Ancly Posted August 28, 2016 Report Share Posted August 28, 2016 Hi, I bought a green four door 1976 1.3L a few years ago. It had been been in a garage with iron girders holding the roof up. As bits of rust real onto the car they rusted the top, ie bonnet roof boot, but the sides are pretty good. I had it motd about three years ago and all it needed were four tiny patches on the floor, one in each corner, New calipers and a bit of fiddling. Oh, and a small patch of welding on the inner wing. It's done 57k, never had a radio in it etc. My dilemma..... Do I have it restored or sell it for restoration? It needs both front wings, probably a few other bits of welding, Windows out, preparation and painting, Windows back in with new rubbers, brakes sorting (now no pedal) and an mot. I have had a vague quote of £2700 for the bodywork only. But I'm in London. I'm on the Irish escort forum too and I'm pretty sure I could have good work done there for half the price of London. Since buying it mum has gone down hill with dementia and other problems so all my free time is spent looking after her. My questions.... Is it worth throwing professional money at this car? Any north London workshops recommended? What would it be worth as it is? What would it be worth after the work is done? Should I sell it as it is and put the money towards something in decent condition? I have known the previous owner who brought it New in 1976 since before she bought it, so it does have Personal history, but I won't throw money after it just because of that! Can anyone help with values /ideas/inspiration please? Thanks in advance. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancly Posted August 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2016 Is this in an appropriate part of the forum? If not, please advise and I'll move it. Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mk1 Glenn Posted August 29, 2016 Report Share Posted August 29, 2016 Just an idea in the pot but if it was a beetle it would be as little as possible body work wise anchor wax it and low as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancly Posted August 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2016 Hmmmm.... Hadn't thought of that. Off to Google anchor wax.... Though I presume it seals it and stops if rusting away further..? Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mexican Gerbil Posted August 29, 2016 Report Share Posted August 29, 2016 Where to start, so many questions. Erm....... Is it worth throwing money at it. Yes and no. You are going to spend more than what the car is worth ( done up ) getting this looking really nice. However if you get it done properly and look after it then it should last a few many years and by that time values will have gone up and you would have enjoyed owning it for 10 years or so. As for values I would class this as an entry level car for someone who wants a RWD escort. I wouldn't expect you to get more than 2k for it as is. Done up nice could get 6K maybe ??? Most people I know with 4 door mk2s have modified them so putting a price on a nice standard one is hard. If you've got the money and want to use and keep the car for 10 years or so then I would personally do it - I have just spent 1000-s restoring my Mex but I'm keeping and enjoy having it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mk1 Glenn Posted August 29, 2016 Report Share Posted August 29, 2016 Just an idea for the pot but if it was a beetle it would be as little as possible body work wise anchor wax it and low as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancly Posted August 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2016 Morris Ankor Wax...... Yeah, Would be a good idea anyway, whatever I do it will probably still sit outside for a while. £40 to stop it getting worse will be money well spent! Thanks for the tip Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mk1 Glenn Posted August 29, 2016 Report Share Posted August 29, 2016 Sorry for the echo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancly Posted August 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2016 Thanks Mex.....thats what I thought, I'd spend more than it would be worth. Problem is, being in London prices are pretty high, so I need some options on good repairers. Would the surface rust be easy to sand off? It's quite pitted. I suppose sanded treated and painted it would be OK. Food for thought. Thanks. Might clean it up and Ankor Wax it anyway, just to get a bit of enthusiasm up. Also got a mini, a mobylette sp50 and a couple of push bikes to get going. Hmmmm Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancly Posted August 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2016 No worries Glenn.... I had to install tap talk.... Struggling to begin with.... Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colr6 Posted August 29, 2016 Report Share Posted August 29, 2016 If your going to keep it then restore, as already said you will spend more than what you will get for it done. As with all restos they cost more to finish to a good standard then first anticipated. Bottomless pit springs to mind ! So if you don't intend keeping it move on as is, you may be surprised what you may get for it as two doors are at ridiculous prices so more people are looking at four doors to own a RWD OSF Good luck which ever direction you take. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancly Posted August 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2016 I would like to keep it. I have sold too many cars over the years then regretted it later, but you can't keep them all.... I think I'll clean it up and wax it, or Ankor it, then work out what it needs for an mot. If I can get that then I can drive it, once I can drive it hopefully the rest will follow... I like the idea of keeping it original. OK, I changed the wheels and exhaust when I got it but they swap back easily enough. I had a guy interested who said he would put a 2 litre in it and recaros etc..... That would be a shame. We all did that back in the 80s but there were so many it didn't matter. Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mexican Gerbil Posted August 30, 2016 Report Share Posted August 30, 2016 Glad your keeping it. To clean up the rusty patches you will need a rotary wire brush as sanding it won't clean it properly. Then treat it straight away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
preacherman Posted August 30, 2016 Report Share Posted August 30, 2016 Vinyl wrap gun metal carbon fibre effect wrap all over. Should be easy. Drop it 2vinches all round and refresh the crossbow. Will look nice on 15 inch wheels nf half headlights. No spoilers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
preacherman Posted August 30, 2016 Report Share Posted August 30, 2016 Don't you love spell check Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colr6 Posted August 30, 2016 Report Share Posted August 30, 2016 And here's me thinking is a new way of modifying I need to read up on!! Using new fangled parts....lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancly Posted August 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2016 So, to wrap it.... I'd have to sort the rust to a certain extent wouldn't I..... I've got an angle grinder and a selection of cup wire wheels.... So getting it cleaned up isn't a problem, but once I've got metal, skim fill it and paint it with red oxide? Will that protect it enough? Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancly Posted August 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2016 My crossbow runs pretty well, but isn't unleaded..... And the accelerator pump is u/'s. Apart from that it's OK I think. Is an unleaded head expensive? Would it be much extra to get a gas flowed head.... Or should I just keep it standard..... Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancly Posted August 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2016 Sorry for all the questions..... But it's good to get feedback and different ideas... It's helping to get my enthusiasm going. Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mexican Gerbil Posted August 31, 2016 Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 I paid £100 to get my crossbow head converted last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
preacherman Posted August 31, 2016 Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 Your prep work sounds OK. As long as it's flat and rust attended to. You can easy remove the wrap at a later date. Last year I wrapped a dutton kit car and that was tough. Don't bother with head use bit of Additive. It makes sense to do it if you are refreshing the head or head gasket. My dutton crossbow was OK like this. Get some 15 x 6 inch banded stee lies and graphite grey wrap and yours would look great with Matt black bumpers and dropped. Not too expensive. This was my plan but I am going in a different direction towards camper vans also known as the dark side Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vista Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 Crossflow Hmmmmmm, my spell checker isn't swapping out crossflow with crossbow............. Though thinking about it crossbow sounds much cooler! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancly Posted September 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 Thanks for all the ideas guys. I like the idea of wrapping it, at least it will get the rust sorted, and on the road in time for a tax free year from next April! I can't really afford to put it into a garage and have £4000 of work done on it, as much as I'd like to! Will the wrap stick to primer OK? Is hand painted red oxide going to seal the metal OK? Various reports on other forums. I know the zinc 182 isn't all that as the sills have surface rust back after a clean up and two coats of zinc 182! Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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