Patrick MkIV Posted June 13, 2010 Report Posted June 13, 2010 I have just bought this 1970 Mk1 estate from ebay and am now using it as my daily transport. It is my first proper (rwd) escort, although I also own a mk4 Cortina which will be on the road pretty soon with a 24v conversion, and have had a couple of Capris and another Cortina in the past. I picked it up in Yorkshire and drove it home to Hampshire. The only "what have I bought" moment was when the accelerator cable snapped just South of York (bit of a bodge job- too short and tightly radiused to fit properly) and when I was waiting in the rain for the AA man to turn up and make up a new (improved) one. Quick fix and no problems the rest of the way though. It seems a good solid car for its 40 years, has had sills, strut tops replaced. There are a few rust bubbles wanting attention. The paintwork isn't perfect but cleans up well and looks good as long as you don't look too close! It is running a pinto and 5 speed and drives well and feels very quick. The previous owner was told when he bought it, it had been bored to 2.1 but this hasn't been checked. It is a 202 block which I think is a transit block and the best?? base for a 2.1 overbore? There is a bit of a rattle from the cam, but I have a replacement (standard / non unleaded) head which came with the car. I'm not sure whether I'll fit this or go for an uprated gas flowed head and a fast road or high torque cam kit. I want to keep it driveable from low revs, and get a decent mpg from it. The brakes could really do with some uprating too, due to the lack of servo. I'm not sure if they are the original calipers, I was told the struts are from a mk2 1600 sport, I'll have to get some pictures up of them and hopefully someone who has more experience of escorts can tell me for definite what the set up is. Hopefully the pics will come out here, not sure if I've got enough posts on here yet? I will add some engine and interior shots soon. MOT time next month but only thing (I hope!) needs doing is getting the hazard light working. I have a few plans for the car, but no major changes, just a bit of tidying up and improving the brakes and stiffer springs. I have a set of 7 in 4 spokes (RS Ronals) that are probably going to go on sometime, and I would really like a 6 clock dash. Mexico wings and a full respray will have to wait as my Cortina is taking most of my my spending for now...
Patrick MkIV Posted June 13, 2010 Author Report Posted June 13, 2010 The pictures, hopefully... No luck getting the pictures up so far. I'll have a go again tomorrow...
Savvi Posted June 13, 2010 Report Posted June 13, 2010 What colour is it ?..........Red with a stripe ? Sounds like one i was watching the other week. Been trying to sell my Malta import but had no luck as yet.
Patrick MkIV Posted June 13, 2010 Author Report Posted June 13, 2010 It is red, and did have Mexico Stripes, but the first thing I did was take these off, I think they look better without stripes! I'll try again with the pics...
Savvi Posted June 13, 2010 Report Posted June 13, 2010 Yeah that's the one, was Daves on Turbosport forum. Looks better without the lights but i'd liked the stripes Did it go for much more then the ebay start price ? He had it up for £4k at one time.
Patrick MkIV Posted June 13, 2010 Author Report Posted June 13, 2010 No, I was the only bidder. I had emailed Dave about the car when I first saw his advert on car and classic a few months ago(was up for £4495 then), but he was still after close to that figure then, so I'm pretty happy with the buy.
Savvi Posted June 13, 2010 Report Posted June 13, 2010 Thanks I'd asked him but never got an answer, i'm looking to sell my blue and Orange estates and wondered what they might sell for Think you got a nice car for the money.
redrocket Posted June 15, 2010 Report Posted June 15, 2010 much prefferred her lowered on superlites with the spots and stripes, but then again I guess she went a little cheaper without them! Lovely car lad and well wear with her
Patrick MkIV Posted June 16, 2010 Author Report Posted June 16, 2010 Mate I saw you this morning! Hi, yeah, I've seen your Capri a couple of times on my drive to work. Nice to see another OSF getting some use. I used to have an A reg black Capri 2.0S very similar to yours.
Patrick MkIV Posted June 16, 2010 Author Report Posted June 16, 2010 Cheers for the comments, I guess it was a bit of a controversial move taking off the Mexico stripes, but I've always thought less is more with stripes, trim etc. Even if I had a genuine Mexico, I'd prefer one without stripes. Unfortunately the escort is off the road already- noticed a strong smell of petrol on a full tank and saw a leak. Found a nasty big hole in the top of the tank: Don't really want petrol dripping onto the exhaust! At least new tanks are still available so should get this sorted by the weekend.
Admin Mk2Jo Posted June 16, 2010 Admin Report Posted June 16, 2010 The car is lovely mate Do what you want to it ... it is your car and you need to stamp your mark on it and make it your own I like it without the stripes
2litreScapri Posted June 16, 2010 Report Posted June 16, 2010 Thanks Patrick. Did you know that there is (or was) an A-Reg 2.8 in Mytchett with Slotmags? It was in a driveway but has mysteriously disappeared - or was it yours & I was looking at stickers wrong???
Patrick MkIV Posted June 16, 2010 Author Report Posted June 16, 2010 Thanks Patrick. Did you know that there is (or was) an A-Reg 2.8 in Mytchett with Slotmags? It was in a driveway but has mysteriously disappeared - or was it yours & I was looking at stickers wrong??? No, that wasn't mine. I had one about 10 years ago. I think I know the one you mean though- on Coleford Bridge road?
2litreScapri Posted June 16, 2010 Report Posted June 16, 2010 That's the one - it's now disappeared from the drive, I look for it everyday but it's no longer there. Hope he hasn't got rid of it
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