Innehållsförteckning för April 2025 från Classic Ford

A report summarising responses to the government-led probe into how the DVLA handles cases involving classic vehicles has now been published. Launched in May 2024, the call for evidence ran for nine weeks with the aim of gathering views and evidence as to whether the Swansea agency’s long-standing policies needed updating, particularly in light of evolving technologies and the rise of electric conversions. Overall, 1371 responses were received, including 1162 from individuals and 129 from those representing organisations. One of the big takeaways from the responses is that more than two in five respondents think there should be some sort of safety testing for classics; be that the existing annual MoT, or something akin to the MoT but tailored for classics. Currently, vehicles above the age of 40 must be…

Following discussion at the HCVA Heritage Matters Day in October, a round table with electric conversion specialists and Aviva has been convened by HCVA member, Hagerty, to discuss risk assessments and solutions concerning insurance for the growing number of classic converted to electric drivetrains. As a result, Aviva have agreed that Hagerty is now able to provide insurance cover for some electric conversions on their scheme, subject to eligibility considerations. As part of this, eligible electric conversion companies must be active members of the HCVA.…

The glowing spine illuminating the core of the nation from top to bottom. That’s the image so many will conjure whenever the Transit is mentioned, a work of late-1990s marketing genius showing the versatility and dependability of the smiley Mk5 Transit. Of course, this reverence had been baked in right from the very start, decades before the ad agency Ogilvy & Mather illustrated it so vividly with their iconic Backbone Of Britain advert, as the Mk1 Transit of 1965 was one of the all-time good ideas. Its fundamental ethos, differing to the narrow-track load-luggers that came before it, was to acknowledge that it wasn’t just a machine for carrying stuff from one place to another — it was a machine to be operated by human beings. And most human beings…

WAYNE POWELL’S MK2 ESCORT VAN Featured: October 2024 When a van is voted as Classic Ford Of The Year, you know it’s got to be special, and Wayne’s ST170-powered masterpiece is just that. With a level of finish to drool over, the van is sure to be a big hit at the shows this year, and while that bodywork is nothing less than impressive, the running gear follows suit, thanks to Wayne’s desire to use (and abuse) the van as much as possible — surely it’s the RS-inspired restomod van of the 2020s? KARL SCOTT’S MK2 ESCORT SPORT Featured: February 2025 Karl’s Mk2 may look like a classic Mk2 Sport, but under the skin (or metalwork) there’s a whole host of clever enhancements that has turned this Escort into a…

1. The Escort RS1600 was the very first British RS-badged Ford, launched in 1970. It was a direct replacement for the Escort Twin Cam, running parallel with it, in the showrooms, for more than a year, though the Twin-Cam was not assembled at the AVO plant, but at Halewood on Merseyside. 2. The Capri RS3100 was made at Halewood, on Merseyside, in 1973/1974, the very last Mk1 Capri type ever produced there. The plant was just about to be converted to build Capri Mk2 hatchbacks instead. According to FIA regulations, for the RS3100 to be homologated, at least 1000 cars had to be produced: Ford swore that this had been done, but it seems that only 248 cars were actually built. 3. Exactly 200 RS200s were built between 1984 and…

The traditional method for increasing the horsepower potential of your engine is to open up the ports allowing more air in; making it flow much better and in turn, atomise the fuel more efficiently; all to gain a strong burn and more of it. You can spend a fortune with a head specialist that’s invested acres of time not just in experience but research, coupled with flowbench development and sometimes computer simulation, too. All to get the ultimate flow for your application and a monster amount of horsepower and torque. Alas, you can destroy a large chunk of that investment simply by bolting on your own bits of hardware… We all know that, part of the package is the induction side, and it’s easy to look at everything as separate…

It was the talk of the season in Irish motorsport – two-time world champion Kalle Rovanpera was on the entry list for the Killarney Historic. He wasn’t Ford-mounted but over 110 drivers were at the must-see rally. Historic section winners Donagh Kelly and Rory Kennedy evoked memories of a 1990 Rally Of The Lakes win, where Kennedy co-drove for the late Bertie Fisher in a similar BMW M3. The Donegal pair finished 23.7 seconds ahead of Escort RS1800 pairing Tomas Davies and Shane Buckley with John O’Donnell and Paddy Robinson, in a BMW M3, another 20 seconds back following a strong performance during the closing stages run in darkness. Modified was won by Rob Duggan and Ger Conway (Mk2 Escort) despite a throttle sensor issue while rival Declan Gallagher and…

Wayne Jeffs has always like Capris. “My first car was a Capri,” says Wayne fondly, “a 1600 that I paid £500 for in 1990. Sadly, I sold it to buy an MG Metro and the 1600 has now been scrapped, but I’ve owned at least 20 Capris since then. I’d rebuilt a 280 and an RS3100 but then I was getting a bit bored of polishing and the car wasn’t getting used, so I was on the look-out for another project Capri, preferably one I could learn to weld on.” It was at a car restorer back in 2015 that Wayne found this 3.0S. “I’d visited a seller looking for RS3100 parts and tucked away in one corner I knew immediately I was looking at a 3.0S, although it was…

Tasked with adding a bit of excitement to the newly introduced Sierra range and give sales a push, the performance-focused XR4i was launched in May 1983. With car buyers only just starting to come to terms with the Sierra’s ‘jelly mould’ shape, Ford added fuel to the fire with an even more distinctive look for the XR4i. The three-door shell was usually reserved for lower trim levels, so to equip the range-topping XR with it meant that Ford had to go to town on differentiating the styling from base models. That translated to the additions of plastic cladding, a radical two-window design on the rear quarters and twin rear spoilers that harked back to the Probe III concept that provided inspiration for the Sierra. While the bi-plane spoiler was mostly…

In the UK at least, winter has felt like a particularly long one this time around. But now we sense we’ve turned a corner and, with fingers firmly crossed, the show season hopefully on the horizon, we can look forward to getting our cars back out there, and for some, showing them off for the first time. In this issue, we’ve cherry-picked four examples that we think you should check out this coming Summer — from right across the scene. But of course, we’re saving some of the biggest surprises for The Great Unveiling at the Classic Ford Show on May 11. Five never-seen-before fresh builds will be revealed one by one — the results of hundreds of hours graft by dedicated owners with an ever-present deadline etched into their…

It’s all about the sleepers in the next edition of Classic Ford — from classic Q-cars to something more modern and offthe-wall, if you’re looking for inspiration for your own sleeper build then we’ve got you well and truly covered on that front. Also in the Spring issue we’ll show you what to look for when buying a Mk1 Zephyr, plus the full SP on this superb, Cossie-powered RS2000. The Spring 2025 issue hits the newsstands and is available to download from Friday, March 14 — why not subscribe to make sure you don’t miss it? See page 20 for the latest subscription offers. ON SALE March 14!…

It’s hard to put your finger on what makes a perfect classic Ford build, but when you see one you know. Although subjective, it’s usually a combination of things in small amounts; but perfect paint, a super-low stance and awesome wheels are a surefire kickstart. Dennis Stoffel’s Mk2 Escort ticks all the boxes there, but combined with a stunning interior retrim, superb fit and finish throughout, as well as carbon fibre touches inside and out that have earned the car the nickname Carbon Queen, it’s as close to perfection as you can get for many people. But make no mistake, the car is no show queen, thanks to a dyno-proven XE, featherweight 850 kg mass and uprated brakes and suspension to match. Unsurprisingly, it’s taken some time to get the…

1. CUSTOM GRAPHICS How hard: How much? £10-200 What we’re talking about here are those obscure badges that make you look twice, from old race team logos to long-gone dealer stickers. What about mixing it up with some Porsche-inspired Carrera sill scripts on your street-style Mk2 Escort? If you’ve got a vinyl cutter you’re already on it, if not then try scanning or photocopying old pictures and then contact your local sign makers for a quote. Easily reversible, too. 2. FIT WHEELS WITH A DIFFERENT PCD How hard: How much? £200-1000 Fitting wheels with a different PCD or number of studs has never been easier, and it opens up a whole world of options. You’re going to have to get wheel adapters made up or get a set of hubs…

Classic Car & Restoration Show March 21-23 FEBRUARY Race Retro February 21-23 Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire UK www.raceretro.com MARCH Classic Car & Restoration Show March 21-23 NEC, Birmingham UK www.necrestorationshow.com APRIL Fordmeet Squires April 6 Squires cafe near Leeds, West Yorkshire UK www.facebook.com Techno Classica Essen April 9-13 Messe Essen, Essen, Germany www.techno-classica.de Goodwood Members’ Meeting April 12-13 Goodwood Motor Circuit, West Sussex UK www.goodwood.com/motorsport Wheels Day April 18 Newbury Showground, Berkshire UK www.wheelsday.co.uk Drive It Day April 27 Various locations across the UK www.driveitday.co.uk Sunday Scramble April 27 Bicester Heritage, Oxfordshire UK https://bicesterheritage.co.uk/scramble MAY Classic Ford Show May 11 South Of England Event Centre, West Sussex UK www.classicfordshow.co.uk Ford Capri Club Nederland Internationale Meeting May 23-25 Ijsseldijk, The Netherlands www.fordcapriclubnederland.nl JUNE Players Classic June 7-8 Goodwood Circuit, West Sussex, UK…

What’s been done this month: Went on another road trip, picked up and fitted a new gearbox and steering wheel Next on the to-do list: Start looking for a bigger engine Thanks to: NHP Performance 01698 351203 www.facebook.com/mhp motorsport In the last episode I was travelling from Glasgow to London to swap my Orion for a Mk5 Cortina. On one hand I’m sad this didn’t work out as I have always wanted a Cortina. On the other hand I am hugely relieved not to have a welding project on my hands, plus I’m also glad that the Orion is still with me. I’ve definitely not tired of it yet — quite the opposite, in fact. My London trip may not have involved a car swap, but I did book in…

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…

You join us outside Circle House on the Headrow in Leeds, in 1991 specifically, and while the red Ferrari Mondial may be eye-catching to some, it’s the pair of Mk1 Sierras we’re more excited about. The grey example was sadly last taxed in 1998, while the red one survived until 2001. Just ahead, we can see a Mk4 Transit, while a Mk2 Orion waits to join the roundabout. What else can you spot? Let us know via classicford.ed@kelsey.co.uk.…

Jason Stafford has his dad to thank (and occasionally to blame) for his introduction into car restoration. “My dad used to run a bodyshop years ago when I was young, so I was brought up working alongside him with the cars of that era,” Jason smiles. “He’d repair a variety of cars, but I always had a soft spot for an old Ford.” Jason’s choice of a Mk1 Escort isn’t by chance as he once owned a 1969 GT which had to be sold only too soon. “Ideally I’d have slotted in a 2-litre Pinto, Type-9 gearbox and resprayed the GT in Daytona Yellow,” he says, “unfortunately, that never happened, but I now have chance to build the Mk1 Escort I always wanted.” His latest 1971 Mk1 which previously resided in…

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH THE HENRY FORD II COLLECTION £149.99 Corgi How cool is this? It’s well-known that whenever Henry Ford II was over from the US visiting the UK Ford bigwigs, thanks to Walter Hayes he’d have access to his own personalised Ford to run around in while over. The first was an automatic 1978 Mk2 RS2000 and subsequent cars were a Capri 3.0S, Capri 2.8i and Sierra XR4i, and Corgi has immortalised all four Fords in 1:43-scale with great attention to detail, too. Contact: https://uk.corgi.co.uk ESCORT BULKHEAD CONVERSION KIT £56.16 Magnum Want to convert your recently-imported left-hand-drive Mk2 Escort to right-hand-drive? Through their dealers, Magnum Classic Ford Panels supply the bulkhead conversion panels needed as part of the process. Six sections are included in the kit, and Magnum…

Back in the day, a Mk1 Fiesta made a sensible choice as a first car — they were cheap to buy, cheap to run and the insurance just happened to be reasonable, too. As the decades rolled by, the once-commonplace Mk1 evolved into a sought-after classic and consequently values skyrocketed as surviving numbers dwindled. Essentially, a Mk1 Fez still is a sensible choice as a first car — if you can afford to buy one that is. Fortunately for 24-year-old Dan Dickinson, who only ever so slightly missed out on the bargains to be had during the 1990s, managed to track down an 1982 Popular Plus for just £150! “I was originally intending to buy a classic Mini as a first car,” he explains, “but my dad, Andrew had just…

I wasn’t even looking for a Cortina,” explains Stuart Grant, the lucky the owner of the incredible 1977 Mk4 Cortina 1.6L that we’re lusting over. They’re our words, not his — Stuart refers to himself as a ‘custodian’, rather than an owner, assuming responsibility for the preservation of a rare, and possibly the most original, Mk4 in existence. “It was a miserable day in Glasgow and I was looking at cars on the internet when I came across this Cortina on a classic car website,” he continues. “It was being sold by a dealer in Portugal, who chanced upon it when out looking for new stock. He passed a house with a lock-up outside, glanced in through an open door and could see the corner of a car visible beneath…

The A B C oftuning M is for… manifold Inlet and exhaust manifolds play a crucial part in determining the performance of a tuned engine. For best results the manifold arrangements need to be planned alongside the fuel feed and cylinder head set-ups. Inlet manifolds Among the factors to be taken into account to gain maximum efficiency are the distribution of the fuel/air mix between the cylinders (this needs to be as even as possible), the airflow capacity of the manifold (the greater the better) and the speed of the mixture through the ports (fast is good). Exhaust manifolds The aim of the exhaust manifold is to evacuate the exhaust gases from the engine efficiently. This is difficult at higher engine speeds when there is less time between cycles to…

What’s been done this time? Bought an ex-ice racing Escort Cosworth… blind Next on the to-do list Drive it and work out the joblist So this came out of the blue, but one of my dream cars has always been WRC-style Escort Cosworth. However, knowing they are hard to find in good specification, or ludicrously expensive, I really thought I’d well and truly missed the boat on owning one. But then I randomly came across a for-sale post on a very small Facebook group that I just couldn’t ignore; an ex-ice racing Escort that had been a rallycross car since it was first built in the 1990s. The specification was insane; a 700 bhp dyno-proven (on race fuel), dry sump YB engine, sequential gearbox, 7.5 inch front and rear diffs,…

Undoing a spin-on oil filter during an engine oil service can turn into one of those moments of dread that can potentially stop a job in its tracks. Typically, the oil filter may be hidden away down the back of the engine with little space around it to fit a tool to undo it. And even if you manage to fit something onto it to slacken it, you’ll probably be left swearing and wondering why the last person thought it was sensible to seemingly tighten it to what feels like 100Nm. There are numerous tools available to help undo an old spin-on oil filter, but is one of them better than the rest? Not really. The range of tools can be divided into 10 main groups and they all have…

Order online at shop.kelsey.co.uk/CFPRODUCTS (or scan the QR code to your left) Or call (UK) 01959 543747 (Overseas) +44 1959 543747 MARCH 2025 Built Not Bought special; Fiesta RS Turbo; Tech: gearbox ratios explained; Motorsport: Sierra Challenge Cosworth; Heritage: Mk4 Cortina 1300; Restored: Mk1 Mexico; Buyer’s guide: Probe FEBRUARY 2025 28 Game Changers; Duratec Escort Sport; Engine guide: Coyote V8; History: Ford at the Nürburgring; Heritage: Cortina Crusader; Restored: Capri 3.0S; Buyer’s guide: Racing Puma JANUARY 2025 Classic Ford Awards; Prototype Escort Monte; Tuning guide: NA Cosworth YB; How to: sill and A-panel repair; Heritage: Cortina Savage; Restored: Capri 1600L; Buyer’s guide: Mk3 Granada DECEMBER 2024 148-page Buying special; FordFest; Tuning guide: Pre-Crossflow; How to: service your Ford; Heritage: Anglia 105E; Restored: Capri 280; Buyer’s guide: Mk3 Fiesta NOVEMBER 2024…