Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2021 i Classic Ford

SPRING INTO ACTION New date for Spring Classic Car & Restoration Show The 2021 edition of the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show, with Discovery, will be held at the slightly later date of June 11-13 at Birmingham’s NEC. Show Director, Lee Masters said: “With current government guidelines, we feel it is too much of a risk to go ahead with the usual March dates. In order to have the confidence to move the show forward, we feel a summer date is more appropriate. We can’t wait to see how all the restoration projects that have received so much love during lockdown have turned out when we all get together at the NEC next year.” Tickets already purchased for the 2020 show will automatically be carried over to the…

MK1 ESCORT EMPIRE OF THE SON Ian Skene was happy driving his Mk1 Escort every day, until his son, Fraser decided to fit some Mexico wings. As one thing led to another, the scope of the project grew beyond all recognition. Words Daniel Bevis Photos Adrian Brannan Tenacity. Perseverance. Sticking power. These are the marks of a presmartphone generation, people raised in an era when a decent attention span was something to be cherished. Not that we’re knocking smartphones or the internet, of course; we’re accelerating rapidly toward a time when Apple will be our overlords, and we welcome our new masters with open arms. Please, iPhones, don’t hurt us. We know you’re always watching. Nevertheless, the point stands: back in the 1980s and 1990s, people tended to stick with…

HERITAGE CAPRI 3.0S Original classic Fords: When Sean Horsey bought this 1979 Capri 3.0S it had previously been restored, yet still required a bit of work doing to it — now it’s an outstanding example. Words Mike Renaut Photos Adrian Brannan Sometimes researching a feature for Classic Ford raises more questions than answers. That was initially the case with this 1979 Capri 3.0S that owner, Sean Horsey bought at an auction in 2018. “I’d wanted a Capri for a while, especially a 3-litre,” explains Sean, “and this one caught my eye because of the colour and the electric sunroof. I’ve owned a number of Capris since the mid-1980s, usually 2.8 and 3-litre cars. I love classic Fords; I’ve got an RS Turbo and a Sapphire Cosworth, but also a Capri…

THE PRO BUILDER BUILDING A SHOW-STOPPER Expert advice from the mind of Gary Martin Do you think it’s become harder to please everyone in the scene? I think the classic Ford community has an eclectic mix, with both old and young generations appreciating different qualities. To me, the saying ‘If it looks right, it is right’ has stood the test of time and it’s still the same things that make a stunning build; attention to detail, be it a standard car or race/rally car. Has the scene changed to make it more difficult to build a show car? The biggest change I’ve seen that makes it harder is there’s a new generation that never had parents tinkering with cars, so skills like metal shaping are a dying art. That said,…

HOMEBUILT HERO IN FOCUS Don’t be fooled by the classic ’looks, Pete Fisher’s restored Mk2 Cortina is now 16-valve powered thanks to a rotten Focus ST170. Words and Photos Jon Cass The Focus ST170 has become a rare sight on our roads, though whether people have yet noticed its gradual demise is another matter. While the iconic RS stole all the glory, the highly capable ST170 remains largely forgotten when it came to the original Focus and that’s a shame. Fortunately, the heart of many an ST170 has survived and they’ve gone on to power their elder siblings, including Pete Fisher’s innocent-looking Mk2 Cortina! Now, Pete’s been a long time Mk2 Cortina fan since they were a common sight on our roads, and it was way back in 1978 when…

YOUR CARS THE BEST OF WHAT'S IN OUR INBOX THIS MONTH Denis Findlay From: UK: Car: Mk1 Sierra “Here’s my Sierra 1.6 GL which came to me as a company car back in October 1983. Not long after I was made redundant from my job in Newcastle and I was given the car as part of the farewell package! “I moved to Southampton to a new job and was given a new company car, so the Sierra was left in a lock-up for 16 years — in 2008 I rescued it and after a lot of work is now my revived pride and joy.” Dan Friel From: UK Car: Mk1 Escort “Here’s my Mk1 Escort finished in Frozen White after a full bare shell rebuild. It’s running a 2-litre Silver…

EXPERT CLINIC TROUBLE WITH YOUR FORD? SEND IN YOUR QUERY AND WE'LL SORT IT OUT Steering coupling Q I’ve got a 1972 Mk1 Escort two-door that I have been restoring. I plan to refit my 1600 Crossflow with twin Webers, headers, Piper 285 camshaft, and a five-speed Sierra gearbox. I also managed to score a brand spanking new World Cup crossmember here in Australia which I fitted with a dummy block. My only problem is that the factory rubber doughnut coupling on the steering shaft doesn’t clear the crossmember mount and there is some misalignment between the rack and steering shaft. Is there an alternative steering coupling that suits the World Cup crossmember? Pauli Shore Australia A “There is a steering universal joint available which is of all-steel construction and…

reader’s restoration: mk3 cortina STARTER COURSE Reader’s restoration: When we previously looked at Pete Crompton’s restored Mk3 Cortinas there was one we held back — this green GXL that first inspired his love of the cars. Words Mike Renaut Photos Adrian Brannan Pete Crompton swears he doesn’t have a favourite among his collection of Mk3 Cortinas (see the Cortina City feature in the January 2021 issue,) yet this green 1972 2-litre GXL automatic clearly rates high in his affections. “I saved it from a scrapyard where it was about to be crushed,” remembers Pete. “That was toward the end of 1992 and the car was an MoT failure. I was a regular visitor at the yard, which was Ben Johnson’s place in Southport. I’d buy a Mk5 Cortina estate from…

Welcome In the UK at least, winter has felt like a particularly long one this time around. But now we sense we’ve turned a corner and, with fingers firmly crossed, the show season hopefully on the horizon, we can look forward to getting our cars back out there, and for some, showing them off for the first time. In this issue, we’ve cherry-picked three examples that we think you should check out this coming Summer — from right across the scene. We’ve even dared to highlight one car that isn’t even finished yet, but knowing the owner, we don’t think there’s much doubt that it won’t be rolling through a show gate this coming Summer. Of course, we’re saving the biggest surprises for The Great Unveiling at the Ford Fair…

ANARCHY, TERROR, CRIMES! THE PROFESSIONALS EFFECT Undoubtedly the best advertising Ford ever got for the Capri was in The Professionals, which aired on ITV from 1977 to 1983. Although other cars appeared, it’s still the Fords that are best remembered. While boss, Cowley had several Mk2 Granadas, Bodie and Doyle were often seen behind the wheels of Capris. Initially used were a silver Mk2 3.0S with vinyl roof, X Pack arches and Ronal wheels, then a gold Mk2 3-litre Ghia before Bodie got his familiar silver Mk3 3.0S. Doyle drove a white RS2000 (with an electric sunroof!) that was returned to Ford for the 1980 season since RS2000 production had ended. It was replaced by a gold Mk3 Capri 3.0S. It’s thought as many as seven or more Capris were…

MK3 ESCORT ONE LOVE RS Turbos have been a lifelong passion for Adam Bowler. So, when he discovered that this one was riddled with rot and bodges, he couldn’t bring himself to scrap it; instead, he built it into something rather incredible. Words Daniel Bevis Photos Andy Saunders This is one of the best RS Turbos we’ve ever seen. While we’re no strangers to hyperbole (it’s 2021, that’s basically what social media is made of), we’re a very long way from exaggerating here. There are just so many reasons why this Series One is a true-blue winner — the spec, the finish, the sheer damned desirability of it — but the most significant factor is that this is a millimetre-perfect embodiment of all the Mk3 Escort dreams we’ve collectively enjoyed…

HOMEBUILT HERO With plenty of experience and a clear plan, Pete knew just what he had to do to revive the Mk2. The car was bought as a rolling project, and after 10 years of outdoor storage, was in a mess. Pete worked his way through the shell cutting out any areas of corrosion including the classic... .... Lower A-posts, with Pete making up several repair sections to weld in and make solid again. Thankfully repair panels for the Mk2 are readily available speeding up the restoration process,. With the main shell repairs complete, Pete applied marine-spec Bonda primer to the underside.…

MAILBOX YOUR LETTERS, EMAILS & SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTS Taunus times Brown gravel road. Spruce tops. Summer cottages carefully converted into cramped suburban villas, far from the nearest village. In that environment, teenage melancholia struck. Me and one of the other guys who got stranded in that environment were both depressed, but in different ways. My childhood friend from the area was a couple of years older, and when he got his driver’s license, we found a new routine. Just in time for his 18th birthday, he had gotten hold of a bronze-coloured Taunus 17M, built in Cologne in 1970. Ten years old, but with an engine in good shape. For him the car became a kind of costume for a new persona - the motorhead — and together we started…

QUERY OF THE MONTH RS2000 LIGHTS Q Could you help me? I need all four headlamps for my Mk2 RS2000 — I can’t seem to get them anywhere. Jo Waghorn UK A “The originals were made by Cibie and are hard to find at present, either new-old stock or second-hand,” says Dave Fisher from D&D Developments. “The inner lamps seem harder to find, while the outers seemed a bit easier, but not greatly so.” “Lucas make a similar-style 5.75-inch lamp which on the surface looks suitable but the rear connectors are different — these are the normal Lucas-type fitting with three tabs. Ford couldn’t do things easily could they! The only way around this would be to modify the headlamp mounting frames to take the Lucas-type fittings.”…

MOTORSPORT CLASSIC FORDS FLAT-OUT ON THE STAGE, STRIP AND TRACK THE LATE SHIFT The Escort RS1700T was arguably three years too late, but it still had the potential to be an incredible rally weapon. Here’s why. Words Graham Robson At the end of the 1970s, with four-wheel drive still not yet on the horizon, Ford needed a new rally car to replace the Mk2 Escort. Boreham set out to design a new front-engine/rear-drive car, with a turbocharged BD engine, a rear transaxle, and a modified Mk3 body. And to gain Group B homologation, 200 would have to be built. Work started in 1980. Motorsport boss, Karl Ludvigsen supported it, while John Wheeler arrived at Boreham to design it, with the first car being shown in mid-1981. Even then the tide…

PARTING SHOT LOOKING TO THE PAST ONE CLASSIC IMAGE AT A TIME Words Paul Wager Photo Getty LUCKY DIP Right now, the idea of asking drivers to stop to have their cars disinfected might not seem so odd, but as you can see, we’ve been here before. The Foot And Mouth epidemic of 1960 was the reason and here we see competitors of that year’s RAC Rally passing the control point at the entrance of Mallory Park. The arrangement is decidedly makeshift, with the cars — including this Anglia — essentially splashing through a puddle of disinfectant. 1960 was the first year the RAC Rally switched from being a navigation event on public roads to special stages on closed roads on forestry land, allowing the drivers to go as hard…

REAR-ARRANGED Your projects: As if one out-there Mk1 Fiesta isn’t enough, Ben Gibbs is back with another rear-drive build — only this one’s Cosworth YB-powered... Words Matt Black Photos Adrian Brannan Many people find it hard to build a project car. Those that have accomplished it will know it’s often a long and difficult process that takes vast amounts of time, money and effort. Then there’s the issue of keeping enthusiasm going to plod along through the more challenging parts that often sees some give up. However, there are some people out there who have clearly mastered the build process, one being Ben Gibbs. You may recall that name from the insane rear-wheel drive Mk1 Fiesta that was fitted with a 500 bhp ST170 turbo engine mounted in the boot.…

DRIVE IT DAY RALLY PLATES ON SALE Rally plates are now available for The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs’ 2021 Drive-It Day, scheduled for April 25. The annual celebration is staged on the Sunday closest to April 23 in tribute to the One Thousand Mile Trial in 1900, when 65 vehicles drove from London to Edinburgh returning to London to prove the viability of the motor car, and sees events and runs take place all over the UK. Drive-It Day 2021 will be the first to be run support of the NSPCC’s Childline service. Small and regular-sized rally plates cost £10 each and include a minimum £5 donation to the NSPCC. Platinum versions in both sizes are also available at £30 each, with a minimum of £20 donated. Go…

Join the club Corsair Owners’ Club The Corsair may have become a bona fide classic since the club was first founded, but the mission remains the same, reckons Paul Watts. When was the club founded? The club was founded by Robbin Hodder back in 1985. Robin had a Corsair and there was little interest in ‘The Forgotten Ford’ unlike the rest of the range. Us early members were the pioneers — now others are cottoning on to them and restoring them as opposed to just owning one as a vehicle to use. Has the direction of the club changed much since those early days? It’s hard to say really. We still try and promote the Corsair with attendances at various shows — the NEC being a big example especially with…

THE PRO BUILDER THE RULING CLASS What does it take to build a pro-level show car in 2021? Gary Martin reveals all with his latest rule-breaking project. Words Matt Black Photos Adrian Brannan Gary Martin needs no introduction when it comes to classic Ford project builds. His name has been behind some of the most impressive projects of the last few decades, but he doesn’t stop when it comes to evolving either. We had heard about his latest build for a customer some time ago: an Escort van with a modern, race-like suspension set-up that was all kinds of crazy, so we took a closer look. The van is named Lawless and with good reason. “Why the name?” asks Gary. “Because the rule book has been thrown in the bin.”…

UPGRADE GUIDE MK1 ZEPHYR The Mk1 Zephyr/Zodiac range is one of the coolest classics Ford has to offer, and it’s as good as time as ever to get involved. The Mk1 Zephyr possesses a certain amount of coolness that very few other models in the classic Ford catalogue can seem to match. They stick out from the crowd as having a bit more of a presence than your average classic, and with it they command a bit more respect. A lot of that is down to the roots from which these cars became popular with the racers and enthusiasts alike. This means we owe a lot to the Zephyr and the path they set for their younger siblings and it’s for that reason they’ve become the godfather of classic Ford…

classic ford’s project cars Project XR3i Timing is everything... The Lancaster Insurance Escort gets a tuneup and meets some of its 1980s rivals. Last month saw us tidying up the interior of the Escort but with the mysterious rough running having returned. As before, I suspected a misfire and that’s definitely how it felt, but chatting to the professionals in the shape of my local garage suggested it was more likely to be a sticking hydraulic lifter. One of the selling features of the all-new Mk3 Escort back in 1980 was the reduced servicing requirements of the CVH engine compared to the previous models and one of the ways this was achieved was by using hydraulic tappets. Needing no manual adjustment at service time, they reduced the servicing time dramatically…

MOTORSPORT CLASSIC FORDS FLAT-OUT ON THE STAGE, STRIP AND TRACK DREAM WEAVER This Saph track car traces a path from teenage yearning to grown-up mischief, via experimentation and even starting a dedicated business. It turns out, as Gary Wait proves, dreams can come true. Words Daniel Bevis Photos Adrian Brannan There’s often a single automotive spark that sets young boys and girls on the route to becoming lifelong, dyed-in-the-wool petrolheads. Perhaps little Jimmy might have been given a Ferrari Testarossa poster when he was 11, which helped to ignite a never-ending obsession with Italian supercars; maybe little Janey was brought up watching Knight Rider and The A-Team, and her driveway is now full of American V8 muscle. But for Gary Wait, it all began with a Fiat Punto. No, wait,…

Know this Rustproofing Discover the best DIY techniques for painting and rustproofing the bodywork and other parts on your classic Ford. Most classic Fords are notorious for corrosion, so many owners have become skilled in the art of rustproofing, or at the very least, dread the sight of tinworm. Preparation is in many cases more important than application when it comes to rustproofing, whether it’s an entire bodyshell or a small component. Flaky rust and unknown contaminants from previous resprays are some of the problems waiting to threaten fresh paint and ensure it will fall off or react within a few days or weeks. There may well be products that promise to cover and protect metalwork with one single coat, but there’s no escaping the fact that if you remove…

BUYER’S GUIDE ORION MK2 If you want a classic Ford with a difference, then the refined and well-equipped Orion is well worth a look. Here’s what you need to know. Words ChristianTilbury Photos Adrian Brannan “AT THE TIME, BUYERS APPRECIATED THE EXTRA REFINEMENT” The original Ford Orion might have been introduced as a bit of an afterthought to satisfy Cortina owners who couldn’t stomach the new-wave Sierra and even tempt some Escort buyers who weren’t sold on a hatchback, but when the Mk4 Escort was announced in 1986 a facelifted Orion was right beside it. There was good reason for Ford to freshen up the saloon, too. Despite the original being limited to more upmarket versions, it had proved quite a seller, with buyers appreciating the extra refinement and room…