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Australian mk1 escort differences


XjamesX

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Anybody on here particularly knowledgeable on the aussie mk1s? Got a few questions about a car if anyone could help me, just things ive noticed that i dont know if they are specific to Australian built mk1's, or are things that have been modified etc. i remember there is at least one regular poster from Australia if my memory serves me right!? Anyway if anyone could help me would be much appreciated 👍

Cheers

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I would be interested to know specifics as I recently bought one to restore/mod, but have not had a chance to give it a good look over as yet :) 

All I know about at this stage is that they have the AVO type top mounts and inner wing strengthening plates! Also im not sure if the front seat mountings are different???

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On 15/09/2021 at 04:01, katana said:

That'll be RP2000 - he'll be waking up soon LOL!

 

On 15/09/2021 at 06:57, Vista said:

Seconded @Rally Pack 2000 he's your man, if he can't tell you, no-one can

aladdin-disney.gif

 

 

6 hours ago, Xp197777 said:

Where is RP 2000 James gone must be on his hols

Hey Im back guys sorry to be lax this week. Mum had the vaccine last week had a stroke 5 days later and while in hospital she was exposed to the virus by another patient and in order for me to pick her up from the hospital I had to agree to to become a contact and quarantine for 14 days with her and they gave me 1 minute to decide. As it turned out im woefully inadequate for the job and with hindsight my sister would have been far far better to offer the care she needs but it was such a shock I just agreed to it all. I always thought I was a pretty good problem solver but I am a sh*thouse crisis solver and just had total brain fade. I particularly took issue with the question after telling me of how they put a covid positive prison guard in charge of 15 covid prisoners in the bed beside an elderly 86yo doris and then telling me I had to quarantine with her for 2 weeks just for the right to take her home so he asked "Are you Ok with that?' Ummm ........... No ............ Then I kinda got lost my temper!!! First tests both Negative Yay!

Australian Escorts? Ask away I think I am way better at those than caring for the vulnerable! There are quite a few subtle differences so I wont list them but what specifically didn't look right to you?

13 hours ago, The Transplanter said:

I would be interested to know specifics as I recently bought one to restore/mod, but have not had a chance to give it a good look over as yet :) 

All I know about at this stage is that they have the AVO type top mounts and inner wing strengthening plates! Also im not sure if the front seat mountings are different???

IMG_20210824_142926.jpg

Technically all Australian shells would be considered AVO strengthened shells apart from the lack of Radius Arms. All but the Twincams had unique locally made Borg Warner Axles. Seat mountings were the same and followed the UK evolution from tilt forward seats like my Twincam has to the later recliner type.

So feel free to ask away. Now that Im settled in for the duration and the shock is wearing off and with the Army ensuring I cannot escape i strangely find I have time to answer questions. It would probably help actually to take my mind off things. Thanks for the kind vote of confidence guys it was most welcome right now feeling useless at everything else.!

5 hours ago, Brenda1978 said:

One of the main. Differences was the Bruce and Sheila Sun strip on the front window. Optional roo bars for collisions and plenty of twin cams in odd colours

You could in fact get Roo bars for Escorts but they were non original equipment but they were a small upside down U shape bar that bolted to the bumper with support body brackets. The protection they offered was questionable with the car pretty much f*ched after a Roo strike whether you had the added bar or not.

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Sod the cars mate, I really hope your Mum gets better real soon, and your ok as well, you can have a hundred brand new Escort MK1's & 2's, worth £ millions, but you only have One Mum &  One Dad, I miss both of mine every second of every day, look after your self mate, fingers crossed and all that.

 

Al.

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21 minutes ago, caprimk1v4 said:

Sod the cars mate, I really hope your Mum gets better real soon, and your ok as well, you can have a hundred brand new Escort MK1's & 2's, worth £ millions, but you only have One Mum &  One Dad, I miss both of mine every second of every day, look after your self mate, fingers crossed and all that.

 

Al.

That's soooo true. Thats why I have been missing the past week but she is settled now and sleeps most of the day so a nice car chat distraction is good. It would be really helpful actually So ask away!

No posts in a "Day out in your OSF" thread from me though in a couple of weeks lol. Must remember to put the charger on. Lost both batteries last year in the last lot of lockdowns last year and this quarantine is way worse.

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35 minutes ago, Miniliteman said:

@RP2000: my thoughts are with you and your family sir. I quit my job March last year to look after my mum 24/7 who had dimentia and artritis as because of Covid the "normal" health support was unavailable so I kinda know what its like. Take care.

Its the dementia part im not coping with very well, its rather humbling at how pathetically useless you discover yourself to be sometimes.

My apologies for inadvertently hijacking this thread. Hit me with those Aussie Escort questions, I got the bible out!

Manual1s.jpg.305438275b7f1fe102b9d818f6e0aa99.jpgManual2s.jpg.5c085014a8316c97c9ebbe0fab4b91b6.jpg

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hope all is ok with your mom, there is nothing more important than family, so fingers crossed things are starting to look a little better for you. The car I was interested in was at an auction house, I bid on it but sadly didn't end up winning the car (I got outbid in the last 4 seconds and missed out on the car by only £100!) Tbh I'm thinking im never gonna get a mk1 the way things are going atm 😂

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Sorry to hear that you got pipped at the post with the Auction. Dont give up all hope it sometimes takes months or years before the right car at the right price falls in your lap.

I would be curious to know what differences the AVO club guy outlined for you? When I was a member their knowledge of Australian cars was quite limited which is quite understandable as Australia had no AVO cars sold here apart from a limited 25 run of Mk1 RS2000s imported for competition purposes. While Australian Twincams closely mirrored their UK counterparts and are accepted by association as the precursor to AVO cars into their club the only common reference people have is the use of strengthened shells on all Mk1s. Having read virtually all the UK based books on the subject most content on Australian cars are so wildly off the mark that it borders on false and misleading information being circulated there. At the time of manufacturing Australia had in place tax concessions for greater local content so in the case of Mk1 Escorts, even the base 1300s have many major to subtle differences that most are probably unaware to reference. Those concessions began to be lifted in the later 1970's so you saw a greater use of European parts in Mk2 versions however even with that there are still many notable differences, some quite major.

Mum is ok, still a bit shaky. A fear of the unknown and if life will ever get back to normal has created a fear that isn't helping any recovery.

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Has anyone gathered the info and done a list of the differences?

The 1300XL that I have looks familiar to me in terms of spec compared to a UK model. ie. Chrome border trims around the side windows, square headlights, blacked out rear panel, faux wood vinyl dash trim etc. Although mine has the 2 pod dash, and I know at least some XL's in the UK had 6 pod, but I dont know if that was an option on the XL models?!?

The only real differences I have noticed (although I have not gone into detail) is the front strut tower strengthening and that it is fitted with the German/Koln axle as opposed to the Timkin/English that we had.

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3 hours ago, The Transplanter said:

Has anyone gathered the info and done a list of the differences?

The 1300XL that I have looks familiar to me in terms of spec compared to a UK model. ie. Chrome border trims around the side windows, square headlights, blacked out rear panel, faux wood vinyl dash trim etc. Although mine has the 2 pod dash, and I know at least some XL's in the UK had 6 pod, but I dont know if that was an option on the XL models?!?

The only real differences I have noticed (although I have not gone into detail) is the front strut tower strengthening and that it is fitted with the German/Koln axle as opposed to the Timkin/English that we had.

Yep I have a list. Too many to note in one post often so subtle they go overlooked. Much more than the strengthened shells and Borg Warner Axles certainly. Even some of the switches in Australian Mk1s are unique to them. I know it drives that switch restorer guy crazy LOL. The Mk2 differences are quite substantial as well some better than their UK counterparts and others worse so it sort broke even in the end result.

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