Very beige Mk2 escort
Discussion
It was inevitable really... at some point I had to get an Escort. I spent a few months looking about and generally being dismayed at how little you get for your money compared to non-Ford 1970s cars, which in part led to me buying something very different back in August. I'd pretty much given up looking when a friend pointed out a possibility on that most-dangerous of websites: ebay.
One night and one phonecall later I was on my way 540 miles south to have a look. It is a French German-built Mk2 1100L in resplendent beige. Complete with French MOT and the nova stuff done.
Quick pic of it on trailer after collection back in December
One night and one phonecall later I was on my way 540 miles south to have a look. It is a French German-built Mk2 1100L in resplendent beige. Complete with French MOT and the nova stuff done.
Quick pic of it on trailer after collection back in December
Having retrieved the Escort all the way home to Scotland I've now had a chance to have a poke and prod about it. Remarkably rust free and seemingly unwelded. There is a small hole in the spare wheel well, a ding to a rear arch, a couple of scratches and the front bumper has been pushed back but that's about it. The engine starts alright and runs alright though an 1100 crossflow doesn't come with much poke (about 41bhp apparently). The worst of the car is the electrics - bodged at some point and most of the fuses by-passed which might explain why half the lights don't work! And it needs a wheelbearing. I'm not sure how strict the French equivalent of our MOTs is!
Nice original wings!
Nice original wings!
Looks very tidy, takes me back 
Other than being a 1600 crossflow, I broke an exact doppelganger of your car as a donor for my Westfield some twenty five years ago and it was so rotten I could literally pull large sections of the shell apart with my bare hands!
Will you be keeping it original or does an engine transplant beckon?
Other than being a 1600 crossflow, I broke an exact doppelganger of your car as a donor for my Westfield some twenty five years ago and it was so rotten I could literally pull large sections of the shell apart with my bare hands!
Will you be keeping it original or does an engine transplant beckon?
Like a few others, I also had a beige, 4-door, Mk2 - looked just like yours - a 1980/V-reg. Mine had the mighty 1300cc engine and was, to be honest, a bit of a dog. But it was about as complicated as a hammer and having since also owned a Mk2 with the 2.0-litre Pinto, would make a similar suggestion to the one above - leave the looks alone and replace the engine/box with something more fun for a great useable classic. Top stuff.
Well, my original plan for Escort ownership was to try and buy a structurally sound car then buy some fancy bits and make it my own. But between then and buying this I ended up buying a Peugeot 104...
The Escort certainly has its share of blemishes but (wiring excepted) it hasn't been butchered and is incredibly original so the plan forming in my head is to keep it looking exactly as it is but make it a bit quicker. Easiest way is probably to plonk a 1600 crossflow in there (I am no mechanic!).
Pic of the interior in glorious brown. Oddly full door cards despite being "L" spec.
The Escort certainly has its share of blemishes but (wiring excepted) it hasn't been butchered and is incredibly original so the plan forming in my head is to keep it looking exactly as it is but make it a bit quicker. Easiest way is probably to plonk a 1600 crossflow in there (I am no mechanic!).
Pic of the interior in glorious brown. Oddly full door cards despite being "L" spec.
Love it, looks a nice example but funny how any Mk2 Escort is regarded as Awesome nowadays, a beige 1.1 four door was social death back in the eighties
Needs a nice Zetec conversion or similar, think about 150 bhp in one of these is a good figure to have fun without really having to go into four linking and more exotic suspension, brakes etc, just some decent upgrades. I would love a YB engined one but I reckon that would just scare me in reality,
Needs a nice Zetec conversion or similar, think about 150 bhp in one of these is a good figure to have fun without really having to go into four linking and more exotic suspension, brakes etc, just some decent upgrades. I would love a YB engined one but I reckon that would just scare me in reality,
Apparently if you bolt a pair of Webber 40’s to the 1100cc engine it will make standard 1600cc engine power.
My first car was a 1100 mk2, drum brakes front and rear, black vinyl seats, 12” wheels and no servo for the brakes just push bloody hard lol.
As a Ford apprentice we were all looking at what power hikes could be had hence the statement at the beginning
My first car was a 1100 mk2, drum brakes front and rear, black vinyl seats, 12” wheels and no servo for the brakes just push bloody hard lol.
As a Ford apprentice we were all looking at what power hikes could be had hence the statement at the beginning
sjabrown said:
£4.5k. I think quite cheap for a very solid Mk2 that's complete, running, driving. But also seems expensive compared to other non-mk2 1970s boggo-spec saloons!
As absurd it is to say but I think that's an excellent price. I remember when I was learning to drive my Dad and me were looking at fairly rough but not lost cause 2 door mk2 escorts for similar money and at the time 4 door escorts were around £1-2k for a mint example, This was in 2009 maybe a bit earlier it's crazy how much ford tax has rocketed.I never did get the escort but I really wish I had now. I think there's going to be a point where these prices start to drop but not for a long time.
I wish you the best with the car, what's the plans?
That looks tidy! Seems strange to say but £4500 isn’t a bad price.
As for an engine upgrade, a 1.6/1.7 Xflow would be a good shout. A characterful lump that sound beautiful on 40’s. Keep plenty of cardboard on the garage floor though.
This is the Xflow I had in my old kit car. It was a 1.7 711M block, flattop big valve head, 1300cc flat top pistons, Kent 244 cam, everything lightened and balanced, Weber 40’s and mapped ignition. Etc etc. Made 140bhp.
Something like that in your car would be awesome!
Looking forward to the updates.
As for an engine upgrade, a 1.6/1.7 Xflow would be a good shout. A characterful lump that sound beautiful on 40’s. Keep plenty of cardboard on the garage floor though.
This is the Xflow I had in my old kit car. It was a 1.7 711M block, flattop big valve head, 1300cc flat top pistons, Kent 244 cam, everything lightened and balanced, Weber 40’s and mapped ignition. Etc etc. Made 140bhp.
Something like that in your car would be awesome!
Looking forward to the updates.
AdamIndy said:
That looks tidy! Seems strange to say but £4500 isn’t a bad price.
Looking forward to the updates.
Strange? It seems absolutely mental to me! I sold a MK2 RS 2000 for less than £2,500 in 1984. Looking forward to the updates.
My sister's first car was a "posh" 1977 MK2 1300 GL in beige with brown trim that she bought in 1988 for £750 - shame she didn't keep hers either.
But I'll also be looking out for the updates!
Inspire said:
Blimey, that takes me back to being a little boy! Can you post up some more pictures please, including a couple of the interior? Lovely!
Thanks
Rob
Couple more of interior pics. Comfortable brown cloth seats slightly dusty but intact, headrests on the front and seatbelts all round... luxury:Thanks
Rob
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff