Ford escort mk.1 'Mexico'. Finding one as a project
Discussion
Hello, Was wondering if there are any specific websites/forums to look at in relation to my question. I've spent sometime looking through some lovely metal but no original mexico's with some need of attention. I have about 4-5k to spend so if people already know that's not enough for a car like this (even in poorer condition) then let me know. Anyway advice from anyone is most welcome.
Cheers and have a happy new year.
Cheers and have a happy new year.
loud430 said:
there was a mk1 mex shell for sale on fleabay the other day in the classic cars section. was orange/red i think, it did say it was very rusty, depends how much you can do yourself i suppose.
Could you find the link? Will have a look anyway. I've got no experience with cars before but I have some family members who would give me a hand who are well versed in restoration. Thanks.
but I'm also equally as bad with computer's! 
How do I view PM's?I know it's not a Mexico, but try this 1.3 2 door (ebay sale).
Amy MK1 Escort shell will go for BIG money at the moment - 5 grand might get you what you want, but you're going to have to do a lot of searching. Try Classic Ford magazine & any other magazines you can think of, google for owners clubs and be patient!
Fews years back when they were classed as just another old banger you might have got lucky with the supermarket for sale boards or local small ads, but those days are (mostly) long gone. The rally/concourse boys have snapped most of them up for various projects by now.
ETA: Forgot to mention that unless you get VERY lucky indeed you won't find a Mexico or RS2000 in need of resto; all of these will have been done by now and only the lesser 2 door cars (1.3L or similar) are left. You MIGHT find a 4 door but even these are going for a lot of cash.
If you do find a Mexico/RS2000/type 49 shell get it checked out by someone who knows what thy're doing; there are LOT of fakes/repos out there.
Amy MK1 Escort shell will go for BIG money at the moment - 5 grand might get you what you want, but you're going to have to do a lot of searching. Try Classic Ford magazine & any other magazines you can think of, google for owners clubs and be patient!
Fews years back when they were classed as just another old banger you might have got lucky with the supermarket for sale boards or local small ads, but those days are (mostly) long gone. The rally/concourse boys have snapped most of them up for various projects by now.
ETA: Forgot to mention that unless you get VERY lucky indeed you won't find a Mexico or RS2000 in need of resto; all of these will have been done by now and only the lesser 2 door cars (1.3L or similar) are left. You MIGHT find a 4 door but even these are going for a lot of cash.
If you do find a Mexico/RS2000/type 49 shell get it checked out by someone who knows what thy're doing; there are LOT of fakes/repos out there.
Edited by Faust66 on Saturday 29th December 17:07
Faust66 said:
I know it's not a Mexico, but try this 1.3 2 door (ebay sale).
Amy MK1 Escort shell will go for BIG money at the moment - 5 grand might get you what you want, but you're going to have to do a lot of searching. Try Classic Ford magazine & any other magazines you can think of, google for owners clubs and be patient!
Fews years back when they were classed as just another old banger you might have got lucky with the supermarket for sale boards or local small ads, but those days are (mostly) long gone. The rally/concourse boys have snapped most of them up for various projects by now.
ETA: Forgot to mention that unless you get VERY lucky indeed you won't find a Mexico or RS2000 in need of resto; all of these will have been done by now and only the lesser 2 door cars (1.3L or similar) are left. You MIGHT find a 4 door but even these are going for a lot of cash.
If you do find a Mexico/RS2000/type 49 shell get it checked out by someone who knows what thy're doing; there are LOT of fakes/repos out there.
thank you for the insight into the current market for escorts. I sort of knew that I was too late for the party in relation to the escorts but I wasn't aware that there are no or very few unrestored mexico's in poor condition. what kind of money are the lesser quality mexico's going for these days I watched a video where a mint condition mexico was 15,000 pounds has the market price increased or stabilised since last year? Anyway will keep searching and play the waiting game. :-) Amy MK1 Escort shell will go for BIG money at the moment - 5 grand might get you what you want, but you're going to have to do a lot of searching. Try Classic Ford magazine & any other magazines you can think of, google for owners clubs and be patient!
Fews years back when they were classed as just another old banger you might have got lucky with the supermarket for sale boards or local small ads, but those days are (mostly) long gone. The rally/concourse boys have snapped most of them up for various projects by now.
ETA: Forgot to mention that unless you get VERY lucky indeed you won't find a Mexico or RS2000 in need of resto; all of these will have been done by now and only the lesser 2 door cars (1.3L or similar) are left. You MIGHT find a 4 door but even these are going for a lot of cash.
If you do find a Mexico/RS2000/type 49 shell get it checked out by someone who knows what thy're doing; there are LOT of fakes/repos out there.
Edited by Faust66 on Saturday 29th December 17:07
Saw this and thought of this thread
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1974-ford-mk-1-escort-me...
you might need to find a few more bits!!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1974-ford-mk-1-escort-me...
you might need to find a few more bits!!
rb26 said:
I've got no experience with cars before but I have some family members who would give me a hand
If you've got no experience, then you are about to undertake a very ambitious restoration.The only way you can make the numbers work is if you carry out most of the 'labour' yourself, ie, if you were very skilled.
So if you cannot do that, then it will be cheaper to buy a good car from the start. If you buy a shell for £4-5K and then have to pay for the rebuild/restoration it will cost far more than buying a nice car.
http://www.oldskoolford.co.uk/osfv2/
http://bbs.rallyesportescorts.co.uk/index.php
http://turbosport.co.uk/
That ebay shell looks pretty good, should fetch good money.
I wouldn't worry about finding a genuine mexico, they will attract a premium so you get less for the money. If you want a mexico just do a replica, only the uber geeks will know or care.
Escorts fetch good money but there are an awful lot of reproduction parts out there, including lots of body panels. This makes it much easier, provided you can weld and you can call on some expertise when needed you should be ok.
I'd much rather buy something that looks tatty and is in bits, because you can see exactly what you're getting, lots of these cars look pretty on the outside but are rotten underneath body panels/filler/bodged on patch panels.
Pay lots of attention to the entire A pillar sections from sill to windscreen and cowl sections, suspension tops and strengtheners, inner wings, front chassis rails. They rot everywhere else too but they are the worst bits!
http://bbs.rallyesportescorts.co.uk/index.php
http://turbosport.co.uk/
That ebay shell looks pretty good, should fetch good money.
I wouldn't worry about finding a genuine mexico, they will attract a premium so you get less for the money. If you want a mexico just do a replica, only the uber geeks will know or care.
Escorts fetch good money but there are an awful lot of reproduction parts out there, including lots of body panels. This makes it much easier, provided you can weld and you can call on some expertise when needed you should be ok.
I'd much rather buy something that looks tatty and is in bits, because you can see exactly what you're getting, lots of these cars look pretty on the outside but are rotten underneath body panels/filler/bodged on patch panels.
Pay lots of attention to the entire A pillar sections from sill to windscreen and cowl sections, suspension tops and strengtheners, inner wings, front chassis rails. They rot everywhere else too but they are the worst bits!
rb26 said:
Faust66 said:
I know it's not a Mexico, but try this 1.3 2 door (ebay sale).
Any MK1 Escort shell will go for BIG money at the moment - 5 grand might get you what you want, but you're going to have to do a lot of searching. Try Classic Ford magazine & any other magazines you can think of, google for owners clubs and be patient!
Fews years back when they were classed as just another old banger you might have got lucky with the supermarket for sale boards or local small ads, but those days are (mostly) long gone. The rally/concourse boys have snapped most of them up for various projects by now.
ETA: Forgot to mention that unless you get VERY lucky indeed you won't find a Mexico or RS2000 in need of resto; all of these will have been done by now and only the lesser 2 door cars (1.3L or similar) are left. You MIGHT find a 4 door but even these are going for a lot of cash.
If you do find a Mexico/RS2000/type 49 shell get it checked out by someone who knows what thy're doing; there are LOT of fakes/repos out there.
thank you for the insight into the current market for escorts. I sort of knew that I was too late for the party in relation to the escorts but I wasn't aware that there are no or very few unrestored mexico's in poor condition. what kind of money are the lesser quality mexico's going for these days I watched a video where a mint condition mexico was 15,000 pounds has the market price increased or stabilised since last year? Anyway will keep searching and play the waiting game. :-) Any MK1 Escort shell will go for BIG money at the moment - 5 grand might get you what you want, but you're going to have to do a lot of searching. Try Classic Ford magazine & any other magazines you can think of, google for owners clubs and be patient!
Fews years back when they were classed as just another old banger you might have got lucky with the supermarket for sale boards or local small ads, but those days are (mostly) long gone. The rally/concourse boys have snapped most of them up for various projects by now.
ETA: Forgot to mention that unless you get VERY lucky indeed you won't find a Mexico or RS2000 in need of resto; all of these will have been done by now and only the lesser 2 door cars (1.3L or similar) are left. You MIGHT find a 4 door but even these are going for a lot of cash.
If you do find a Mexico/RS2000/type 49 shell get it checked out by someone who knows what thy're doing; there are LOT of fakes/repos out there.
Edited by Faust66 on Saturday 29th December 17:07
The car that sold for 15K may well have been mint, but you need to keep in mind that to get a rough shell, running gear, engine, paint job and the MANY other things that eat up cash in a resto up to that level will cost you closer to 30 grand.
If you want to restore a car for the challenge & love of doing it, then fair play to you and I wish you all the best. If you just want a nice car then my advice would be to buy one that's already been 'done'. Rule of thumb that I use; for every £1000 you put into restoring/modifying a car, you'd do well to get 200 quid back (in general).
If your family members are willing and able to help you restore a car then that's all well and good. But remember that a proper nut & bolt restoration may well take 2 or more years. Are they able to put this much time and effort into the car?
I don''t want to put you off restoring and/or modifying a nice classic car but you have to go into the project with your eyes open.
Getragdogleg said:
Malta ! go to Malta and have a look around, loads of old escorts last time i was there, loads of old interesting stuff generally actually !
Was about to say the same, although they are canny buggers and you'll struggle to get any Mk1 two door shell for much less than it would cost here, then you've got shipping to worry about. A mate of mine bought a bargain a few years back but had to sell as his wife got pregnant and they were (re)building a house. He kicks himself regularly!OP, if you want someone to keep an eye on the Maltese market, let me know.
Thanks guys this is really helpful stuff. I can't really work a spanner myself but other family members have experience with restoration projects. My uncle owned a Mexico in 1975 and recently restored a S1 E-type so I'm sure with his background in mechanics will be pretty capable. I don't have a lot of money (only what I've saved from summer jobs over the past 4 years) due to being a student but as I get the train and have access to a car I don't need an everyday car. I just thought because I've always hankered after after a mk1 escort mexico/ rs2000 now would be a good time, as well as learning the basics of cars.
Anyway will keep you all posted. The Ebay 74 shell looks good and that escort specialists is fantastic. Not sure about Malta. I would be a bit daunted with all the regulations, taxes and expense involved but maybe an option to look at if the right car came along so I would be much obliged if you kept one eye on it.
Anyway will keep you all posted. The Ebay 74 shell looks good and that escort specialists is fantastic. Not sure about Malta. I would be a bit daunted with all the regulations, taxes and expense involved but maybe an option to look at if the right car came along so I would be much obliged if you kept one eye on it.
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