Mk1 Mexico

[frankthefencer]

Hi,I have put down a deposit today on a Mk1 mexico.Just want to check out its vin tag details etc and its reg no. Any ideas how?

[frankthefencer]

The car has a BFAT chassis no and the AVO tag. However I want to check all the details before handing over the money!!

[dalmarshall]

AVO owners club but you have to join first I think.

If possible get an 'anorak' to go check it out to make sure it's genuine, or put some details on here, someone may know of the car

[frankthefencer]

Thanks. Reg no. PEV826K.Anyone know anything???

[dalmarshall]

The red one?

I think mick the cabbie once owned it

[frankthefencer]

Yes it is red.Is it genuine??

[dalmarshall]

According to a thread on turbosport mick the cabbie says 'it was re shelled at some point'

[frankthefencer]

I took the clocks out and the dash hadnt been hacked.The chassis number is stamped on the left strut top as well. It has spring hanger skids and tramp bars as well.

[lotusless]

According to a thread on turbosport mick the cabbie says 'it was re shelled at some point'

 

If it was "re-shelled" how come its got the chassis number stamped on the top plate ? is it the old chassis number or the new one ? could be a minefield with this one then. i would get in touch with the old owner first + pay a price taking into account of the re-shell, it could have loads of the gen mex bits on it but it could be a 13xl model ( dash panel) with mex bits, good luck with it.

[dalmarshall]

XL's and gt's have 6 clock dash, strut tops can be stamped, my gt has had tramp bars fitted also. Some would call PEV 826K a re shelled mex, others a XL or something with mex log book and bits. It depends what you're after I suppose. Personally if I wanted a proper mex if would have to be the original shell. Try to contact mick the cabbie. I don't think he posts on here nowadays but it's worth a shot, maybe he can tell you more.

I don't know the car myself and wouldn't want to swing your desicion on something I read somewhere, you know

[frankthefencer]

The chassis number on the top strut plate matches the vin tag and the AVO plate and the logbook. The strut top plates look original as well.Thanks for the info Dal.Is there anything it should have that no-one could blag on it??

[GJUK]

Will email Mick to get on here

[frankthefencer]

Thanks GJ!! I need to know a bit ASAP as he wants me to collect. Let's hope Mick gets on here!! Was it defo his old car?

[GJUK]

Will phone him !!!!!!!!!!11111

 

To the BAT (MICK) PHONE

 

 

[frankthefencer]

Mick.....I think your phone is ringing...... Lol!!! Would be nice to know if it's genuine or not. I am suspicious......

[frankthefencer]

Any luck GJ?? I like the car but I don't want to be mugged!!

[Mick The Cabbie]

Yey! Indeed my old beastie

 

The car came to me as part of a job lot other stuff. It's quite a while ago now, approx 8 yrs ago. It was complete exept for an engine. It had previously ran an all steel x -flow.

 

It's an early battery in boot spec Mex. Apart from the pushrod engine, these early cars were essentially a late spec twincam or RS1600 in every other aspect.

 

There were a few things about the car which lead me to suspect it wasn't in its original shell or indeed an RS/AVO shell.

 

Yes, the year of shell was correct for the car. (there are early, mid & late spec Mk1 shells irrespective of being std or AVO)

 

It had the chassis number stamped into the strut top. These are easy to swap over on to non AVO shells, as the top plate is exactly that, just a re-enforcing plate.

 

Also the brake/clutch fluid reservoir was just screwed on when I first got the car. I think I rivited it on but kinda made it look like it was welded on.

It also had a clutch cable bulkhead tube, which looked original for the shell, but I believe is incorrect for Mex, they're all hydraulic. But I was once informed that even some hyd clutch AVO shells had this tube. Dunno how true that is...

 

it had all the other 49 bits exept for the studs in the boot floor. I was told they'd been cut off yrs ago by an uneducated person who thought they shouldn't be there!!! I think the exhaust hanger was wrong too...again should be Twink/RS1600 type.

 

I did look at the gearlever appature, but can't remember my conclusion of that area... They can be made to look original with some effort as I did when I stuck a Pinto in my Mk2 Ghia. Thats reminded me, the gearbox x-member bolted thru the floor as most are when converted to 5 speed. Should have the 4 speed 2000E three rail box & hyd clutch. Can't remember if or where exactly the gbox x-member mounting fillets were. They should be further back on RS shells

 

The battery tray wasn't the proper Twink type, but just a lashed up after thought. I don't remember the original holes for the original tray being there. But in fairness, the lower rear corners could ave been replaced at some point. To be honest though, I thought it seemed like a good, strong fairly original & unmolested shell. Had rear arches at some point done to a good standard.

 

Bottom end was good spec 1700+cc, lairy cam, lightened/balanced etc. All fresh & strong! Let down by a standard head & carb at the time.

 

Used to have the correct base model seats with vertical flutes, I think only the back seat remains.

 

Worth having & improving if you aren't bothered about owning a 100% proper spec/original Mex.

[Mick The Cabbie]

 

 

[Mick The Cabbie]

AVO tag was missing, but that's not the end of the world. I guess they can go missing over the years. Repro's are easliy obtainable.

 

I think I wasn't convinced about the area around the rad being correct either

[frankthefencer]

Thanks Mick.Very kind of you.I spent over an hour today deciding whether it was a type 49 or not.It has so many things right.The only the thing was the boot floor which does have rivet heads in but have been badly ground back.All the other mexico bits are there and the dash panel is correctly formed behind the clocks.The paperwork seems ok as well.Its a bit tatty in areas but generally straight and ok.He wants 9k.I think with a little work it could be made very authentic as everything else matches up.What do you think???? The AVO tag is now on it in the right place.The numbers match the vin tag.

[Mick The Cabbie]

I'm a bit lost on values these days. However there are many previously crashed/rotten AVO cars out there which have been re-shelled to a high standard, having have had the shell bought fully up to AVO spec. It's not to rocket science to do to do it properly either.

I believe some even win concours trophies

 

I suppose it depends if you were particularly after an AVO car & an 'original' one at that, or just a high performance Escort????

[Mick The Cabbie]

I think I struggled to get £5.5k for it 6 yrs ago, can't quite remember, but may have been quite a bit less than that.

Prices haven't really risen that much since then...

[frankthefencer]

I am after a mexico as my mk2 i am doing is an all fast car.The thing is the car is paperwork wise 100% and to be fair the shell is pretty good too.I think they must of used a gt or xl shell as the clock aperture hasnt been hacked.I think I will have to sleep on it.The trouble is i really like it however do i 9K like it!!

[Mick The Cabbie]

9k to then have to do further work to make it more authentic. If the seller believes it's a 100% car, perhaps it's time to inform him & renegotiate

[GJUK]

I am after a mexico as my mk2 i am doing is an all fast car.The thing is the car is paperwork wise 100% and to be fair the shell is pretty good too.I think they must of used a gt or xl shell as the clock aperture hasnt been hacked.I think I will have to sleep on it.The trouble is i really like it however do i 9K like it!!

 

 

9k !?

 

Not worth that.