday 25th February 23:51
A 1.6L Orion was easily the fastest car I ever drove. Probably because I had one from 17 to 19.
There was a route down the lanes to rugby training that I had absolutely nailed in my mind as a special rally stage. It included two jumps over humpback bridges and a wonderful uphill section through some woods. It was all about carrying speed, and working the carbs. 87 bhp of bliss!
There was a route down the lanes to rugby training that I had absolutely nailed in my mind as a special rally stage. It included two jumps over humpback bridges and a wonderful uphill section through some woods. It was all about carrying speed, and working the carbs. 87 bhp of bliss!
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!
Darren390 said:
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!
That's just greedy! But they do look great 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!
Those original wheel trims look horrible. I'd either keep the RS alloys on it or look for a set of original alloys like the blue one has and sell the RS ones.
We old duffers always moan about newer cars and how designers have lost their way, bla bla!
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.
87 I got Ghia 1.6i as a company car, promptly bugged off for month long European road trip, adding over 5000 miles, boss not best pleased.
Both your examples look great Darren; I’m sure you will have a lot of fun with them.
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.
87 I got Ghia 1.6i as a company car, promptly bugged off for month long European road trip, adding over 5000 miles, boss not best pleased.
Both your examples look great Darren; I’m sure you will have a lot of fun with them.
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