to buy or not to buy - Ford Escort -

[whiteballz]

Hi guys, ive been searching for a car to steadily do up/restore with my dad for a few months, (after years of contemplating it) i have found just today this old escort, and wanted your oppinions on the car, wether i should try to restore it or not, and if so, how much should i offer the guy for it? i will go back a few more times and look in more detail for rust and the usual wear and tear, but i think the car has potential..

so what do you lads reckon? worth another look?

[clutch-monkey]

buy it. whore out your ass, if you must.

[drakkie]

If you are convinced the car is not rotten underneath,go for it. if its rotten,find another.the cutting,welding and all that stuff takes an enormous amount of time,while parts can be reasonably well replaced. Ask the guy if you can put it in the air and look at the bottom. If he says no, walk away (cos he knows its rotten there then )

[whiteballz]

the car lot does not have the pits to put it up, so next time im there i will look underneath though better pics too...

[drakkie]

Originally Posted by whiteballz

the car lot does not have the pits to put it up, so next time im there i will look underneath though better pics too...

Take a jack and a few blocks of wood/concrete... works prefectly for improvising OR buy a few axle stands (you will need them anyway). Last resort, weld them yourself(if you can weld though ).

Also important:
- You or your dad needs to have welding skills. somewhere in the process you will need to do it...
- Before asembling it again put tectile or other anti-rust over every part. you never now,it might help
- Get plastic bags and a few markers. for every part you dismantle put the screws and parts in the bags and organise it.My uncle(pro in restoring) does it and I will too, after having a dozen of screws left after reassembling a scooter two weeks late the exhaust fell off

[Blitz_]

buy it, buy it, buy it, damnit, buy it

[drakkie]

Originally Posted by Blitz_

buy it, buy it, buy it, damnit, buy it

Not yet Give it some thorough inspection AND thought Who knows, it may be the worst wreck ever underneath. I'll ask around for known weak spots...

Before i forget, how is part supply for it over there ?

[Blitz_]

Originally Posted by drakkie

Not yet Give it some thorough inspection AND thought Who knows, it may be the worst wreck ever underneath. I'll ask around for known weak spots...

Before i forget, how is part supply for it over there ?

hehe yes obviously

Still, they are a great little car, and dont worry, there are plenty of escort parts over here. Im also looking for a resto' as well, preferably a tc corty' but financial balance doesnt look so well rofl!

[2ndclasscitizen]

Get an earlier 2 door one, the more rounded design. I have no idea what model/year they are but they look much better. Just my two hundreths of a dollar

[whiteballz]

you pay for a mk1 esky and i will drive and restore it.

[Matra et Alpine]

Looking at it, then the front chassis legs are possibly bent. The inner wings will be buckled.
The Escort RELIES on those for it's rigidity and safey in a frontal.
The bits stuck on top will make it COSMETICALLY look Ok, but it's a potential death trap just awaiting a frontal
Sadly replacement front chassis legs ( cos you need to weld it back into teh passenger floor ) are difficult to get, but not impossible.
No idea what engine. If it's an 1800 Cossie then it's worth saving. If it's an 1100 then walk away and learn to enjoy having your legs.

[Cotterik]

it has some sort of double front bumper. maybe an ozzy tradition for cheap front spoilers. may want to check that out.

[nota]

Originally Posted by whiteballz

so what do you lads reckon? worth another look?

Mate to be honest that car is worth zero .. or $30 down at Simmsmetal

I don't mind Mk II Escorts they're fun to drive, I had a new one at work. But why get a total clanger then 'invest' more $$ into it, when reasonably decent ones with rego can be had for well under $1k. Even a super tidy 2-litre Mk II like a GL would only be worth $2k or so, absolute max imo

FYI of UK Escort likers many local Escorts were 2 litre models, even in panelvans, including a nifty (Sundowner?) sport van. Ford AU even contemplated selling a V6 version, protos built and tested. Likewise a MK III Cortina Bathurst special with a 302cid Cleveland V8


In much of Oz, rust isn't the overwhelming problem that it can be in europe. Where I am, cars don't seem to suffer rust at all but it's obviously worth looking if you live coastal

Not suggesting this car which I came across this car the other day (and apparently a bit of on-topic tinworm) but thought I might share. Its a little cutie eh? Rare-original these days, there's a very neat 17 TS (same colour) in Canberra that's been lurking around for years
http://www.drive.com.au/used_cars/re...&pp=0&d=0&nv=1

[Blue Supra]

if the chasis is stuffed then walk away my friend.

get a 120Y and drop a 253 V8 in... its been done

[Daz27]

My mate had a Mk2 escort 2 litre that he used ta race, and we had about five of them sitting around at one stage for canabalising. The areas for rust in those cars is the plenum in front of the screen, the footwell at the base of the A pillar and around the rear window.

Most of the mk 2's had either the poxy 1300, the slightly better 1600 (both Kent motors) and the much more powerful (and fun) pinto 2 litre. Dont waste your time if its an automatic, they are sooo lethargic, wouldnt have enough pace to get out of its shadows way. The 4 speed manual is great, get a quikshifter for it and its magic, we made one for each of our cars. The only real problem we ever had was in the axle and diff centres but thats because mk 2 2 litre versions do filthy skids, if youre good and you have a decent grind cam you can work them up through the gears to top, staticly spinning the rears at 7000 rpm in top is funnnnn.

If I had the time over again, I would have rebuilt my 2 MK 1's coupes, they were magic little cars, very light, very sexy. Build up a decent 1600 with a pair of dellortos or webbers and stand back.

The main problem with the Escort really is the fact that the entire body is welded together meaning the panels dont come off easy and if you weld them back in wrong then you have probs. Oh and one last thing, get a 2 door, and get the rally pack spoiler kit, with the round headlight grill...

Good luck with it.

Edit... having looked at the pictures, I wouldnt be buying that car. I would buy the front cut and the grill though. Hell, it hasnt even got the factory tacho...