Innehållsförteckning för June 2023 från Classic Ford

If there’s one type of question we get asked more than most at Classic Ford, it’s, ‘Do you know what happened to so-and-so’s car you featured a few years’ back’ (and yes, it really can be that vague!). Well, this issue we’re pleased to be able to answer some of those questions, as after plenty of digging we’ve been able to track down and re-photograph a number of them — albeit a fraction of the Fords we’ve featured over the last 26 years. It’s incredibly pleasing to discover that the cars in this issue have not only survived the 20-plus years since we last saw them in the metal, but also thrived — especially given the typical classic Fords’ propensity to rust. The majority have stayed with the original owners,…

As the 2023 show season really starts to get into its stride, in the July edition — out Friday, June 9 — we showcase the classic Fords that have, and will continue to, hoover up all the trophies thanks to their stunning levels of finish — from a restomod Capri (right) to a beautifully-restored Consul. Also in this issue you’ll find an eight-page photofest from the Classic Ford Show. The July 2023 issue hits the newsstands on Friday, June 9. Why not subscribe to make sure you don’t miss it and save a few quid in the process? Turn to page 22 for our latest offers. ON SALE June 9!…

It’s hard not to resort to clichés when talking about this car, but it really was a game-changer. We’d featured Darran’s genuine Mex back in 1998 when it was white and running an HT Racing Pinto, but then he took it off the road for a few years and came back with this. Why was it so ground-breaking? Because the attention to detail and level of finish for what was in effect a track car-spec Escort, were something else. Inside and underneath was flawless — at the time Darran painted Formula One cars for a living, and it showed. And it was dripping with goodies: AP Racing brakes, Gartrac and an HT Racing YB turbo were just some of the items on the huge tech sheet. Even today, top-spec Escort…

Heading up the first issue was Dave’s very-of-the-time Mk1 Mex — running on 7x13 four-spokes, an all-steel Crossflow and leather interior. Fast forward 26 years, and we’re pleased to say that Dave still owns the car — though it’s not quite currently in one piece! After the original feature, Dave took the Escort, which he’d rebuilt over a seven-year period, around the shows. Then in 1998 he decided to strip the Escort down and repaint it another colour. Life got in the way however, and it would be a full 12 years before Dave was able to make a start — only this time he was in for a full restoration, and largely back to original. This means the car has been repainted in Electric Monza Blue and refitted with…

July 1999 was a pretty significant month, in the grand scheme of things. The Sopranos made its British TV debut, Macy Gray and Destiny’s Child were all over the Top 40, and cinema-goers had the choice of gross-out humour with American Pie or being scared witless by The Blair Witch Project. The Queen unveiled a statue of Eric Morecambe in, appropriately, Morecambe; Manchester United beat Bayern Munich to win the treble, and NASA launched the Chandra X-ray Observatory, a space telescope that’s still up there doing its thing today. Down here on Earth, newsagents across the UK were eagerly snipping the string off their fresh new bundles of Classic Ford magazine, sporting a vibrant and vivid Mk2 Escort 1600 Sport on the cover. The very car you see on the…

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.…

Info Contacts: Northampton Motorsport 01604 766624 www.northampton motorsport.com Rally Design 01227 792792 www.rallydesign. co.uk The problem with the front suspension on virtually every Ford is that it’s meant for passenger car use. Mix that with a healthy dose of cost-effective manufacture and you get something that’s a compromise. It might ride well straight out the box, but in terms of performance it can be a bit lacking. And it all gets worse when you lower the car and try and get it to handle better. Important stuff like camber and caster can be upset and worse still there’s no easy adjustment to restore the settings you want. So the best thing to do is modify the suspension. The way the front system is designed on a Capri is almost identical…

Carlos Sainz was born to be a winner. Long before he’d caught the eye of Ford Motorsport bosses, Sainz was already a sensation. Even before he took up rallying in 1980, he had excelled in other sports, was rumoured to have had trials with top-level Spanish football clubs, and was known to have social connections with the Spanish royal family. Later in his stellar career, it is said, the Spanish king’s staff turned up for work one morning in Madrid, and wondered what the rubber markings outside the main entrance were all about: Sainz had been demonstrating what ‘doing doughnuts’ was all about. Starting with a humble front-wheel-drive Renault 5 TS, he soon climbed the ladder, and really made his name in Spain in midengined Renault 5 GT Turbos, where…

It’s now well over two decades ago since Carl Austin first established Force Racing — the Leeds-based engineering business specialising in the manufacture of custom lightweight titanium components along with a range of highly-desirable bespoke wheels. Over the years, Force has built up an unrivalled reputation and growing customer base, always ensuring the quality and strength of their products can meet the most demanding needs. Carl’s extensive workshop boasts the latest in CNC machining and CAD so little wonder he was keen to utilise the maximum his workshop had to offer when it came to his latest side project. “I already own three heavily modified Minis, built using Force Racing lightweight components, and thought it would be a great idea to build an ultimate-specification, hillclimbdedicated Mk2 Escort,” Carl explains. “The…

DG Auto’s Darren still owns this trick, 200+ bhp Pinto-powered and sprintspec Mk2 Escort, which he bought for the impressive sum of £120 before completely rebuilding it. That’s the good news. The bad news? It’s in bits and has been for some time. “I think it came off the road in late 1999 after we`d done some sprints in it,” recalls Darren. “It held the record for its class at Curborough for over three years — not bad for an old Escort against modern cars! I’ve still got most of the car, but I never seem to have any time to work on my own cars — you know how it is.” With a busy garage to run, we guess we can forgive Darren for the Mk2’s lack of completeness…

If you don’t recognise this Corsair, we won’t blame you — it looks very different to the car bought as a project by editor, Simon back in 2008. Immediately put into service for the Classic Ford Tour to The Netherlands that year, the car — abog-standard Lagoon Blue 2-litre Deluxe — was soon lowered and given a set of GT steels before Simon started collecting parts and panels for a restoration at the hands of Jon Hill. Much work was done of the next few years, but by 2013 funds were getting tight and so the project was mothballed before being sold to a Corsair enthusiast a couple of years later. A quick rebuild followed and the Corsair reappeared, now in white and running a 1600 Pinto. The car soon…

If there was one decade that really put the UK on the map, it was the 1960s. Whether it be fashion, music, or a contest for the coolest underground crime lords, in the swinging Sixties, Britannia ruled much more than just the waves. But for restoration specialist, Jim Cooper, it’s not the mini-skirts or music moguls that make the era so appealing, it’s the cars, especially those that rolled off Dagenham’s production line… “I’ve always had a soft spot for classic Fords, specifically the sports models from the 1960s,” says the Essex-based classic Ford fan. “My all-time favourite has got to be the original GT40, though unfortunately these have always been well out of my price range, so I set my sights a little lower and bagged my first slice…

We’ll be the first to admit that late February wasn’t the best tine, weather-wise to arrange a meet up of old Fords, but the freezing temperatures, biting wind and constant line of showers failed to detract from an impressive turnout at Yorkshire’s ever popular venue of The Motorist, a few miles east of Leeds. Fortunately, this impressive venue has grown substantially in recent years, offering plenty of heated indoor space including a topnotch restaurant, café, museum and shop. There’s also a workshop often rammed with a wide variety of classics too. In fact, we’d go as far to say The Motorist is well worth a visit even when there’s no events taking place! Considering the inclement weather, we weren’t expecting a huge number of cars on the day, but fans…

Show us yours! Email hi-res photos and details of your pride and joy or project to classicford. ed@kelsey.co.uk, or writetousat theaddress on page 6. From: UK Car: Mk2 Sierra “Myself and my girlfriend — now wife — bought this Sierra five years ago for just £30,” reveals Dan. “I first asked about the car three years before I got my hands on it but the previous owner wasn’t ready to give it up just yet. Fast forward a few years, and I purchased the car in 2017 from an elderly gentleman who was giving up driving due to health complications. However, right before the car fell into my hands he had a bit of a bump which resulted in the passenger front wing being damaged, along with the front bumper!…

Info Contact: The Welders Warehouse 01908 664549 www.thewelders warehouse.com TIG welding equipment is becoming more affordable, with some excellent machines now available for around £500 — the price of a good MIG unit. For those used to gas welding equipment, TIG (tungsten inert gas) is perhaps the best entry point into electric welding, because it shares a number of characteristics with its traditional counterpart. It’s a two-handed method and includes the use of a welding rod — the same as gas — but utilises an electric arc as the heat source with which to melt the metal. We use the general term metal, because some TIG machines can be used for aluminium and the process is also suitable for stainless steel. The welding of steel utilises direct current (DC), whereas…

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 Agreed Value, 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…

Sustainable fuels have the potential to save the internal combustion engine (ICE) from being consigned to the history books. The cutting-edge technology is environmentally friendly and safe to use in every petrol-powered car – including classics – without modifications. Independent specialist firms and major motor manufacturers alike are investing heavily in the concept – but against a backdrop of electrification, the boss of Volkswagen recently called the fuel debate “unnecessary noise”. The EU aims to reduce 100 per cent of CO2 emissions from all new vehicles sold after 2035, with a UK ban on new ICE car sales comes into force five years earlier. This could have a knock-on effect for owners of older cars, especially those with engines falling foul of low emissions guidelines. However, German transport secretary, Michael…

Classic vehicle attraction, Great Northern Classics (GNC), is motoring towards its completion. Located in the former Victoria Ironworks foundry in Derby, previously the Rolls Royce Heritage Centre, the site will be dedicated to displaying and preserving classic vehicles. The £3 million project is due to be ready to open in August, the steel work to support a mezzanine level having been erected in back in February. The project aims to bring together around 30 specialist restoration and fabrication firms, from here it will operate an apprenticeship programme via a not-for-profit training school. This will enable older experts to pass on their knowledge to a younger generation. It is expected that 120 jobs will be created by the scheme. A visitor centre, café, and event space will allow customers to enjoy…

There are few cars that can be described as a true legend within the Ford scene, but this Sapphire Cosworth is most certainly one of them. Owned by the equally legendary Rod Tarry and built by tuning marvel Mark Shead of MA Developments, it was the first road legal Cosworth to crack 200 mph and despite its subtle looks it has been at the very forefront of YB tuning for over two decades. What’s more, it still is in its new guise, having been recently rebuilt and recommissioned by Mark. We last spoke with Rod and Mark back in the July 2013 issue, but Rod’s story began in 1996 when he bought the rear-wheel drive Sierra Cosworth to use as a fast road car. A 400 bhp conversion soon followed…

Even 26 years ago, taking on the restoration of a rare Escort was no mean feat, Geoff spending 350 hours bringing just the shell of this former rally car back up to scratch. Add another 15,000 miles spent scouring the UK hunting down parts, and it’s a miracle that he managed to complete the show-winning restoration of this most desirable of Mk1s in only eight months. Geoff owned the displayed the car for a few years, but it was eventually sold on — it now lives in Finland in former WRC legend, Juha Kankkunen’s impressive collection of road and rally cars below)!…

As head honcho of West Wales Rally Spares, Gareth has the keys to many a modern-spec or historic Group 4 Escort, but he has a particular soft spot for OKK 380P. Originally built by Haynes Of Maidstone in 1977 for John Taylor and Phil Short, the car won many National and Irish tarmac rallies. Then in 1978 it was lent to Roger Clark and Jim Porter to use as an unofficial works car on the RAC rally after Ford workers went on strike. The Mk2 stayed in rally trim throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and Gareth brought the car over from Ireland in 2004. At the time it had a normally-aspirated Cosworth and had been modernised, so Gareth set about putting it back to Historic spec and in replica semi-works…

Holding two big classic car shows every year any the NEC might sound like overkill, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. While November’s Classic Motor Show is arguably the main showcase for the classic car scene in the UK, over recent years, the March-held Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show with Discovery+ has followed its own path and in the process created a perfect setting to launch the incoming classic car show season. A clue to the show’s USP is in its title - this event is very much about the hands-on aspect of our scene. In fact, working on vehicles throughout the show is actively encouraged, with clubs in particular setting themselves seemingly impossible targets of getting projects finished, barn finds up and running or even…

If you were considering building a 1970s Ford to go rallying, the chances are that most people’s minds would go straight to a Mk1 or Mk2 Escort. The success that these models enjoyed in period is nothing short of legendary. The breadth of knowledge and parts availability makes them a firm favourite with the historic rallying fraternity. The story of this Consul GT becoming an unlikely stage warrior dates back to the mid-1990s. Husband and wife rallying enthusiasts, George and Jane Anderson were considering their options. George explains the thought process behind their leftfield choice: “At the time I was working in Canada and someone located a brand-new Austin Landcrab shell. I ended up contacting the RAC MSA in England to see what type of event it was eligible for.…

Mark Walker has owned numerous Capris but this 1981 Janspeed Turbo is undoubtedly the rarest. “My grandad had a Capri I loved and never forgot,” explains Mark. “When I started driving I’d buy a cheap Capri and after it failed the MoT they were so cheap and uneconomical to repair I’d sell it to Martin Pawson from Capri Gear and he’d break it for parts. I moved away for a while and when I returned decided I wanted a Capri to restore. I would’ve considered any Capri and Martin offered me a 2.0S or this 3.0S Janspeed. Martin told me the Janspeed was rare — he’d never seen another — but my concern was it could be too rare to restore easily. Then Martin mentioned it was Forest Green Metallic…

Ford was sharp in every sense when it came to refreshing its Granada in August 1977. Not only did the new Mk2 version usher in a new angular, more contemporary look for its flagship, but a canny bit of reworking meant that the new Granada didn’t break the bank when it came to development costs. While the Mk2 wore smart new sheetmetal, the underbody, structure and much of the well-proven running gear was carried over from the Mk1. In fact, so similar was the Mk2 to its predecessor that the doors were near identical and, aside from that of the Ghia, so was the seating and door panels. One area where there was significant change though, was under the bonnet. The trusty 1998cc four-cylinder Pinto was carried over from the…