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Discussion
Never ever ever see early Escorts (1 and 2) driving around daily. Obviously.
But I am happy when I go to places like the Chelsea Cruise and see at least a dozen beautiful examples - in all kinds of trim and tune, from bog stockers to mentalist ones with Cosworth power and running gear.
One thing I did see that made me smile last Sunday though, in the car park of a garden centre, was a Mark 2 Fiesta of 1986 vintage. It was a 1.1L, in white, with the stock steel wheels. It was totally original in every way throughout - well, apart from a CD / Radio in the dash. But it was clean, tidy, straight and free from rust and damage. But more amazingly, all in it's original paintwork and trim all round.
What struck me the most was it's general 'smallness' - cars were mostly smaller back then. Inside, the front seats seemed very tiny and close together - exacerbated by the fact that they didn't even have head restraints. But even things like the A and B pillars and the door frames were all a bit - well, thin and tiny!
Whilst I was walking round it and admiring it, happily the owner arrived. I was pleased to hear that he had owned it from new. He still takes it to a Ford main dealer for a service every year, and apparrently all the service techs love seeing it and working on it. Turns out the owner lives in Thailand, and comes back to the UK every summer for 2 or 3 months - and he keeps this little Fiesta in the garage of his UK house.
Most amazingly of all, was that despite being 27 years old and all original - it had just 27,000 miles on the clock!
Was nice to see it and meet it's interesting owner anyway.
But I am happy when I go to places like the Chelsea Cruise and see at least a dozen beautiful examples - in all kinds of trim and tune, from bog stockers to mentalist ones with Cosworth power and running gear.
One thing I did see that made me smile last Sunday though, in the car park of a garden centre, was a Mark 2 Fiesta of 1986 vintage. It was a 1.1L, in white, with the stock steel wheels. It was totally original in every way throughout - well, apart from a CD / Radio in the dash. But it was clean, tidy, straight and free from rust and damage. But more amazingly, all in it's original paintwork and trim all round.
What struck me the most was it's general 'smallness' - cars were mostly smaller back then. Inside, the front seats seemed very tiny and close together - exacerbated by the fact that they didn't even have head restraints. But even things like the A and B pillars and the door frames were all a bit - well, thin and tiny!
Whilst I was walking round it and admiring it, happily the owner arrived. I was pleased to hear that he had owned it from new. He still takes it to a Ford main dealer for a service every year, and apparrently all the service techs love seeing it and working on it. Turns out the owner lives in Thailand, and comes back to the UK every summer for 2 or 3 months - and he keeps this little Fiesta in the garage of his UK house.
Most amazingly of all, was that despite being 27 years old and all original - it had just 27,000 miles on the clock!
Was nice to see it and meet it's interesting owner anyway.
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