Fast Ford October 2019

WELCOME TO THE OCTOBER ISSUE! - Jamie King - Editor It's show time! This month has been pretty hectic; six deadlines and four shows for me in the last six-weeks has meant I've been flat-out recently. It hasn't been too bad, though, as one of those shows just happened to be the biggest Blue Oval event of the year; yep, we were at Ford Fair! I've been attending Ford Fair for a number of years now (like many of you I imagine) and it's a show that always impresses me. The sheer scale is mind-boggling. There's no other car scene that is anywhere near as dedicated to their brand as Ford fans. As such, Ford Fair is by far the biggest single-marque show I've ever seen – it's bigger than…

ESCORT COSWORTH FEARLESS Buying a slightly sorry-for-itself Cosworth isn’t anything to be afraid of. Scott Rogers had always wanted a Cossie, and when an Escort came up for Sapphire money, he rolled up his sleeves and knocked it into shape… Words DEN BEVIS Photos ADE BRANNAN There’s a dark and troubling notion that sometimes creeps into the ownership of classic and modern-classic RS models: quite simply, it’s The Fear. As hardened Ford enthusiasts, we all know that these special top-of-the-tree performance models are Blue Oval royalty, built to be used and used hard… but every now and then, that little nagging voice can start whispering gently but insistently somewhere around the base of your brain. ‘Should you be doing that? These cars are getting rare, you know. And the values…

TECH SPEC ESCORT COSWORTH ENGINE 2.0-litre Cosworth YB turbo, Wossner pocketed pistons, WRC head gasket, ARP long studs, Turbosport BD14 cams with Piper vernier pulleys, Lucas 83lb injectors, Stage 1 T34.48 turbo with -34 actuator, HKS boost controller, RS500 intercooler POWER 410bhp TRANSMISSION Oppliger Motorsport big-tooth gearbox, thick-wall front diff SUSPENSION Koni adjustable shocks, Ahmed Bayoo springs, OMP strut braces BRAKES AP 4-pot front calipers with 330mm discs, grooved rear discs, Ferodo pads all round WHEELS & TYRES 18in Rota D154 wheels, 225/40 Yokohama tyres EXTERIOR Morettes with tinted inners, RS500 grills, tinted indicators, sidelights and tail lights INTERIOR Momo steering wheel, ECU data monitor, Birba Racing dials with 2-bar boost gauge conversion, custom gear lever…

DRIVER SPEC SCOTT ROGERS AGE 34 JOB HGV mechanic FIRST FORD Mk3 Fiesta 1.1 BEST MODIFICATION Has to be the gearbox! FAVOURITE FORD SHOW OR EVENT? Ford Fair TRACK DAY OR SHOW & SHINE? Track day LESSONS LEARNT FROM THIS PROJECT? Don’t be afraid to take a chance on a car that needs a bit of work, and even if it tests you keep with it – it’ll be worth it in the end! WHAT’S NEXT I’m currently having a T38 built, 2WD exhaust manifold, wasted spark and a hydraulic clutch conversion THANKS “Special thanks to Paul and Mark at PJ Motorsport – those guys are always happy to help and offer advice, even if I’m asking them on a Saturday night after a few drinks! And thanks to my…

NEWS See what’s going down in the world of fast Fords... SPECIAL EDITION MUSTANGS FOR THE EUROPEAN MARKET The idea of making the current-generation Mustang more Europe-centric, as well as offering it in right-hand-drive, was a masterstroke which has ensured enthusiastic sales on this side of the Atlantic. And to celebrate the long-running model’s 55th anniversary, we’re set to receive a desirable special edition: the Mustang55 takes the top-of-the-line 5.0-litre V8 model as its base and imbues it with unique exterior styling, including a distinctive bonnet and side-stripes, badging, and optional rear spoiler, along with a fully-loaded interior spec. The Mustang55 can be ordered as a fastback or convertible, either of which will feature numerous blacked-out details… unless you opt for the Shadow Black paint, in which case the details…

NEWS IN BRIEF FORD STARS OF SILVER SCREEN Research by the website trackdays.co.uk has polled the top ten movie cars of all time – and Fords have a decent showing in the rankings. The number 1 spot was taken by the ‘Eleanor’ Mustang from Gone in 60 Seconds, closely followed by the Mk1 Escort from Fast & Furious 6. Special mention also goes to the Transformers Mustang in the no.8 slot! FORZA TRANSIT Videogames are escapist devices to drive your dream cars. But what if your dream is to drive a Mk1 Transit? Fear not, Forza has you covered… Ford’s Dagenham-based heritage fleet loaned a Transit to the makers of Forza Horizon 4 for digital mapping – so yes, you can play out your 1960s bank job fantasies from the…