Innehållsförteckning för January 2024 från Classic Ford

A new star grading system is to be launched to help de-mystify new sustainable liquid fuels to both consumers and the historic vehicle industry. The Historic & Classic Vehicle Alliance (HCVA) aims to cover every sustainable gasoline in the UK, with the results set to be revealed before the end of the year. Sustainable liquid fuel is an umbrella phrase used to cover fuels made from reduced amounts of fossil-derived ingredients, essentially cutting down on the use of first-generation oil that’s just come out of the ground. There are two main chemistry bases currently at work – bio-gasoline and e-fuels, which both involve recycling carbon from our surroundings. The bio-gasoline route involves reusing ‘second-generation’ waste, including straw and other by-products, which wouldn’t otherwise be suitable for consumption. The ethanol they…

Chris Palmer can’t remember precisely when he first set eyes upon the Mk2 Escort van that would come to play an outsized role in his automotive tastes, but he can certainly recall the circumstances in outline. It was almost 30 years ago and Chris, a newly qualified electrician, had just started his first job in the profession, labouring under a local sparky and learning the trade he’d come to make his own. “My boss had recently retired an ancient Mk2 van which had been his business runabout, and I was smitten. I asked to buy it there and then, and though he refused at first, he did ultimately give in and said I could have it if I put a fresh MoT on it, so he could transfer the private…

The route to happiness is, apparently, being able to enjoy the simple things in life: a cold beer on a hot summer’s day; the telling thump of Classic Ford landing on your doormat once a month; or a period patinated classic Ford with tasty twin-cam, carbs and banded steels. “I bought this off a 1980s guy with a ponytail!” laughs Pete Fitzpatrick — no stranger to the pages of Classic Ford — when pressed on the story behind his latest pre-Aeroflow Mk1 Cortina. We say ‘latest’, as it’s almost 15 years since we first featured a Mk1 of Pete’s and he’s worked his way through a library of awesome Blue Ovals, including a 300 bhp Mk3 Escort and built another Mk1 Cortina — this one with a Zetec turbo and…

In terms of coverage, Hot Wheels by Mattel has a captive market. Long established as a market leader, parent company Mattel also absorbed Matchbox in the late 1990s, but their line-up and castings have remained distinct to each brand with very little in terms of cross-over. Both companies have been prolific in catering to European Ford collectors, with Escort and Capris being widely seen over recent years. Their attractive price points and ubiquitous coverage mean that they have developed a loyal following.…

Contents correct as we go to press, and will change… PAY LESS AND NEVER MISS AN ISSUE! SEE PAGE 20 132 pages of project inspiration! ON SALE December 22! Get the lowdown on these new fuels Survivor Twin Cam rally car Make your speedo read correctly Meanwhile, get your classic Ford fix at https://linktr.ee/classicford Ask for it in your friendly local newsagents, or call us now on 01959 543747 IF YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS AN ISSUE: One of the best ways to ensure you receive every issue of Classic Ford is to place an order with your local newsagent. Once set up, your copy of Classic Ford will be held for you to collect, saving you the hassle of having to scour the newsagents’ shelves for it. So don’t…

Going back as far as he can remember, Chris Thommesen had a keen interest in cars, something he still maintains to this day. “I always wanted to work in the automotive industry in some way,” he says. “A few years ago I managed to achieve just that and now run by own bodyshop called OCD Refinishing.” Despite those long days grafting, Chris’s passion for cars also extends beyond his working hours resulting in an impressive inventory of cool machinery passing through his hands over the years. Although his modified Fiesta Zetec S, Focus ST and Vauxhall Astra VXR may not quite provoke more than a raised eyebrow for readers of this publication, they helped to pave the way for what would follow. “So far all my cars had been fun…

Unsurprisingly, in his goal to reach perfection and retain as much originality as possible, Daniel came up against numerous difficulties during the comprehensive resto of his XR2. Among these was discovering the previous owner had removed the brakes and, in the process, had lost the rear brake shoe adjusters. “Replacements took months to find as they only appeared on the Mk1,” Daniel says. “I tried ordering adjusters for other old Fords that were similar, but none of these would fit.” He even ordered some from America, but sadly they would never arrive. “Eventually, I spotted an entire rear beam for sale complete with drums so I took a chance and thankfully the elusive adjusters were included,” Daniel adds. Renewing the life-expired master cylinder proved to be just as tricky as…

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On revamping its Corsair range in 1967, Ford hedged its bets on buyers of its transatlantic-styled saloon favouring refinement over sportiness. The revised line-up saw the GT binned and the introduction of the 2000E — a new flagship version that boasted the same Executive-themed E level of trim that had previously debuted in the Mk4 Zodiac. In line with the 2000E’s luxury aspirations, its interior benefitted from fully reclining front seats and a sculpted rear bench finished in leather-look Cirrus 500 vinyl. Cut-pile nylon carpets and a walnut-veneer dashboard added to the stately theme and the instrumentation was donated by the outgoing GT. There was even carpet in the boot and a pocket for tools in the spare wheel cover. Externally, the 2000E was identifiable by the likes of a…

It’s the January issue, which can only mean one thing — it’s awards time! Our annual celebration of the great and the good of the classic Ford scene brings together the best cars, people, clubs, groups and even photos, and after a few late night sessions arguing over who should be included in this edition, we’ve compiled the definitive rundown of the stars of 2023. As the classic Ford movement continues to evolve and move in new directions, it’s comforting to note from the selection of winners, that one thing remains constant - this fantastic scene of ours wouldn’t be what it is without the cars and the people, and that means all of you. So thanks for giving us another year of blinding motors and events. And if you…

Footman James has been searching for the most popular places in Britain according to the classic car and motorbike community. Its search for the UK’s ‘Classic Capital’ was conducted over a six-week period, allowing enthusiasts to nominate the locations and venues that help to make classic vehicle ownership so enjoyable. Five finalists have now been revealed, these will face a final vote to establish the overall winner. Those in the running are Bicester Heritage, Coleshill Auto Breakfast Meet in the West Midlands, Goodwood Motor Circuit, The Motorist in North Yorkshire and Re:Fuel in Devon. More details at: www.footmanjames.co.uk/blog/classic-capital-2023-finalists.…

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Play and imagination are often our first human experiences, so there’s every chance you were given a toy car as a child. That was certainly the case with me, and as a kid, my parents often told me I was happiest and often stayed out of trouble if I had a toy car with me. Sadly most of those Matchboxes and Corgis are mostly long gone, played within inches of their lives and eventually thrown away. But it fuelled my passion for cars, and as a result, model cars are never far away from me. The combination of nostalgia and subject matter was enough for me to start a display when I stumbled into adulthood, seeking out ordinary road cars, rather than supercars or cars outside my era. This was…

The Mk2 Cortina debuted at the 1966 London Motor Show, with Ford’s marketing emphasising a Swinging London image. The 1600E evolved from Dagenham’s logical desire to create a flagship version for the professional driver who demanded performance, comfort and a fair degree of verve in their car. Ford’s management evidently thought such a driver would require less performance than the Lotus Cortina, but more social distinction than a Cortina Super could hope to offer. Since January 1965, the company had used the Executive brand for their flagship saloons, commencing with a lavishly appointed version of the Mk3 Zodiac, followed in 1966 by the Mk4 Zodiac Executive. October 1967 saw the debut of the Cortina 1600E and surprisingly, Walter Hayes, the company’s head of public relations, was apparently not in favour…

Email hi-res images to classicford.ed@kelsey.co.uk or post them up on our Facebook page.…

Classic Fords and Weber go together perfectly. Which is why if you want any sort of performance out of your classic Ford, nine times out of 10, it will involve a Weber carburettor — or two, or three even. All Weber carbs are designated by a series of numbers, then letters, then quite often, more numbers. The first set of numbers is called a prefix, the second set, a suffix. The letters in between are the first letters of Italian words, but not always. The prefix always indicates the size of the throttle plate. For example, the 40 DCNF and 40 DCOE both have 40 mm throttle plates. The rule that the prefix refers to throttle bore diameter is only one of two surefire rules in Weber nomenclature. The other…

Once again, too long has passed since my Granada has seen proper use, so that had to change. To start with yet another heater blower was sourced and fitted (handy to know that they are interchangeable in Escorts, Sierras and probably many more Fords, too!). Then down to The Garage, Motherwell where an aircon re-gas was attempted. Sadly, there was an issue with the adapters, but that’s better than the expected massive leaks or dead compressor! It may seem trivial, but I love the idea of getting the rare Euro-spec aircon up and running in this car! As I was planning a proper trip and didn’t want to be as irresponsible as today’s manufacturers with their insane logic of making spare wheels obsolete, I had to rectify that issue. And…

Some 25 years after first using a valve spring compressor to help strip down a cylinder head on our first engine rebuild, we can still recall the ease with which it did so. We remember the confidence it gave to continue. That’s the difference between using the correct tool or not. We’d been fretting about how to remove the springs when we got the lucky loan of a valve spring compressor. Our primary concerns were: A, not losing an eye thanks to a shooting spring; and B, not breaking anything in the process. Had we not had the loan, we weren’t in a position to buy a valve spring compressor, so would no doubt have cobbled together some method probably resulting in personal injury or broken components. We saw the…

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…

OUR MAN CLARK As this issue goes on sale, the 2023 Robert Albert Clark Rally will be underway, retracing the steps of the classic-format RAC rally through the forests of mid-Wales, Cumbria and beyond. Named in honour of the late, great rally driver who passed 25 years ago, the Roger Albert celebrates its 20th year in 2024, and has become a must-attend for competitors and spectators alike. This photo was taken on November 13, 1970 and shows Roger (right) with co-driver, Jim Porter and their works Escort RS1600 at scrutineering prior to starting the original event. They crashed out that year, but famously went on to win in 1973 and 1976.…

Name: Josh Bowles Age: 30 Job: fabricator Location: Yorkshire, UK Name: Stan Bowles Age: 61 Job: motor trade delivery driver Location: Yorkshire, UK Car: 1958 Popular 100E Start condition: standard car that had been previously restored Condition now: part stripped, axle fitted, engine bay and gearbox tunnel fabrication about to commence Time taken so far: two months Estimated date of completion: early 2024 Josh Bowles is in a fortunate position to be surrounded by a circle of friends who are all equally passionate about old Fords. “Even my dad Stan, who was previously into his classic American cars suddenly began buying old Fords too,” Josh smiles. “We all live locally to each other and often help each other out with our projects.” With such an ever-present strong influence, it’s no…

With prices for everything from fuel to food continuing to go up, wallets are tightening and there’s less money to spend on our hobby. With this in mind, the February issue, out December 22 is dedicated to Built Not Bought — buying, building and improving your classic Ford on a tight financial leash. Inside the issue there’s top tips from the experts on turning out a top-notch Ford in challenging times — but without cutting corners. The February 2024 issue arrives on the newsagents’ shelves and is available to download from Friday, December 22. Why not subscribe to make sure you don’t miss out? Turn to page 20 for our latest offers.…

With the amount of trophies it’s picked up at the shows over the summer (including Best Interior at the Classic Ford Show) it’s perhaps no surprise that Rav Dhuna’s Mk1 Capri GXL collected the most number of your votes to be crowned Classic Ford Of The Year. The hugely-popular car is a real crowdpleaser and a tribute to Rav’s painstaking approach to perfecting his ultimate Capri — achieved with the help of friends and contacts. Inspired by a local red Capri he lusted after as a teenager, Rav finally picked up this 3-litre Facelift GXL in 2012 as a restoration project and then spent the best part of eight years turning it into the absolute showstopper you see before you, including getting the shell painted in Ferrari Scuderia Red — very…

What does the perfect Mk1 Escort look like? What does it sound like? How does it drive? Is it a street car or a track-tuned weapon? Does it have traditional Ford running gear? What colour should the paint be? How big should the rims and tyres be? There is not one of us that hasn’t asked ourselves questions like these a hundred times, because that what enthusiasts do. We pick a car, and then we mentally perfect it. We look at all aspects, working out what is the best parts and approaches to use there. Our minds create incredible machines, and occasionally, one of our minds rolls up their sleeves and turns their ideas into tyre-smoking reality. Enter Tim Reid from the Sydney region in Australia, and his incredible Mk1…

Some collectors like to stick to specific scales, but you may miss out on certain models. From a collector’s point of view, I would suggest 1/43 or if space is an issue then 1/64. Mainline offerings in 1/64-scale (or small-scale as they’re often referred to), such as Matchbox and Hot Wheels are enormously popular and easy to find. Primarily created as toys, their level of accuracy is often pleasing and is ideal for those who do not want to commit too heavily.…

We mentioned Corgi, who played an important role in the die-cast market from the 1950s to the 1980s. The ultimate in pester-power, when your parents part ex-changed their Mk2 Escort for a brand-new Sierra, could there be a better promotion in replicating their new car in model form? Corgi often worked closely with manufacturers, often releasing the model on the same day as the official launch of the car. Aside from Ford dealers, you’d also be able to pick them up in toy stores and supermarkets.…

DECEMBER Newark Autojumble December 10 Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire UK www.newarkautojumble.co.uk Classic Ford February issue on sale December 22 https://shop.kelsey.co.uk/classic-ford-magazine JANUARY Sunday Scramble January 7 Bicester Heritage, Oxfordshire UK https://bicesterheritage.co.uk/events/januaryscramble-2024 Autosport International January 11-14 NEC Birmingham, UK www.autosportinternational.com Retromobile January 31-February 4 Paris Expo Porte des Versailles, France www.retromobile.com FEBRUARY Bremen Classic Motor Show February 2-4 Messe Bremen, Germany www.classicmotorshow.de Race Retro February 23-25 Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire UK www.raceretro.com MARCH Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show March 22-24 NEC, Birmingham UK www.necrestorationshow.com Zephyr & Zodiac Owners’ Club of Melbourne 50th Anniversary March 30-April 2 Ballarat, Victoria, Australia https://zzocm.com.au APRIL Techno Classica Essen April 3-7 Messe Essen, Essen, Germany www.techno-classica.de Goodwood Members’ Meeting April 13-14 Goodwood Motor Circuit, West Sussex UK www.goodwood.com/motorsport Drive It Day April 21 Various club and specialist…

Ulf Kaijser From: Sweden Car: Taunus L Many of us like to change to another classic Ford every now and then, but there are also enthusiasts that do it the other way around like Ulf from Stockholm. He bought his 1974 Onyx Green Taunus 2000 L new and is still driving it 50 years later! Ulf had the car delivered on November 8, 1973, and after using it as a daily driver for 16 years he restored and upgraded it between 1990 and 2004. Since then the much-lowered car has become his pride and joy with a tuned 2.1 Pinto, Revolution Classic Race wheels, Kumho Ecsta V70 235/45R13 tyres and a custom roll cage. We wish Ulf and his Taunus another good 50 years to come! Scott Ingram From: UK…

This month we are looking at a couple of upgrade options on a Crossflow engine. The engine in question has the usual + 0.090 1300 pistons making it just under 1700cc and a Kent Cams BCF2 camshaft. It’s fitted with a stock Mexico cylinder head breathing through a Ford intake manifold fitted with a 32/36 DGV Weber. The exhaust manifold is the widely-copied Janspeed 4-2-1 design that first appeared in the early 1970s and is still hard to beat on a road engine. Set up on our in-house Superflow engine dyno engine the engine produced a respectable 108 bhp @5800 rpm and 108 lb.ft @4200 rpm. By way of reference, a stock 1600 Mexico/Sport/GT makes about 84 bhp. With the bottom end being typical of tens of thousands of Crossflows…

The diagram on the right shows the profile of one single lobe, of which there are eight on a Crossflow camshaft, four operating the inlet valves, and four operating the exhaust valves. Each lobe does the same job, opening and closing the valve, irrespective of it being an inlet or exhaust valve, though note that the profile of the inlet and exhaust cams may be different depending upon the cam’s design. Ramp The ramp aspect of the cam allows for a smooth transition from the heel to the opening flank, and vice versa, to reduce stresses and wear. Opening flank This creates the transition between the closed state, from the heel and ramp, through to the nose of the cam, and is the start point for determining the duration. Duration…

The fifth edition of Escort Rally Special in Chimay, Belgium was held back in September. It began with a very dusty track for the opening show at the Chimay Circuit — due to very hot weather — and causing zero visibility after only five cars. Nearly impossible for the drivers to find the right way around the special stage, some of them finished beside the track or had to stop to find the right way. First overall of this opening stage was the Spaniard, Francesco Lopez Rivas, newcomer for this rally, in his Mk1 BDG with 5 seconds advantage over the second placed Christophe Dupon and more than 10 seconds in front of class specialists Kelly, O’Callaghan, Kellen or Duggan. On the Saturday 12 special stages were taking place in…

While Daniel Finnigan is no stranger to tackling a restoration of an old Ford, even he didn’t realise quite the amount of work that lay ahead when it came to his latest project. “I’d restored a Mk4 Escort XR3i previously which was a car I was familiar with,” he explains, “but this Fiesta took things to the next level!” It was while scouring the classifieds, that Daniel first spotted this 1982 XR2 in Sunburst Red. “It caught my eye as it was reasonably priced and came with a raft of genuine NOS Ford panels and spares including a brand-new carb,” he recalls. “Unfortunately, the car had been stored somewhere damp for the past 14 years and consequently rot had set in.” The neglected Fiesta also happened to be a non-runner…