1987 BMW 635 or 1971 1300GT Escort

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Discussion

crossy67

Original Poster:

1,570 posts

178 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
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I am having a bit of a moment.

I went to a friends to fit an alternator to his old JXJ6 today. I have known and seen his old D reg 635CSI a few times but never really paid much attention to it. Any way, today I had a bit of a mooch round it half expressing an interest in it. There are a few blisters on the front wings and a little rust on the lower back section of one rear wheel arch, other than that it is in amazing condition with spotless black leather and 110k miles. He then asks me to make him an offer. I laughed it off, my wife was with me and to my surprise she didn't raise an eyebrow when I said I would love the car (or one like it).

On the way home I got to talking about another car that has caught my eye recently. It's a 1971 Mk1 Escort 1300GT 4 door in racing green. This one has 27000km on it (if the ad is not a scam) and looks mint. There are quite a few photos of it all looking fantastic.

I am toying with the idea of buying one of the two. However, I want something useable that isn't going to cost a fortune to maintain and run and would also like it to be a bit of a safeish investment.

What do you people think of the two prospective purchases? The BMW really is special but I love old Fords, especially things like the GT Mk i Capri and Escorts (truth be told, Capri's more). I would expect both to be similar money although I refrained from "making an offer", he might let it go for a very good price if I asked nicely ;-)

Escort3500

11,825 posts

144 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
crossy67 said:
I am having a bit of a moment.

I went to a friends to fit an alternator to his old JXJ6 today. I have known and seen his old D reg 635CSI a few times but never really paid much attention to it. Any way, today I had a bit of a mooch round it half expressing an interest in it. There are a few blisters on the front wings and a little rust on the lower back section of one rear wheel arch, other than that it is in amazing condition with spotless black leather and 110k miles. He then asks me to make him an offer. I laughed it off, my wife was with me and to my surprise she didn't raise an eyebrow when I said I would love the car (or one like it).

On the way home I got to talking about another car that has caught my eye recently. It's a 1971 Mk1 Escort 1300GT 4 door in racing green. This one has 27000km on it (if the ad is not a scam) and looks mint. There are quite a few photos of it all looking fantastic.

I am toying with the idea of buying one of the two. However, I want something useable that isn't going to cost a fortune to maintain and run and would also like it to be a bit of a safeish investment.

What do you people think of the two prospective purchases? The BMW really is special but I love old Fords, especially things like the GT Mk i Capri and Escorts (truth be told, Capri's more). I would expect both to be similar money although I refrained from "making an offer", he might let it go for a very good price if I asked nicely ;-)
Driving the BMW would be more of an occasion and it would probably be a better long term investment than the Escort, but it would be more expensive to run and repair, whereas as Mk 1 Escort parts are generally pretty plentiful given the huge following they attract. 4-door Escorts are, however, less sought after than 2-door versions even in 1300GT form. Personally, I'd go for the BMW.

Yertis

18,015 posts

265 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
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By application of any form of logic the 635 is an infinitely better car. But this week everyone wants Escorts confused


9mm

3,128 posts

209 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
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I had one of those Escorts back in the day. A vile metallic green colour. It was gutless and rubbish. The GT bit was Ford having a laugh.

dbdb

4,311 posts

172 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
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I saw a 633csi yesterday. It was beautiful. I would much rather have the 635 than any Escort.

crossy67

Original Poster:

1,570 posts

178 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
Awww, don't say that. I could drive and buy the BMW in about 15 minutes, the Escort is 7 hours away.

What about future values though? I'm not expecting or really that bothered about performance, just a period classic from my youth. I am going to be blowing a years savings on it under the premise that if one day I decided to sell it I would get my money back and possibly make a bit. That's how I've sold it to the Mrs any way wink

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
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I love Mk1 Escorts & I'm not a BMW fan, I still can't help thinking the BMW would be a better 'toy' though.

rallycross

12,742 posts

236 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
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If you give me first refusal on the 635 csi I will give you £500 towards the price you are paying on the crappy old Escort ( don't do it a 1300 gt escort is an old heap not worth saving!)

IanMorewood

4,309 posts

247 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
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The BMW every time.

Zad

12,695 posts

235 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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I'm a Ford fan. I'd take the 635. They are probably as good an investment as each other, but the BMW will probably be more difficult and more expensive to maintain. If the Escort were a 2 door, and/or an RS in good original condition then the decision would go the other way. But not a 1300 4 door.

To me, the BMW 635 csi is as good as BMW ever got (excepting the M).

StuntmanMike

11,671 posts

150 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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9mm said:
I had one of those Escorts back in the day. A vile metallic green colour. It was gutless and rubbish. The GT bit was Ford having a laugh.
Same here but mine was blue.

V8 Fettler

7,019 posts

131 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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OP, decide if you want an Escort or a BMW, then start the search from there.

(The potential size of the Escort bottomless money-pit is smaller than the potential size of the BMW bottomless money-pit).

crossy67

Original Poster:

1,570 posts

178 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
This is the Escort in question. http://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/695042177.htm?ca=...

I owned a 1300 Mk2 2 door and was thoroughly underwhelmed, I have never gotten over my dislike for them from that point but the one in the link just speaks to me.

dartissimus

938 posts

173 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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It's all been said, sheep or goat ?

55palfers

5,892 posts

163 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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Get the BMW checked out and if all is well, buy it and budget for a light resto.

mickyveloce

1,035 posts

235 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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The 6-series BMWs can be lovely.

They were built by Karmann I believe, not in the factory as the 5-series was. The front wings are expensive to replace although the mechanicals are pretty straightforward.

. Watch for structural rust at the rear end and consider the cost of any interior trim that needs replacing.

. In the end, the 6 series was a proper GT car which was designed to blast up and down the Autoroute du Soleil. The escort was most certainly not.

steely dan

237 posts

192 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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The first thing to accept is that E24's are always rustier than you think . The front wings are only available from BMW , no pattern parts here , and are stupendously expensive . Used ones are always available and can be repaired if the damage is below the waist swage line , if they have started to split along the seamed joint on the bonnet side return they're scrap. The sills are very prone to rust due to inherent problems throughout production which inc. water ingress from the rear side window scraper seals and poor sunroof drainage. When you see rust on the lower leading edge of the rear arches it will warrant thorough investigation to establish if it has spread to the subframe mounts and along to the jacking points . My early E24 had 1" of rust showing in that area and I had to fit new inner outer sills ,jacking point ,central membrane ,attaching floor , subframe mounts ,inner /outer wheel arches . I've seen them with rust here but only requiring a small amount of new metal let in so hence why I suggest that you have to examine thoroughly. If it's only on the lower trailing edge of the wheel arch as you say then it's nothing to be concerned about.The body structure is strong and uncomplicated but is time consuming to repair properly. I've completely renewed the chassis mechanicals so everything is still available .
Some say the later cars are less prone to rust but that's a myth.
The E24 is a wonderful car , the Escort is nice but being a four door will always be disadvantaged and woefully underpowered.
Good luck whatever you choose.

Yertis

18,015 posts

265 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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crossy67 said:
This is the Escort in question. http://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/695042177.htm?ca=...

I owned a 1300 Mk2 2 door and was thoroughly underwhelmed, I have never gotten over my dislike for them from that point but the one in the link just speaks to me.
It's nice in a 'my mate's Dad had one of those in 1972' kinda way I guess. I don't think it's something anyone aspires to own.

Maybe that's the root of this hotly disputed 'what is a classic?' debate. Did people aspire to own it when it was new?

"I really want one of those one day" = classic.

"I suppose it gets me from A to B" = not a classic.

paulshears

804 posts

196 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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4 door Escorts (mk1/2) are climbing in value now

BMW is no doubt the better car though