I want a classic fast Ford

Author
Discussion

sim16v

2,177 posts

203 months

Saturday 3rd September 2016
quotequote all
You are wrong wink

Anything over 20 years old will definitely get classic insurance and you can quite often get it on cars over 10 years old.

Bernd Tost

915 posts

144 months

Saturday 3rd September 2016
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The "classic" car world has, frankly, gone mad and there are few better examples than the prices demanded for "classic" Fords. nuts

My parents Mk2 Escort (SMS 413T) was a banger after 4 years, I very much doubt it saw life into double figures yet if by some miracle this high maintenance shed had lived until today it would be worth the equivalent of a new reasonably priced car yet the equivalent Chevette could be had for the equivalent of a good holiday. My own Mk2 (CRM 780T), a 1.3 Ghia with tasteful black vinyl roof and bright red interior miraculously survived until it met a bus in 1990 upon which the true extent of the tin worm became evident: the front half had more rust than a leg of Llandudno pier but the rear relatively clear. Hmmm...

Should they be worth a bit more money just because of their age? Maybe, but not the crazy sums quoted now.

I love Fords and not just the headline makers e.g the RS2000 and the Cosworths. My Sierra 1.8GLX was one of my favourite cars but even the prices of those repmobiles are creeping up rapidly (rabidly?). And don't get me started on Crapi prices! Mk1 & 2 Granadas would probably be reasonable money were they not still being hunted to extinction by the banger fraternity, hardly the last word in point to point excitement but cruise instead in a 2.8 between petrol stations. Doubt many Mk1's would fall into £5k territory but a Mk2 should.

One thing above all that makes "classic" car prices look silly is the value of one of the best all rounders (and my current, long standing wheels) the Puma. Not the tarts boudoir Racing variant, the basic 1.7. Take a Stanley to the back of your old sofa and you should find enough change to pick one up! They offer so much yet values remain rock bottom and show no signs of changing. I know it's not what the OP is after but they make the stratospheric values of Professionals era motoring look silly.

That all said I really want one of these:




Not fast but easily the coolest car a member of my family has ever bought! Cool wheels, tartan cloth, electric aerial, air horns, bright red as per the pic above (GDS 332W). cloud9

Oh, OP don't worry: odd sh*t happens when you drive sometimes. After I sold it my Chevette was written off in a collision with a boat biggrin

LanceRS

2,175 posts

139 months

Saturday 3rd September 2016
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I had one of these too (RFJ90W). Another car that I enjoyed hugely. Not fast but good fun and nowadays remarkably rare.

s m

23,341 posts

205 months

Sunday 4th September 2016
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davgen7 said:
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I think so far I've compiled a list of five or six cars that are interesting to me.

One problem I think I may face with slightly newer cars like the Mk5/6 Escort RS2000 and the Sierra Sapphire is that a second car was only really viable with classic car insurance and I fear these cars may be too modern to be eligible. Am I wrong?
RS2000 -£4750

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272357371467

Skyedriver

18,097 posts

284 months

Sunday 4th September 2016
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Anyone want to guess what this actually made yesterday?

http://www.mathewsons.co.uk/vehicle-auction-catalo...

uk66fastback

16,638 posts

273 months

Sunday 4th September 2016
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Estimate is £20,000, so something crazy like £28-£30.000?

uk66fastback

16,638 posts

273 months

Sunday 4th September 2016
quotequote all
Bernd Tost said:
My mum had a blue 1.3 Fiesta, WBW 901X - Oxford car.

sx187

32 posts

94 months

Sunday 4th September 2016
quotequote all
Bit like asking us to guess if you know?smile

Skyedriver

18,097 posts

284 months

Sunday 4th September 2016
quotequote all
uk66fastback said:
Estimate is £20,000, so something crazy like £28-£30.000?
Yup near enough, £27,000
I was sat next to one of the bidders, he was absolutely gutted when his £26,000 bid was beaten.
Nearest thing to tears without actually crying.

aeropilot

35,057 posts

229 months

Sunday 4th September 2016
quotequote all
Skyedriver said:
Yup near enough, £27,000
I was sat next to one of the bidders, he was absolutely gutted when his £26,000 bid was beaten.
Nearest thing to tears without actually crying.
Sheeezzzz......27k in that condition!!

Very late car though, rolled out of Aveley just before Christmas 1974 I would think with a high number Dec 74 build code, so made in the last few weeks of AVO production.

But fook me, that's a lot of wonga for that though.......makes me wonder what the logbook, VIN plate and AVO build plate for my old factory black RS2000 would be worth on their own (if I can remember where I put them of course laugh)

Olivera

7,319 posts

241 months

Sunday 4th September 2016
quotequote all
A nice puma is a good shout, although I would have to lower one from the default 4x4 off roader ride height and arch gap.

generationx

6,979 posts

107 months

Monday 5th September 2016
quotequote all
uk66fastback said:
Bernd Tost said:
My mum had a blue 1.3 Fiesta, WBW 901X - Oxford car.
Loved my red Supersport - so much fun for so little power. Sadly written off in a hit-and-run when parked frown

LanceRS

2,175 posts

139 months

Monday 5th September 2016
quotequote all
I'll jump on the Puma band wagon too. Got my mother a 1.7 a few years ago and I'll borrow it at any opportunity, ignoring the frequent banging my head getting in, it's brilliant, makes me feel 18 again. I agree on the ride height thing though, I've seen a few that sit a bit lower and they look much better, especially with a slightly different offset wheel.
For the money, I'd say that there is nothing better.

Legacywr

12,306 posts

190 months

Monday 5th September 2016
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littlebasher

3,795 posts

173 months

Monday 5th September 2016
quotequote all
Legacywr said:
My spider senses are telling me it's rotten underneath!

OP, why not a nice Mk2 Granada Ghia X. The carb models are cheaper (and more abundant).

TISPKJ

3,651 posts

209 months

Monday 5th September 2016
quotequote all
I don't get on the classic section much these days.

At only 19 I recon you did the right thing, not your fault but they will more than likely load the premium like you say, pay up and move on.

A lot of the cars mentioned are a bit too much like your ST IMO (XR4) and are really not that quick or much fun to drive.

I was recently tempted by a MK1 fiesta, £2k appears to buy you a minter, buy one that already has the alloys, seats, uprated brakes, boy racer big bore exhaust box, etc etc if you can as that will cost you a small fortune, then stick a 1600 cross flow in it on twin 40's, and I would opt for a cage.
will give you best part of 200 bhp in a 600kg car ..... FUN
forget the RS XR premium price.

the odd car comes on ebay from time to time fully sorted for not a lot of money.

Skyedriver

18,097 posts

284 months

Monday 5th September 2016
quotequote all
TISPKJ said:
I don't get on the classic section much these days.

At only 19 I recon you did the right thing, not your fault but they will more than likely load the premium like you say, pay up and move on.

A lot of the cars mentioned are a bit too much like your ST IMO (XR4) and are really not that quick or much fun to drive.

I was recently tempted by a MK1 fiesta, £2k appears to buy you a minter, buy one that already has the alloys, seats, uprated brakes, boy racer big bore exhaust box, etc etc if you can as that will cost you a small fortune, then stick a 1600 cross flow in it on twin 40's, and I would opt for a cage.
will give you best part of 200 bhp in a 600kg car ..... FUN
forget the RS XR premium price.

the odd car comes on ebay from time to time fully sorted for not a lot of money.
600kg, don't think so!
And how do you intend to get 200bhp out of a 1600 Kent Crossy?


TISPKJ

3,651 posts

209 months

Monday 5th September 2016
quotequote all
Skyedriver said:
TISPKJ said:
I don't get on the classic section much these days.

At only 19 I recon you did the right thing, not your fault but they will more than likely load the premium like you say, pay up and move on.

A lot of the cars mentioned are a bit too much like your ST IMO (XR4) and are really not that quick or much fun to drive.

I was recently tempted by a MK1 fiesta, £2k appears to buy you a minter, buy one that already has the alloys, seats, uprated brakes, boy racer big bore exhaust box, etc etc if you can as that will cost you a small fortune, then stick a 1600 cross flow in it on twin 40's, and I would opt for a cage.
will give you best part of 200 bhp in a 600kg car ..... FUN
forget the RS XR premium price.

the odd car comes on ebay from time to time fully sorted for not a lot of money.
600kg, don't think so!
And how do you intend to get 200bhp out of a 1600 Kent Crossy?
Ok my numbers maybe out a touch, 800 and 170 ? Point I was making is that I don't see an XR4i to be that much fun.

s m

23,341 posts

205 months

Monday 5th September 2016
quotequote all
TISPKJ said:
Ok my numbers maybe out a touch, 800 and 170 ? Point I was making is that I don't see an XR4i to be that much fun.
What didn't you find fun about it? You say that it's not that quick either - which of the other recommendations on here is markedly quicker as standard ( 60 in 7.7 seconds and 130mph ) excepting your modded 200bhp X-flow ( that won't be cheap ) in a Fiesta?

This was part of the OP's post below.....

davgen7 said:
My daily is a Mondeo ST, so I'd be looking for something different enough to that to justify ownership. I'm not sure how viable this is with a classic fast Ford, but I'd also be after something as quick as possible, although that requirement comes second to good handling and fun factor. I do have the means to undertake some work on the car with the help of some family friends.

I've been thinking of an RS Turbo of some sort, most likely an Escort. Initially I was thinking of something rear-wheel-drive, but I don't fancy a Capri too much and a Sierra Cosworth of any kind is miles out of my budget.
The XR4 will feel quite different to a fwd Mondeo ST to drive - it's a lot lighter, will feel a lot more 'classic'. It's also rwd ( as the OP originally was thinking of ), isn't a Capri and is probably as close to an original Sierra Cosworth ( something the OP was thinking of as per his post ) as you can get presently for 4-5k. Granted, it will seat 4 adults and luggage if you wish like a Mondeo but is also pretty easy to maintain and likely to be no more rusty than a Puma
Handling was pretty good although soft as standard - very easy to upgrade as well if you wish - you can end up with a V6 engine with Sierra Cosworth suspension. Fun factor? The V6 burble is pleasant to listen to even at urban pace - I ran one alongside pretty much the best handling Peugeot hot hatch of the late 80s and it was still loads of fun to punt about...especially in an old-skool rwd Ford type of way - so much so that it was the Peugeot I moved along first for something else.

Anyway, to the OP, try and drive a few of the affordable suggestions if you can - you'll ultimately be the best arbiter of what you find fun, whether it's a Puma, XR4i, Mk5 RS2000 or a Mk1 Fiesta. I've owned and driven most of the cars you're looking at and they've all been fun in different fashion

Good luck with your search

aeropilot

35,057 posts

229 months

Monday 5th September 2016
quotequote all
TISPKJ said:
Skyedriver said:
TISPKJ said:
I don't get on the classic section much these days.

At only 19 I recon you did the right thing, not your fault but they will more than likely load the premium like you say, pay up and move on.

A lot of the cars mentioned are a bit too much like your ST IMO (XR4) and are really not that quick or much fun to drive.

I was recently tempted by a MK1 fiesta, £2k appears to buy you a minter, buy one that already has the alloys, seats, uprated brakes, boy racer big bore exhaust box, etc etc if you can as that will cost you a small fortune, then stick a 1600 cross flow in it on twin 40's, and I would opt for a cage.
will give you best part of 200 bhp in a 600kg car ..... FUN
forget the RS XR premium price.

the odd car comes on ebay from time to time fully sorted for not a lot of money.
600kg, don't think so!
And how do you intend to get 200bhp out of a 1600 Kent Crossy?
Ok my numbers maybe out a touch, 800 and 170 ? Point I was making is that I don't see an XR4i to be that much fun.
At least the XR4i is right wheel drive, so ticks the 'fun fast Ford' box a lot more than a 'festa does, no matter how much lighter etc., it may be.