Innehållsförteckning för March 2026 från Classic Ford

Race Retro When: February 20-22 Where: Stoneleigh, UK What’s going on: Race Retro will return to Warwickshire’s Stoneleigh Park with not only its 21st event but also its biggest show since the pandemic. Just about every type of motor racing is set to be represented, with display cars spanning rallying, hillclimb, touring cars, single-seaters, GT racing and more. The show will also see the return of a dedicated and enlarged indoor autojumble as well as hosting Iconic Auctioneers’ two-day classic and competition car sale. Outside, the Live Rally Stage will have more cars than ever before, with an expanded vehicle service area, as well as the popular passenger rides. In addition, there will also be book signings, licence medical testing, rally driver and navigator training and the HERO-ERA Retro Tour,…

We’re in a small workshop at Ford’s Technical Centre in Dunton, Essex and I’ve just stepped into the cabin of the legendary Supervan. Owner, Andy Browne is in the driver’s seat and carefully gives it a little throttle as he turns the key. Supervan bursts into life with an angry growl and as Andy reaches down to his right and selects reverse gear, I look back through the glass window at the surreal sight of a snarling V8 engine on downdraft carbs housed in the back of a Transit van. Andy gently manoeuvres backwards into the car park just as a group of young Ford apprentices happen to be passing by, all open mouthed. Not many vehicles have that natural effect on people, but Supervan was built to do exactly…

As we plunge into 2026, the great Blue Oval has little to excite car fans; indeed, it’s a wonder the Ford badge is still alive. But glance towards the range of commercial vehicles, and you’ll see a radically different picture: not only are vans and trucks international best-sellers, they’re also innovative and inspirational. Yet that’s nothing new: commercials have been crucial for as long as the firm’s existed. From the Thames to the all-conquering Transit; from the Anglia to six generations of Escort, Ford’s vans have led the market in versatility, drivability and outright style. They’ve also been worked hard, thrashed mercilessly, performed faithfully and then thrown away — resulting in drastically-reduced survivors. For classic Ford fans, they’re a fantastic restoration opportunity — to create a multi-purpose show, shine and…

1. SPACEFRAME CHASSIS How hard: Ripping the guts out and planting the outer shell on a climbing frame makes for the most radical car ever. It’s all about handling — super low centre of gravity, with a well planned project, the suspension can be made to actually work track style. The secret’s making it stock on the outside but 100 per cent mental on the in — bars everywhere, killer engine and suspension to make it stick to the road. 2. THE ITALIAN HARD-TOP LOOK How hard: One step further than a convertible is making what looks like a removable hard top – and it doesn’t have to actually be removable. One of the really subtle but different styling trends in the 1960s and 1970s was Italian styling houses designing…

It’s well-known that the Atlas axle is a strong old piece of kit, and is often the one to go for when building a bigpower rear-drive Ford — especially if you plan to give it some serious abuse. But it might surprise you to know that there are in fact a number of variations of the Atlas around, and not all of them are good. There are two common types of axles used on the Ford range of reardrive cars, the Atlas and the English (the last of which is also referred to as the Timken axle which relates to the manufacturer). Telling the difference between these two axles is fairly simple and a quick look under the rear of the car in question should give you the answer. The…

QUERY OF THE MONTH Hydraulic handbrake Q !’m having a problem with plumbing in a hydraulic handbrake using separate callipers. I have twin rear callipers on the back of my car, one for rear brakes and the other for the handbrake. I bought the handbrake brand-new but when I plumbed it in it wouldn’t operate properly. I have used a Girling bottle straight in to the master cylinder and out to the callipers but still the handbrake won’t work. I’ve already had a check and there’s no air in the system. Any ideas? Kevin Jones UK A There could be so many reasons for this system not working. The first thing that you need to be sure of is that you have the correct ratio between the bore of the master…

Jack Bagshaw’s love for old Fords was nurtured by his dad, Ian. “We previously built a Capri into a fictitious 2.8 Laser that was featured in Classic Ford,” explains Jack, “and dad had a green 1979 Cortina 2-litre GL estate in the late 1990s. He had lots of good memories but he’d sold it for £100 and always regretted it. We put a wanted advert on a forum in 2017 and this 1978 Cortina automatic 1600L estate was offered to us. The car was in Tamworth and the seller said his mate had a transporter and he’d deliver the Cortina. Then if we didn’t want it he’d take it back.” With nothing to lose they did the deal and the car soon arrived on Jack’s grandparent’s driveway in Sheffield. “It…

Give or take a week or two, this is the first published edition of 2026, so Happy New Year! Starting the year as we mean to go on, we’re showcasing classic Fords that are really are moving the scene forward, and even more importantly, flying the classic Blue Oval flag with pride. So inside this issue you’ll find fine feature Fords built for shows, roadtrips and everything else a classic Ford can and does do so well. Not forgetting of course, the awesome Supervan which we’re incredibly proud to have featured in Classic Ford. What originally happened to the van and how it was saved is an incredible story and you can read all about it starting on page 22. And if you’re in need of some motivation to kickstart…

Fears that rolling Vehicle Exercise Duty (VED) exemption for historic vehicles could be halted as part of the government’s Budget have not transpired. Before Chancellor Rachel Reeves outlined her Budget on November 26, speculation and rumour had been growing that the rolling 40-year exemption would be frozen or removed altogether — much of it stemming from Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden telling the press back in September that the exemption was at risk of a ‘tax grab’. The rolling VED exemption was initially introduced in 1996 on a rolling 25-year basis, however, in 1997 the then-new Labour government froze the cut-off date at January 1, 1973 — something that remained in place until the Conservatives reinstated rolling VED exemption — albeit now on a 40-year basis — as part of…

Five reasons why you just can’t miss the next edition of Classic Ford: 1. The lowdown on this Turbo Technics Sierra (right) 2. Reader’s stunning Mk2 RS2000 restoration 3. Your chance to win The Sweeney boxsets worth £150 4. We reveal the Fords to look out for at this year’s shows 5. In-depth Focus ST170 buying guide The April 2026 issue hits the newsstands on Friday, February 13. Why not subscribe to make sure you don’t miss out? Check out our latest offers on page 20. ON SALE February 13!…

Minilites; two-up-two-down Cibies; 1760 Crossflow on a pair of 40s; forest spec suspension — all perfect for the period look, but in the action-packed world of old Escorts, it’s exceptionally awkward to come up with anything fresh, fashionable and flippin’ fantastic. Now, you might wonder what’s new about the Mk2 on these pages — it’s low, clean, and rolling on banded steels, which is not exactly unusual. What makes this van stand proud is not what’s been done, it’s the amount of exacting effort and detail that’s been lavished on this once-utilitarian work vehicle. It’s not so much a modified car — it’s a ground-up, nut-and-bolt concours restoration using a wishlist of NOS goodies and brand-new trick bits. Take the engine bay, for example. Not only has it been stuffed…

Jag Dhaliwal has been into Fords for as long as he can remember. “I followed in my father’s footsteps,” recalls the former British Airways Team Leader. “He had some lovely cars, including Lotus Cortinas and Escorts. I was meant to take over his Savage Cortina when I turned 17, but unfortunately, it was stolen from our driveway. Dad subsequently bought a Mk5 Cortina 2.3 Ghia. I persuaded him to get it painted black, and we went to Ripspeed together to buy a twin headlight conversion. It later suffered an engine fire, and my Mum ended up getting an Orion. I bought the Mk5 from the insurance company as my first car, and got straight into the modifying game. Known as Black Beauty, it was well-known locally and, thanks to the…

It’s not unusual to find car owners sticking with a certain brand or at least a couple of different brands throughout their driving career. We’re sure many owners of old Fords reading this will probably have owned at least one or two, or maybe even 20 cars produced by the blue oval in the past. After all, if you like a product by a certain manufacturer, it makes sense to buy from them again when it comes time for a replacement. In contrast, there are petrolheads such as Netherlands-born Simon Boone who appears to have little in the way of brand loyalty when it comes to cars. Simon’s automotive back catalogue is about as random and varied as you can get. While working on the oil rigs in Brunei after…

PAY LESS AND NEVER MISS AN ISSUE! SEE PAGE 20 ON SALE February 13! Contents correct as we go to press, and will change… 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 miss an issue — simply complete the form here and take it to your friendly local newsagent today.…

I grew up around weddings as my Dad was up until his recent retirement a photographer. They weren’t his only line of work, but they were a large part of it. In later years I was drafted in to be an assistant photographer at times (as was my sister Laura). This clearly rubbed off on both of us as we went on to work behind the camera full time as well. There’s nothing quite like being thrown in the deep end of photography as shooting a wedding. The stakes and requirements are so high, so your skills get honed quickly. Shooting a Classic Ford feature where the car doesn’t talk back and there are no drunken guests is an absolute breeze in comparison! Back in the day I always…

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…

FLOATING POINTS Perhaps topical in view of the flooding experienced in the UK recently, here we see part of Worthy Farm – the site of the Glastonbury Festival – submerged back in June 1998. Doubtless the Mk3 Escort and Mk2 Fiesta XR2 nearest the camera were never quite the same again, although the higher-riding hightop Mk5 Transit behind may have escaped wet mats. Hopefully festival punters returning to floating cars were still on a high after what was a vintage year, with acts including Blur, Primal Scream, Pulp, Bob Dylan, Roni Size and the Chemical Brothers… all for £80! Spotted anything we’ve missed? Contact us via classicford.ed@kelsey.co.uk.…

We’ve seen many different engine conversions in Mk1 Fiestas over the years, but the modern 1.6 turbocharged unit from an ST180 is a new one on us. This certainly sounds like an ambitious prospect but armed with a wealth of experience working full time as an auto electrician within his own Retro Wiring Services business which specialises in classic cars, you could say Paul has a head start and so far, it’s all proving to be straightforward. “I’d already done a lot to the car including fitting an I4 RS2000 engine followed by a 2.3 on throttle bodies many years ago,” Paul explains. “I changed the paintwork from Sunburst Red to Estoril Blue then Imperial Blue, but it was beginning to look a little tired and needed some love.” After…

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Andy could not have got a better team to help him get the Transit over the line in the form The Retired Old Ford Fellows, or ROFFs for short. The team of ex-Ford engineers meet up once a week in their own workshop at Dunton for copious amounts of tea, biscuits, talk and tools, and are tasked with jobs no-one else is capable of, such as keeping Ford’s Heritage fleet alive and running. Each of the team brings their own skillset to the group too (above, from left to right): Ian Dunbobbin was in Cooling and Heat Management; Ivor Batholomeusz looked after the Ford Heritage Fleet for many years; Stuart Black’s background was Body and Electrical Engineering; while (to the right of Andy) Dave Gilmour’s field was Powertrain Calibration; and…

The A B C of tuning Z is for… Zetec It’s almost 25 years since Ford unleashed its 16-valve variant of what is basically an evolution of the CVH. Originally planted in Mk5 Escorts, the engine that went on to launch the Mondeo has stood the test of time. It’s economical, reliable and can withstand its fair share of abuse. It also has extra power potential that can be tapped into without breaking the bank. Available in 1.6, 1.8 and 2-litre displacements, it’s the 2-litre that interests us most because it’s got 130 bhp to start with. For that reason it’s the more popular choice with tuners and subsequently there’s more 2-litre based aftermarket tuning hardware available for the Zetec. So you’ve ousted your old engine and planted a Zetec…

I love it when my family and friends wind me up for buying car parts. My long and well documented history of buying parts and building cars has been reason for many jokes and jibes, but there is a method to my madness. It’s always a ‘price per use’ justification as far as I am concerned. Where my justification comes into full effect is when an ‘unexpected or unplanned purchase’ pops up. You know, an item you need for your build that presents itself at usually the most inopportune time, but you simply cannot say no. Normally it’s either the rarity of the item or the realistic price being asked that makes you swing into action. It happened to me recently, and all came together across a very small timeframe…

We’re fitting Torque Thrust wheels to our Capri, which are five-stud. Standard Capri hubs are only four-stud so we’re swapping in some Mk4 Zodiac components, which are five-stud. Ours came minus bearings, which means we need to fit some, and since no-one’s covered the basic task of removing and replacing bearings, we thought we’d do it in-depth. On the face of it, it seems like a simple job, but there are a million-and-one ways to adjust the bearings. We’ve enlisted the help and facilities of Old Ford Auto Services (OFAS), along with Mick Wood to guide us through how he both removes and fits and adjusts bearings the simple way for a long-lasting life. The hubs are cast iron, but the races on which the bearings run are hardened steel.…

Never one to miss an opportunity to capitalise on its race success, Ford tuned into the excitement generated by its all-conquering Supertouring cars and announced the ST200 Mondeo in October 1998. Based on the ST24 version, the ST200 took Mondeo performance to a whole new level, benefiting from a significant increase in power, extra equipment, sharper handling and an even-sportier appearance. With a target of 200 bhp, hence the ST200 moniker, Ford’s engineers gave the ST24’s 2544cc Duratec V6 a comprehensive makeover to hit the magic number. The bottom end remained the same, but power-boosting revisions included the additions of a new air filter assembly, enlarged throttle body, freer-flowing intake manifold, reworked cylinder head, reprofiled camshafts, recalibrated EEC-V engine management and a specially-tuned twin tailpipe exhaust manifold. It worked too…