Indholdsfortegnelse for April 2021 i Classic Ford

GET OUT AND DRIVE New Derbyshire museum gives you the chance to drive a classic Escort, Fiesta or Capri. A brand-new classic car visitor attraction is set to open in Derbyshire later this year. Great British Car Journey is a 150-car museum that also offers you the chance to drive a selection of classic cars. The Drive Dad’s Car feature will allow visitors to go for a drive on the 4 acre site with an instructor in a selection of over 30 British cars including a number of classic Fords — a Mk3 Escort 1.3L, Mk3 Fiesta 1.1 and Capri 1.6 Laser. Located beside the River Derwent and within the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, Great British Car Journey is the brainchild of former Auto Windscreens and Blyton Park…

CLASSICS FOR CARERS RETURNS Following the success of its two physical and virtual events in 2020 and an RAC Historic Award, Classics for Carers is back for 2021. Classics For Cars is an event during which owners buy rally plates and stickers, affix them to their classic cars and ’bikes and, on the appointed day, display their vehicles at home so passers-by can enjoy them, as well as posting photos on social media to be appreciated by the wider motoring community, using the hashtag #classicsforcarers. The third event, which takes place on March 20, is focused on NHS well-being and mental health, aiming to raise £13,000. The target fundraising would provide an NHS well-being pod — a quiet restorative space for staff. To find out more and how you can…

FRONTEND Join the club Ford-100e.com Everything starts with an E, reckons Ben Cooper, and joining Ford-100e.com is the best way to get the most out of yours. When was the group founded, and why? Ford-100e.com was established in 2005. The club was created because at the time there wasn’t a platform solely for the 100E models, which had much information online about modifying and restoring these cars. Has the direction of the club changed much since it was founded? The format of the club has changed over the years as with most clubs, they started as forums online but have slowly died out and been taken over by Facebook. We have kept the forum due to the wealth of knowledge on it, but primarily people use our Facebook group. Which…

THIS ONE’S MINE MARC McCUBBIN If you’ve been a regular at Ford Fair, RS National Day or even the Classic Motor Show at the NEC in recent years, then Marc’s incredible Magenta Sapphire may well be a familiar sight. A regular on the concours scene, this car has been scooping up the trophies since 2004 and for good reason — it is absolutely incredible. “I had a couple of Cosworths before this one including a modified example that did well at the shows, but then in 2003 I decided I wanted to do a standard car,” Marc reveals. Hunting around for a suitable example, he came across this one-owner, low-mileage car that although still in everyday use, had been well looked after. “The day after I bought it, I stripped…

MAILBOX YOUR LETTERS, EMAILS & SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTS Capri Ghia S? You’ve described the Minder Capri in your November 2020 issue as a 2.0S on page 11 and a Ghia on page 29. Could you let me know which one it is? D Aston UK Sorry for the confusion, we can confirm it’s a 2.0S. Latest update on Terry, the fire-damaged Capri’s rebirth on page 60. Swedish not Swiss The Swiss Mk5 Estate in February’s Rusty Corner is not Swiss, it’s a Swedish Taunus 2-litre. The numberplates are definitely Swedish and also the houses look more Swedish than Swiss! Per Ottenström Sweden YOUR PHOTOS Cars, roadtrips, shows, tattoos... share your images right here. Email hi-res images to classicford.ed@kelsey.co.uk or post them up on our Facebook page.…

OUR CARS Minder Capri It’s all hands on deck for Tony and the lads as Terry the Mk2’s rebuild enters the final stages. What’s been done this month: Refitted the external trim, engine and running gear Next on the to-do list: Tackle the interior and hunt down a few missing parts Thanks to: Classic Car Restorations 01227 719800 After the necessarily slow progress of the bodywork prep and paint, Tony from Classic Car Restorations has been busy over Christmas and putting the hours in at work over lockdown to get the front of Terry, the Minder Capri assembled. Walking into the workshop it looks like a different car now, seeing it with a full face makes it look like a complete car. Remembering how it looked afters the fire, the…

MOTORSPORT CLASSIC FORDS FLAT-OUT ON THE STAGE, STRIP AND TRACK ALL THE SMALL THINGS Alex Markham’s lifelong relationship with rallying Escorts has resulted in WTW 527S — the closest thing you’ll get to the definitive Boreham Escort experience in 2021. Words Jamie Arkle Photos Adrian Brannan Alex Markham’s relationship with the Mk2 Escort rally car is akin to the one you or I might have with a pint of water 6 hours after a particularly salty Chinese takeaway: not quite the elixir of life, but pretty damn close. As to the source of this lifelong obsession with Boreham’s most successful Escort, that can be traced to his father, Paul Markham. “My dad spent a portion of the mid 1970s rallying and even tackled a couple of RAC rallies, back when…

MOTORSPORT CLASSIC FORDS FLAT-OUT ON THE STAGE, STRIP AND TRACK THE GREATEST Rally legend, Hannu Mikkola sadly passed away last month after a long illness. Graham Robson pays tribute. Words Graham Robson We were shocked and saddened to hear of Hannu Mikkola’s death on 25 February, for he was one of the greatest rally drivers of all time, notably in Escorts from 1968 to 1980. He was 78 years old, and had been fighting ill health for some time. Although he was always searingly fast, there was little of the prima donna in his character. There was no point in trying to categorise him by his Finnish nationality. Timo Makinen and Markku Alen, after all, were both Finns, and were grizzly bears in character. Ari Vatanen, another Finn, was as…

PARTING SHOT THE CONCEPT LOOKING TO THE PAST ONE CLASSIC IMAGE AT A TIME With the last of the Escort Cosworths disappearing from showrooms in the first few months of 1996, Ford Cosworth fans had to wait three long years before news of a potential replacement — in the shape of the Cosworth Focus concept revealed at the LA Auto Show in January 1999. A joint project between Cosworth and Ford’s SVE and Advanced Design departments, the Mk1 featured four-wheel-drive and a turbocharged 2-litre Zetec with a claimed 200 bhp. Sadly, the concept never went any further, but the overall engine package was carried over to the original, much-delayed Focus RS of 2002, with four-wheel-drive not appearing until the third generation RS some 12 years later.…

Welcome With Ford’s encouragement, Cosworth has built some era-defining engines over the years (check out our pick of the top five starting on page 32), but in recent times it’s definitely the YB turbo that has had the biggest effect on the classic Ford world. A relatively simple design by today’s engineering standards, this 2-litre engine is capable of producing almost obscene amounts of horsepower, yet it was designed over 25 years ago. Unsurprisingly then, the YB’s popularity has never waned, and neither has that of the carts it was officially fitted to, and we pay tribute to the mighty RS Cosworths starting on page 23. However, there’s no denying the biggest crowds are always drawn to the open bonnets of classic Fords running them, like Jamie Gilmour’s Mk1 Escort…

BUY CLASSIC FORD ONLINE (WITH FREE UK POSTAGE!) Are you stuck at home right now and can’t go out to buy your favourite magazine from the newsagents or supermarket? Panic not, you can buy the current and previous issues of Classic Ford at the normal cover price and with free UK postage (with £1 additional charge for international postage) from the official Kelsey online shop. To order your copy, simply go here: https://shop.kelsey.co.uk/issue/cfd or type ‘Kelsey Shop’ into your favourite browser. UK customers can also save money by ordering the next six issues of Classic Ford for just £15 including delivery, via the continuous offer at www.classicfordmag.co.uk or call us on 01959 543747. Alternatively, if you’re looking for your local (UK) stockist of Classic Ford, type your postcode in here:…

CLASSIC FORD SHOW RETURNS IN 2022 Uncertainties around Covid-19 and the unsuitability of available dates mean the 2021 Classic Ford Show has sadly been postponed and will now take place in 2022. This means that for any Ford fan, our main event for 2021 will be Ford Fair at Silverstone on Sunday, August 8. While planning some of the details for this year’s Ford Fair is challenging given the current uncertainties, we are still aiming for it to be Europe’s favourite Ford experience, with lots of club displays, on-track action and special features brought along by Classic Ford and Fast Ford magazines. More more information on Ford Fair 2021, go to www.fordfair.co.uk…

NEXT ISSUE Inside the May 2021 issue of Classic Ford! If you’re in a position where you’ve got upwards of £6000 to buy your next classic Ford, then make sure you don’t issue the May edition, out Friday, April 16, where we reveal the cars to buy, and what to check before you hand over your hard-earned. Also in this issue we bring you the lowdown on an original Swaymar Capri, modern-spec Group 4 Escort and tuning guide on the Sierra. The May 2021 issue hits the newsstands on Friday, April 16 — why not subscribe to make sure you don’t miss it? See page 20 for the latest subscription offers.…

ROUSE SPORT RS COSWORTH LIMITED-EDITION RARITY The rarest of all Cossies and the fastest Sierra, the Rouse Sport RS Cosworth was a semi-official Sapphire designed by BTCC legend Andy Rouse, and available new from Ford dealers from 1990 to 1992. Offered as a 302-R (rear-wheel drive) or 304-R (4x4), the Rouse Sport Sapphire featured a hybrid T25 turbo and chipped ECU, producing 260 bhp and 300 lb.ft at 4000 rpm. Standard wheels were wrapped in 225/50ZR15 Yokohamas, and the bodykit received new skirts, RS500-style splitter, deep rear valance, bigger rear spoiler and colour-coded C-pillars. Inside were wing-backed Recaro front seats in cloth or leather, extra insulation and optional wood cappings. Rouse intended to build 100 cars, but production ended after only 78, of which a mere six were 302-Rs.…

THIS ONE’S MINE GRANT BUTLER Finished just in time for our photoshoot, Grant’s Ash Black Escort Cosworth really is a sight for sore eyes, but it didn’t always look this way. “I bought it relatively cheap knowing it needed work,” reveals Grant, who also has a Sapphire Cosworth, Series One RS Turbo and super-rare Sierra GLS 4x4 in his garage, “but how much it needed didn’t reveal itself until we stripped it down and put the shell on the spit...” Fortunately, the Escort was in the care of restorer, John Balfour at this point, who, starting in May last year, expertly repaired the rotten floors and rear chassis rails, along with both sets of sills once Grant had tracked down a pair of new-old stock ones. “The engine’s been rebuilt…

MK1 ESCORT The Hard Way There are many different ways to approach a project build. Some of them are nice and easy. And some of them… well, some of them are like Jamie Gilmour’s Mk1 Escort... Words Daniel Bevis Photos Adrian Brannan In hindsight, it would have been much easier to build this from a standard, unmodified car,” muses Jamie Gilmour, as he casts a doting eye over his divine Cosworth-powered creation. But that’s always the risk with buying someone else’s project, isn’t it? Sometimes it goes well and sometimes it, er, doesn’t. Obtaining this Escort was a bit of a gamble from day one; with Jamie living in Scotland and the Mk1 on sale in London, the purchase involved a short flight down and a very long drive back,…

HERITAGE CAPRI 1600XL Original classic Fords: When you get call out of the blue asking if you want an old Ford that’s been parked up since 1978, sometimes you get incredibly lucky — like Andy Bonsell... Words and Photos Jon Cass We all talk about tracking down that dream find in a barn or a garage, but the chances of coming across a Mk2 Capri untouched since 1978 are let’s face it, pretty slim! When Andy Bonsell received a call from a family friend to say a relative of theirs had passed away and there was an old wreck wearing a Ford badge that had to be dealt with in the deceased gentleman’s garage, he thought it best to take a look. “There was talk of taking it to the…

GREAT ESTATES Mark Scott UK The Spring edition dropped through my door yesterday and already has put a smile on my face, especially seeing the top 30 Fords in this 300th edition. I have been a Ford nut since my first car, a P-reg, Mk2 Escort Estate, followed by Fiestas, Cortinas and more Escorts. My grandad was loyal to Ford all is life, only straying twice with a Datsun and Vauxhall, but always going back to Fords. I spent so much time with him working on his cars, I caught the bug. Thankfully there is no vaccine for the Ford bug and I wouldn’t have it anyway. Looking at your top 30, it was great to see estate versions featured. These two-door vehicles are often overlooked, but are much rarer…

WTW 567S: A LONG CAREER WALDEGÅRD’S CHOICE RS1800 To those in the know, Bjorn Waldegård’s name deserves to be uttered in the same breath as other, better known rallying heroes like Ari Vatanen, Walter Rohrl and Colin McRae. The wily Swede competed at the sharp-end of rallying for three decades, beginning with Group 3 Porsche 911s and concluding with the first of the Group A techno-fest heroes, the Celica ST165 GT4. Yet it was with the Escort that Waldegård achieved his greatest rallying feats, and it was with the Escort that he clinched the maiden, 1979 drivers’ title, something WTW 567S played a key role in. It took Waldegård to overall victory on the 1977 RAC (in British Airways colours) and thus helped cement his position in the team, the…

How to Buy Starter & Second Toolkits What are the essential tools you need to equip yourself for working on a classic Ford? Follow our guide to help you decide. Words and Photos Rob Hawklins Whether you’re starting to maintain a classic Ford and need a set of tools or wish to equip yourself for a second garage or a project away from home, it’s not so easy to devise a list of tools that cater for every possible job. Typical of many DIY enthusiasts, tools are often accumulated over several years or decades along with an assortment of hand-me-downs. And they rarely get thrown away, unless they break, so most of us are guilty of hoarding and being reluctant to part with a single spanner or screwdriver, just in…

NEED FOR SWEDE Your projects: After being strictly old-school for years, Derek Mitchell is embracing the ‘new’ in pursuit of performance with his SAAB-powered Mk4 Escort track car project. Words Simon Woolley Photos Adrian Brannan Cast your minds back to the April 2018 issue, and shouting out from the cover was Derek Mitchell’s stunning, Daytona Yellow Mk1 Escort. Sat perfectly on a set of Dunlop D1s and running a classic 2.1 Pinto, the Mk1 was a lesson in old school cool and was unsurprisingly, Derek’s pride and joy. Fast-forward a couple of years, and Derek found himself in the difficult position of having to sell the Mk1 to help fund a new business venture. Six months down the line though, and with things settling down a bit, he started scratching…

RUSTY CORNER Terminally-rotten old Fords This issue’s choice spot comes courtesy of longtime Classic Ford reader, Bertrand Joseph — a man who loves his classic Fords so much, he renamed his home Boreham! Over to Bertrand: “While cruising in the region of Vosges near my home here in France, I spotted this forlorn A-Series truck. It sits abandoned in the middle of a village called Midrevaux and believe me, these trucks are very rare over here — it’s probably the first one I’ve seen in decades. This village is a few miles from Domremy — the place where Joan of Arc was born.” Spotted an unloved Ford on your travels? Email photos and details of your find to classicford.ed@kelsey.co.uk or you can write to us at the address over on page…

PRODUCTS THE LATEST,GREATEST BITS FOR YOUR CLASSIC FORD RADIO-CONTROL MK2 ESCORT £195 Tamiya Tamiya has produced numerous 1/10th-scale, radio-control rally cars over the years (including the works Escort Cosworth) and they have recently announced the latest addition — the Group 4 Mk2 Escort. Supplied with decals to create the 1979 Monte Carlo-spec cars, the polycarbonate bodyshell sits over Tamiya’s MF-01X chassis, which features a rear-mounted electric motor, double-wishbone suspension and four-wheel-drive. Contact: www.tamiya.com CASTROL CLASSIC 20W50 From £8.60 Castrol Classic Oils The recently reintroduced Castrol Classic Oils range now includes the 20w50 multigrade — a staple oil for most 1960s and 1970s classic Ford engines. The oil is formulated using a high-quality mineral base enhanced with carefully selected additives that align with the oil technology of the time. Available in…

THIS ONE’S MINE STEVEN GIBSON What do you do if you just can’t get enough of classic Fords? You work on them as part of your day job, that’s what. Steven runs a busy bodyshop and as a sideline restores his passion — the RS Fords. He’s damn good at it, too – having recently finished an outstanding Venetian Red Mk2 RS2000 for a customer, and there’s currently a three-and-a-half year waiting list for his services. This absolutely stunning RS500 was previously restored for a customer back in 2010 and when it came up for sale, Steven had to have it. “It’s a one-previous-owner car and has covered just 69,000 miles,” he reveals. “When I bought it, I decided to bring it up to concours-spec and did all the big…

THIS ONE’S MINE ELLIOTT McCOLL When it comes to owning and enjoying 1980s fast Fords, there’s a typical progression up the performance scale and Elliott is no exception. Starting out with a Mk4 XR3i, he moved onto a Series 2 RS Turbo (which he still owns after recently giving it a bare-shell rebuild) to finally owning his first Sapphire Cosworth – this Diamond White 4x4 which he bought seven years ago. “I was actually looking for a 2wd at the time,” he admits. “I asked around if anyone knew of one for sale and a pal offered me this.”An ex-Ford press car, the 1991 Sapphire has covered just 64,000 miles and has been well cared for all its life. Not that that hasn’t stopped Elliott doing a few tweaks to…

ESCORT RS COSWORTH MONTE CARLO THE 1994 SPECIAL EDITION Victory on the 1994 Monte Carlo Rally brought a special tribute in the form of the Escort RS Cosworth Monte Carlo. Launched in February of the same year, the Monte was offered throughout Europe in a choice of Ash Black, Mallard Green or new Jewel Violet. Each was equipped with 8x16 inch OZ wheels, Monte decals and a revised Lux-spec cockpit, wearing Raven Flow cloth upholstery, new steering wheel (with diamond-shaped perforations), alloy gearknob and handbrake. Uniquely, there was an individual build number on a dashboard plaque. Most Montes were early Big Turbo examples, but those built after June 1994 featured theT25-fedYBP powerplant. Officially a limited edition of 200 cars — including 73 for the UK — France instead received 100…

PERFECTLY PRESERVED THE PREP AND PAINT Chances of coming across any classic car lost in time for 40 years are very slim, but to find one so well preserved is almost unthinkable. While the interior, electrics and the majority of the mechanical components had survived unscathed, the Stardust Silver paintwork showed signs of aging. “It had begun peeling back to reveal bare metal and there were the odd few areas of surface rust appearing,” Andy explains, “yet the vinyl roof remained perfect.” It was decided a full sympathetic respray in the original colour should be carried out by Mozza’s Car Body Repairs and the Capri now looks, drives and feels just like it did when it left the Halewood factory in 1974.…

CFTECH IMPROVING YOUR CLASSIC FORD JUST GOT EASIER UPGRADE GUIDE MK2 FIESTA With bags of potential, it’s no wonder the Mk2 Fiesta is much in demand. Here’s how to get the best out of one. Whether you like them, love them or loathe them, the Mk2 Fiesta is a big part of the classic Ford artillery. And so it should be — the first examples are 35 years old now making them prime candidates. More recently they’ve enjoyed increased interest among enthusiasts looking for a practical and viable way into the scene —the very same way the Mk1 Fiesta gained popularity. Prices have seen a steady rise in recent times, but scouring the classifieds and being patient will still turn up a bargain or two — and there’s plenty you…

QUERY OF THE MONTH LEAKING GEARBOX Q I have a Mk2 Escort with a 2.1 Pinto and a Type-9 gearbox. I have changed the oil seal in the gearbox many times, but it keeps on leaking. I have tried a single-piece and a two-piece prop, and the gearbox doesn’t appear to be damaged. The prop runs 100 mm into the gearbox. Any ideas? Neil Scanlon UK A First, make sure that the seal you’re using is a high-temperature one — a lot of the pattern seals aren’t and they overheat. If in doubt, use a genuine Ford item, as they’re still widely available including from Burton Power. Next, make sure that you oil the mating face of the seal before you fit it into the back of the ’box, as…

reader’s restoration: cortina 1600e THE GULF BETWEEN Reader’s restoration: First spotted by Richard Farrell back in the 1980s, some 30 years later he finally tracked down the Gulfstream Aqua 1600E and gave it the rebuild it deserved. Words and Photos Jon Cass The Cortina 1600E has always had its fans, none more so than Richard Farrell who happens to be the lucky owner of this very late, August 1970 example finished in Ford Gulfstream Aqua. Although this iconic 1600E may look the part now, it wasn’t quite that way when Richard first got his hands on it some four years ago! Back in the 1980s, the 1600E was regarded as a cheap runaround and Richard being a die-hard Ford fanatic took full advantage of those crazy times we can now…

BUYER’S GUIDE GRANADA SCORPIO MK3 A rear-drive, V6-powered Ford saloon you can buy right now for under £3000? Here’s what to look for on the 12-valve models. Words ChristianTilbury Photos Richard Dredge, Vicky Dredge/Magic Car Pics “FORD’S FLAGSHIP WAS A PLUSH WAY TO TRAVEL” Diehard Granada fans might have been aghast that their favourite saloon had morphed into a hatchback, but on the Mk3’s March 1985 launch the new Scorpio provided ample reassurance that Ford’s flagship was still a plush way to travel. “ALWAYS THE PINNACLE OF THE GRANADA RANGE, THE GHIA PASSED THE EXECUTIVE EXPRESS BATON TO THE SCORPIO” Traditionally, the Ghia had always been the pinnacle of the Granada line-up, but it now passed the executive express baton to the Scorpio. The new pretender was described as ‘A…