YellowTaxi

I have one of those in my garage somwhere. Actually makes much more sense than the UK version. Higher capacity and weight evenly distributed and further forward. Much better idea.

Also good spot on those wheels RWL. They are actually convex if you look like the MK2 Gp1 wheels.

Either way it was a cheap RS2000. I wonder how long before its finds itself in the UK with the steering wheel magically teleported to the other side.

If I was to stash away an Escort Cosworth I would have chose a better colour.🤣

Dont forget the famous (or Infamous) 4 door RS2000. That was unique to Australia. Had they ever been produced and sold in the UK I think the whole thing of 2 door escorts being worth 3 times that of a 4 door would never have happened here. Also I would have got a hell of a lot more at auction for my 4 door RS2000.😀

Its funny but when I first heard about the new shells I was very exited. People imediately started mocking the quality most hadnt even seen them and the negative comments had no real detail as to why they where so poor. In life, as a commissioning engineer for Industrial plant I have come across this mindset so many times. It seems people just like to have a negative outlook, often with no actual reference. With that in mind I was keen to see the shells for myself. Its worth noting they where first discussed in 2015 just as 'new replacement shells', no mention of rallying. I think the rally thing came in because the quality was just too poor for a road car. I went to see one with a completely open mind, hoping they would be better than the rumours suggested. I agree with Johny, with a bit more QC they could have been much better. Something else I dont think anybody has mentioned, surely a rally car has to be stronger than a road car. If the quality of the fit etc is anything to go by I dont think I would be happy chucking one into a muddy hairpin with trees everywhere at 70 MPH. Now I know rally cars are seem welded etc but initial construction and integrity bust still be important. Anyway, you never know the one I saw could have been a really poor one. I for one look forwards to the day a good quality, reasonably priced, new shell is available and wouldnt care where it was made. We live in hope.

I think it started life as a base model (non-custom). No centre console. Ghia type seats in betacloth. (very rare in 2 door format). Non tinted glass. Mexico type door cards. Alloys where an option on non-custom models. It wouldnt have had the passenger side dash cubby hole/clock but loads of people added them back in the day including myself. Could be a shrewd buy. Maybe woth restoring and converting to RHD, an original RS2000 in UK even if its converted to RHD as we all know isnt cheap here in UK.

Back to the Higgins shells for a moment. During lock down I was seriously considering re shelling my Mk2. I contacted Higgins and was told several shells where sold to MST. I took the time and effort to take a trip over there and looks for myself. Credit to MST they clearly stated the shells where not great and was fully aware of the bad press at the time. I spent an hour going over the shell they had. Im not a profesional panel beater or car restorer but even I could see it was a potential nightmare. The shell was exactly as they had described,They didnt pull any punches to be fair. I really hoped it would be better than they said. Firstly, the bottom of where the rear screen joins the boot opening was awfull, very rounded in the middle but pin sharp at each side. So bad I doubt a rear screen could be fitted without a lot of metal work. The worst and probably most obvious was the door pressing, swage line was very poor no bit was uniform, wings where just as bad. Inside door pressing was so bad the hole for the lock button which should be on top was half way down the top pressing meaning basically everything on that panel was in the wrong place, every hole or pressed shape would also be wrong. i suppose you could get away with building one into a rally car but thats not my thing really. I was gutted it was so bad, had the money in my pocket and a trailer in tow. Moving to the current day, I have seen a new Mk1 shell they produce and it was spot on in every detail.

There was few versions of the white needle rev counter. Post some pics if you can. May be just what im after.

A non Custom RS2000. A rare care that.

I also once bought a Datsun 240Z for £300 Sold it the same day for £400. Again if I could go back I would have stock piled a few at those prices.

True story. I bought a new RS2000 Mk2 in 1979. Loved it but the auto choke drove me mad, constantly sticking on. Long story short it went back to Fords workshop many times. The last time I was loaned an RS1800 in full road trim. Returned the car to collect my RS2000 and choke was still not right after driving home. Had a real rant on the phone at Ford tech man. Returned the next day and was offered the RS1800 to keep instead of my RS2000. The RS1800 had 200miles on it. My RS2000 had a over 3000 by then. I kept my car and converted the choke to manual myself. All my mates said it looked like a Gas board van. I worked for brittish gas at the time. So....If I could go back I certainly would make a few different decisions. Such is life.!

Interesting. Thanks Ray.

Never mind the areal. Check out the chrome door handle and window trim. Must be a very early car. Nice though.

https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/1979-ford-escort-mk2-1

what a lovely collection of 1300E's. Interestingly mostly two door. Does anybody know the ratio of two to four doors cars produced? I thought the four door was the most common.

Thats just crazy. I have two of those in my garage, boxes arent even opened.

I had a Capri that kept on blowing fuses for the wipers. A cut down 6'' nail sorted that.😁 Same car had a noisey diff. My mate said ''Put some rice in it''. I did and it worked a treat. Is was Basmati mind. Back then it really was a case of 'A little knowledge is worse than none'.

And whats not to like. The one in the add has square headlamps. Was that a later addition?

Back in the day an Engine re-build was new rings and thicker oil. Asbestos Putty. Sounds like good stuff. Heat proof body filler I would have called it.!

And the name 'Sun Downer'. That could only really work over there. I suppose we could have had a 'Pi$$ing Downer'. 😁

Fair point on the colour. I was the owner of a Mk1 RS2000 Orange with red stripe back in the day. To be fair even then I really wasnt sure about red on orange though. Times sure have changed.

As Title: Mini 1275GT 1978 . Three washers under oil by-pass valve to get the oil pressure up. Escort MK 1 1974 . Two newspares and a yard of chicken wire plus 2 tins of filler in one front wing. Cortina Mk2 1600E 1971. Wired-up the oil light to the Ignition warning light circuit because oil pressure was so low it wouldnt go out. It will come as no suprise a quick google search reveales all three cars are long since scrapped. So... come on guys. Fess-Up.!

What would that be in IK pounds then?

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/1980-ford-escort-sundowner-mk-ii-manual/SSE-AD-14016306/?Cr=7 Not sure about the colour scheme. I bet there arent many left.