Indholdsfortegnelse for June 2022 i Classic Ford

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH UPRATED ESCORT ESTATE DAMPERS From £63.70 GAZ Shocks Want to improve the handling of your Mk2 Escort Estate? GAZ Shocks now manufacture uprated front insert and rear dampers for the model. The GT dampers provide variable bump and rebound rates which can be adjusted to suit the conditions and driving style. The damping rates can be altered by means of an easily accessible knob on the side of the units. Contact: 01268 724585, www.gazshocks.com ATLAS AXLE SERVICE PARTS From £1.08 (carrier shims) Rally Design For years Rally Design has been supplying the major components to build Atlas axles, while in tandem, Ford has done an excellent job of supplying service items such as bearings, oil seals, crush washers and pinion carrier shims.These essential parts are now…

Brannan Even if classic Fords are your sole automotive passion and have been since you started driving, you can’t deny that we share a huge amount in common with car modifiers at large — regardless of the age or even marque involved. David Gilbert is the first to admit that his love of modified old Fords is a fairly recent one, but he’s no less passionate about them. In fact, he’s used his extensive knowledge and experience of mucking around with things on both two and four wheels — both new and old — to put into all his projects, including his latest; this superb Anglia 105E packing some new-school tricks but with a distinctive old-school flavour. “Thanks to my dad, who I joined in the motor trade, I’ve been…

The idea of taking your classic out for a weekend blast and meeting other like-minded folk for a coffee and some nosh is certainly nothing new, but in recent years the idea really seems to have taken off by storm. The Motorist, based in Sherburn-in-Elmet near Leeds is one such venue, where along with a fully equipped garage catering for a range of classics, they also boast more than ample parking, ideal for the kind of meet ups we relish. Events take place on a regular basis and always attract a huge turnout, this pre-2000 Ford event was no exception. The day may have been far from warm, but at least the sun was out so there were no complaints considering we were barely out of winter. The range of…

Toni Fisher From: UK Car: Pinto SW Though we don’t often cover American Fords, we reckoned this exceptionally rare 1973 Pinto station wagon was well worth a closer look. Amazingly, its current and very proud owner, Toni Fisher has only been driving for two years, this is her third car. “I was looking for a 1967 Impala, when I saw this for sale,” she smiles, “some would say it’s the runt of the litter, but I have a real soft spot for it.” The Lima-engined Pinto originated from California and arrived in 2020 to these shores complete with almost 50 years of hard-earned patina. “I’d like to lacquer the patina retaining the current look,” Toni tells us, “though I may upgrade the engine to a 350ci V8 to give it…

In May’s issue I tried two sets of bike carbs.The first set which were 37 mm Keihins that didn’t work — under load the slides would not lift. Paul the owner took them away and went over them. Although not split, the diaphragms did not fit and seal very well. He made some adjustments and very carefully reassembled them.I put them back on the engine and tried again, and we had an improvement.This time instead of 7 bhp we now had 87 bhp, but things were clearly still not right. On the dyno the number one carb now lifted its slide and eventually number three opened, but the other two still didn’t play ball. Still, 87 bhp wasn’t bad for an engine basically running on two cylinders! Paul had another…

One of the main reasons many people fit coil-overs is to have the ability to adjust the ride height of the car. Simply lowering the ride height does have benefits, but height-adjustable coil-overs also give you the ability to alter the way weight is balanced around the car. The amount of load on any wheel and tyre greatly affects the way it generates grip; balancing the load between the tyres allows you to maximise the overall grip of the car. Making these adjustments is otherwise known as corner-weighting. FRONT TO BACK In many applications you will look to achieve equal weight balance between the front and rear axles. In theory, this will lead to a more equal balance between understeer and oversteer. In most road cars, especially front-wheel-drive models, that…

Adrian Brannan R ob Clark’s relationship with the Mk2 Escort will feel uncannily familiar to many of you reading this, originating as it does with special stage antics in the mid-to-late 1990s. Very much a purple patch for the Escort as a rally car, the decade marked one of the last periods when solid examples of the Mk2 in sophomore guise could be had for relative buttons, and as such its reputation as the lynchpin of clubman level rallying in this country was confirmed. Rob, however, readily admits that he missed out on Escort ownership in the decade of Britpop, BSE and Blair, preferring instead to base his competitive endeavours (and there were more than a few of those) on the Peugeot 205GTi. A circuitous motorsport career duly unfolded, one…

Adrian Brannan classic fords restored: escort 1300gt To be strictly accurate, Kevin McDermid’s Mk1 Escort is a 1300Sport with a Pinto that looks like an RS1600. But we’re here for the other car in his life; a virtually stock 1973 Escort 1300GT. “The GT belongs to my wife Maria,” explains Kevin, “it was her birthday present that I restored with help from various friends.” Maria and Kevin are very much a Ford family: “We’ve had Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts, Capris, a Sierra 4x4, an RS2000… and Maria wanted a Mk1 to take to shows. The GT had sat outside the workshop I share with my mate Gary Cook, it looked solid so I bought it from him in 2018.” For much of its life the Escort was a one-owner car.…

Getty This month’s image was taken on a busy Earlsdon Street in Coventry in October 1973, and with so many independent shops still around (including Live & Let Live Stores, Pennycook & Sons Jewellers, Amy Wright Millinery and Peggy Seager Fashions), locals were spoilt for choice when it came to spending their hard-earned cash.There was plenty of variety when it came to classic Fords, too, with commercials being represented by Mk1Transit and Mk1 Escort vans.The parked-up cars offered a real mixture too with a Mk1 Cortina, Mk1 Granada (new at the time) plus another Granada bringing up the rear. Driving past, meanwhile, was an example of the ever-popular Mk3 Cortina.…

CLASSIC FORD SHOW TICKETS ON SALE NOW! WWW.CLASSICFORD SHOW.CO.UK C lassic Ford owners are nothing if not inventive. Recently we’ve seen all manner of engine swaps, wheel choices and alternative colours used in order to create a show-stopping car. This variety is great, and it helps keeps us motivated and enthusiastic about our favourite old Fords. For this issue, however, we’re going back to our roots and focusing on the tuning modifications that form the backbone of the scene — screaming Crossflows, potent Pintos and extreme Essex V6s. But old school doesn’t just mean traditional – it’s constantly evolving which is why the cars in the issue are arguably pushing the boundaries of the term, and in Tristram Deas’ case with his Mk1 Cortina (above), it’s about having your old…

1980s HEROES To say that 1980s Fords are hot property right now would be something of an understatement. We’ll be curating some of the best examples from the decade that gave us big turbos, big wings and even bigger egos. CLASSIC FORD SHOW FACTFILE When: Sunday, July 10 Where: South Of England Showground, Ardingly, West Sussex RH176TL UK Tickets: £22 in advance (camping £10) Find out more: www.classicfordshow.co.uk CLUBS AT THE CLASSIC FORD SHOW The Classic Ford Show is the must attend event for car clubs. You can display your car, camp with friends and family and see hundreds of classic Fords on display at this unique event. There’s no better way to experience the Classic Ford Show than having an allocated club area inside the show. As well as…

Jason Cook had his heart set on a tin top XR3i, but when he struggled to find a good example within his budget, he began looking at the soft top version. With a little patience and luck, he managed to track down one of the most original and immaculate Mk4 XR3i convertibles we’ve come across. Jason has been a huge Ford fan as long as he can remember, his first car was a Mk2 Escort 1.3 in beige, bought for the sum of £250. “I still have fond memories of that car, but by the 1990s I’d moved on to an XR3i,” Jason recalls. “I used it to travel from the UK to Germany and back for years and it never missed a beat.” Fast forward to 2015 and Jason…

The big 1950s Fords have a strong following and it’s not surprising. They’re lovely, smooth cruising cars but they also have a touch of Americana about them. Which means a wealth of styling themes — build on the cruiser look or strip it out, street racer-style, it all works well.These cars will easily swallow aV8, which has lead to a strong tradition of British performance muscle Z-cars with plenty of legends that quickly come to mind. Whichever route you choose, there’s almost a formula — tune what you’ve got or swap the lot for a bordering-on-legendary parts recipe. Although that dictates a DIY element since, unlike an Escort, no kits exist — you make it yourself! Mint Zephyrs are big money but if you’re handy with your restoration skills, there…

Jon Cass Inspired by the golden age of early 1970 Touring Cars when Capri RS3100s were a regular sight on our circuits, Bob Ryder had the brainwave to create a tribute to his favourite car from that era. Not only is this Mk1 Capri stunning just to look at, it also happens to have a 300 bhp V6 under the bonnet with no turbo or supercharger in sight, thanks to the talented skills of Ric Wood Racing. Bob’s connection with Mk1 Capris stems back to his youth when he was offered a bright red 2-litre GT for the bargain price of £200, “All my cars back then cost approximately £200,” Bob laughs, “I was often the last stop before the breakers’ yard.” SIX APPEAL THE ESSEX V6 While this Mk1…

Buying a used camshaft might be risky, but there’s a strong demand for good, used fast road-grinds. Look for pitting on the lobes (due to oil starvation), and on the Pinto check for an obvious shoulder on cam lobes (if the followers are present, check them as well). With Crossflow cams, inspect the distributor drive gears for chips or wear. Always fit new followers when installing a cam unless the followers that were used with it are present and numbered. How do you identify a cam? The code should be stamped into one end — ‘KC 260’ here identifies this as a Kent Cams race cam for a Crossflow. THANKS TO: Dave Fisher, D&D Developments 07772 740817 JARGON BUSTER 2WD Two-wheel-drive 88k 88,000 miles BVH Big-valve head BVR Black vinyl…

1. Don’t just renew It’s all too easy to let the direct debit continue and sign up for another year with your existing insurer. Before you do though, have a look at quotes from other insurers. If they come in cheaper and you don’t want to switch, call your existing insurer, quote the cheaper prices and quite often they will be able to bring your renewal quote down to a similar level. 2. Look at classic insurance They’re often tied into AgreedValue, limited-mileage polices but classic insurance specialists can offer some great-value policies. Most class a vehicle eligible for classic insurance as being over 20 or 25 years old, but some allow exceptions for modern classics, so do your research before you dismiss a classic insurance policy out of hand…

Adrian Brannan B uying a classic Ford, then having it transformed into your perfect Fast Road car, only for it to catch fire 1000 miles later, might be enough for most of us to throw in the towel and take up a slightly less stressful, cheaper hobby instead. Especially when you then discover that the bodyshell that all your expensive (now fire-damaged bits) are bolted to, is absolutely rotten. Clearly though, Steven Thomas is made from stronger stuff because five years on from initially poking a screwdriver through a ropey sill, he’s about to come out the other side with a Mk2 Cortina that’s undoubtedly stronger, faster, and dare we say it, a lot harder, too. Even better, Steven has picked up a whole host of new skills along the…

Silverstone Auctions recently had the privilege of dropping the hammer on one of the most sought-after Fords of all time.The M-Sport Focus WRC that Colin McRae took to victory in Acropolis Rally in 2001 was the star of the company’s latest auction sale at new venue, RAF Museum London. The car was freshly built for the Acropolis Rally in 2001, but is equally as famous for being the car in which McRae spectacularly crashed out of the Network Q Rally of Great Britain in the final round of the championship that year, handing the title to Richard Burns in his Subaru. As such it generated huge interest from collectors and rally fans in the weeks leading up to the sale, and went on to break all records for the highest…

CONTACT Classic Car & Restoration Show www.necrestorationshow.com Outdoor events may be the mainstay of the Ford show scene, but the likes of the Practical Classics Classic Car Restoration Show with Discovery+ is every year becoming more of a blue oval packed event. Not to be confused with the more mainstream Classic Motor Show at the same venue, this three-day weekender is quite different. The ‘Restoration’ part of the name is significant as it means visitors get to see numerous hands-on activities in action, with both pros and club members alike all actively getting their hands dirty with demonstrations of resto techniques plus also working on their own cars. Some with little to no safety net as they ambitiously undertake jobs which disable their car and create a quite urgent Sunday…

Matthew Everingham L et’s start at the beginning, where sun-glass wearing, Sydney Australia native Tristram Deas tells us the back story of the Mk1 as he casually leans against the mint front wing in the evening sunshine. “I got it off a neighbour here in Sydney back in 1992, and he had brought it down from a farm in rural New South Wales where it had been sitting out in the elements for several years. It was in very average condition, with no engine or gearbox, very little interior, and what seemed to be some creature nesting in the boot!” The original plan was to build a full-tilt replica Lotus to complete in closed road rallies. Tristram and his father, Paul who was a panel beater and painter dove head…

SAFE TECH When working on cars and using tools of any kind — especially power tools — always use protective gear: goggles, gloves, ear defenders, masks and a decent set of overalls are essential. A fire extinguisher is also advisable. Never work under a car without supporting it with axle stands and if you’re not completely confident of your ability to complete any task safely, leave it to the experts. The ABC of tuning B is for... Big bores Bigger is more beautiful and getting you old-school engine bored-out to a larger capacity is a great basis for gaining more power and torque — though in some cases only 20 per cent of blocks will be thick enough to machine without breaking through to the water jacket, so consult your…

What’s been done this month: Dragged the Cortina’s new engine out from its 10-year slumber Next on the to-do list: Refresh the carbs, source a flywheel, manifold and exhaust Thanks to: Jon Hill, Dave Fisher at D&D Developments (07772 740817), Vulcan Engines (01474 874689) I don’t think I need to tell you that old Fords and their associated parts take up a lot of room. And room is one thing (well, apart from money) that I don’t have in abundance. So for quite some time, my various projects and the parts that are meant to go with them, have been stashed in various sheds, lock-ups and in some cases, dining rooms, of friends and family around the UK while I grapple with the magnitude of just how much stuff…

Recently, we’ve swapped out an ancient canister-type oil filter for a nice new spinon one and fitted a cam into a rebuilt Crossflow. However, we have no means of distributing the spark. In fact, we have a small round hole where the distributor used to be. So that’s what we’re about to do next — slot a mechanical advance distributor back into the block and, best of all, static time it so we stand a good chance of the engine firing first time. This engine came as a large box of bits that we’ve put back together. Along the way, we’ve fitted a new set of piston rings to the Crossflow’s bores and a full set of gaskets too, but we have absolutely no reference of where the distributor once…

Magic Car Pics F ive years after the demise of the beloved Cortina, the February 1987 launch of the Mk2 Sierra saw a mid-sized saloon once again feature in Ford’s line-up. While the ‘new’ Sierra debuted over 1200 changes compared to the outgoing version that had itself replaced the Cortina, the big news for many private and fleet customers was that the facelift ushered in a traditional, booted version called the Sierra Sapphire. What’s more, the addition of a normal radiator grille in the revised Sierra front end gave conservative Ford buyers even more cause for celebration. The Sapphire couldn’t come soon enough too, as circa 40 per cent of sales in the Sierra’s class were of saloons. Overall, the Sapphire was 40 mm longer than its hatchback counterpart and…