It seems clear that classic fast Ford fever is going nowhere. Understandable, really, given there’s nothing new to be excited by and the current crop of reimaginations looks better than ever. Whether it’s from Boreham or MST or Tolman, front- or rear-wheel drive, box fresh or painstakingly restored, some wonderful Escorts are being created with Blue Ovals on the front of them right now (or an MST badge). Before even thinking about Mustangs, Capris, Fiestas and so on.
They all sound great, though there’s no getting away from the fact that all are jolly expensive as well. To be expected when so much effort and expertise is being poured into them, but it means none of them are exactly the attainable optimised classic we all dream of having. Plus, well, modernising an old Ford Escort of any stripe - a bit like doing a Porsche 911 in fact - feels just a tad overdone now. But an Anglia? Now that is something different. On first inspection, this one could have come straight from a Harry Potter expo, complete with those unmistakable wheels (now 15-inch for the very eagle-eyed) and bizarre rear screen. While there’s less chrome than usual and perhaps an ever so slightly lower ride height, many would be hard pressed to tell this apart from any other Anglia. But there’s more to this Ford than meets the eye…
The first clue is inside, with harnesses and a deep-dish wheel that look very out of place alongside the standard seats and dash. But that can all be overlooked because of what’s under the bonnet: a 2.0-litre Duratec from a Focus ST170. Which was never the most inspiring hot hatch ever made, sure, though not only will there be less weight to move around here (as well as rear- instead of front-wheel drive), this is not a standard Duractec. Thanks to some intake and ECU tweaks, the 2.0-litre is now said to be 190hp strong; hooked up to a five-speed gearbox, that sounds more than sufficient in a car that left the factory 60 years ago weighing less than three-quarters of a tonne.
Just look at that engine bay, too; it might be the cleanest bit of the car, stripped of any unnecessary adornments and making the Duractec star of the show. That level of presentation is only matched by the immaculate underside, both of which point to a meticulously prepared project. Because if they’ve put that much effort into what’s seldom seen, just imagine what they’ve done with the rest…
The list of supporting modifications for the engine swap is pleasingly comprehensive, including Gaz dampers, disc brakes all round, a plethora of bits from RetroFord and a quick shifter for the Type 9 gearbox. The ad describes it as a ‘highly modified hill climb/track car’, which the spec would definitely allude to. Only thing is the decade-long restoration has made a car that looks of show quality as well. Talk about dual purpose.
With a big service said to have just been completed, the Anglia ST190 (as we’re going to call it) would seem to want for nothing. Apart from drier weather, of course - wouldn’t want to spoil that spotless underside. The asking price is £23,995; given the work that’s gone in, and what any kind of Anglia donor car would cost right now, it’s hard to grumble. Though it’s a familiar phrase by now, you’re not going to create the same thing for any less. To say nothing of the wait. For those who can’t afford (or don’t want) another Escort, the little Anglia surely has an awful lot to recommend it.
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