bunglebus

Best combo I ever saw was a 1300 Ghia two door in signal green with a green interior. Old boy in Brentwood had it for donkeys years.
I do remember an N plate near my mum's too, even in the early 90s they were unusual 

Also a cool book arrived…..

Wow, don't remember that colour at all, must have been rare.

Thats lovely and reminds me of all the mk1 & 2's that used to litter the streets and cul de sacs when i was a lad, when i really wanted one as well. Im now jealous

Bought this in the mid 90s, I was still a teenager. Did lots to it but eventually it went on eBay. Still out there, last pics that popped up were someone proposing they use it as a drift car


Run to the Sun 1998 in my 1600 Ghia auto

The previously midnight blue 1300 Ghia I ended up with. Drove like a sack of shite

Signal amber 1300 Ghia I co-owned with my mate. Awesome colour

1600 Sport I bought out of the Basildon Evening Echo, fitted with a 2.0 Pinto using all the proper RS2000 mounts, bellhousing etc.
I ended up scrapping it before realising it was registered alongside some of the works rally cars

A random wide arch 4 door that turned up at work

My friend's 1300 Ghia (same silver/red colour combo as my 1600), that had been his mum's when we were at school. He spotted it for sale in the local paper years later and bought it back. Was a low mileage car and everything felt tight, best driving Escort I've experienced 

Should be black behind the grille though

Bought this in the mid 90s, I was still a teenager. Did lots to it but eventually it went on eBay. Still out there, last pics that popped up were someone proposing they use it as a drift car


Run to the Sun 1998 in my 1600 Ghia auto

The previously midnight blue 1300 Ghia I ended up with. Drove like a sack of shite

Signal amber 1300 Ghia I co-owned with my mate. Awesome colour

1600 Sport I bought out of the Basildon Evening Echo, fitted with a 2.0 Pinto using all the proper RS2000 mounts, bellhousing etc.
I ended up scrapping it before realising it was registered alongside some of the works rally cars

A random wide arch 4 door that turned up at work

My friend's 1300 Ghia (same silver/red colour combo as my 1600), that had been his mum's when we were at school. He spotted it for sale in the local paper years later and bought it back. Was a low mileage car and everything felt tight, best driving Escort I've experienced 

Should be black behind the grille though

OK here are some of today's treasures 
If anyone fancies this Matchbox Major Pack Guy Warrior transporter it was £2 - needs work but at least has all its grey tyres

I don't really "do" commercial stuff, so I sell on any Convoy bits I end up with - so of course I don't have the right tractor unit for this (I like Pepsi branded items)

Guy was selling a handful of My First Matchbox for 50p each. Someone's got to look after them

Other Matchbox include a late 'bird

And a Prowler 

Going back a few decades, yet another Capri probably headed for my sales thread

Blaze Buster is another unloved casting but this one is very nice, still looks capable of busting a few blazes

GT40 has definitely had an eventful life

Superfast Dodge Wreck Truck isn't bad though

I'm not too completionist when it comes to Lesney's earlier efforts, some just don't appeal to me. These too were too cute to ignore though. Still amazes me you can buy a 60 year old toy for pence

Legend has it the designer of the Majorette fox body Mustang saw the original car drive past at 80 MPH at night when it was foggy, and did the job from memory 

He did at least include some junk in the trunk for us though

Talking of tatty red Majorettes

Corgi Range Rover always seems to pop up, and there are many variations 

This was yesterday's 

There's something about the styling of a Scammell that appeals to me 

Today's best buy was a 50p Politoys Chevron

Silliest was a Chinese pickup on fake Hot Wheels Ultra Hot rims

Red hub Batmobile will go on to a new home via eBay

So having decided I didn't need another Dinky Kubelwagen

Or a giant Stratos

And definitely not anything from here

I came home 

Check out Paint Factory pearl aerosols, I use them and the effect is mad. 
I bought them in QDs but I see them in various cheap hardware stalls, market etc

Use very sparingly! This was pink over black

Went a bit nuts on this one for a metalflake effect

I put the tiniest dusting of pearl over this red just to liven it up a bit

Check out Paint Factory pearl aerosols, I use them and the effect is mad. 
I bought them in QDs but I see them in various cheap hardware stalls, market etc

Use very sparingly! This was pink over black

Went a bit nuts on this one for a metalflake effect

I put the tiniest dusting of pearl over this red just to liven it up a bit

Bought this in the mid 90s, I was still a teenager. Did lots to it but eventually it went on eBay. Still out there, last pics that popped up were someone proposing they use it as a drift car


Run to the Sun 1998 in my 1600 Ghia auto

The previously midnight blue 1300 Ghia I ended up with. Drove like a sack of shite

Signal amber 1300 Ghia I co-owned with my mate. Awesome colour

1600 Sport I bought out of the Basildon Evening Echo, fitted with a 2.0 Pinto using all the proper RS2000 mounts, bellhousing etc.
I ended up scrapping it before realising it was registered alongside some of the works rally cars

A random wide arch 4 door that turned up at work

My friend's 1300 Ghia (same silver/red colour combo as my 1600), that had been his mum's when we were at school. He spotted it for sale in the local paper years later and bought it back. Was a low mileage car and everything felt tight, best driving Escort I've experienced 

Should be black behind the grille though

Check out Paint Factory pearl aerosols, I use them and the effect is mad. 
I bought them in QDs but I see them in various cheap hardware stalls, market etc

Use very sparingly! This was pink over black

Went a bit nuts on this one for a metalflake effect

I put the tiniest dusting of pearl over this red just to liven it up a bit

I'm going to roffle the duplicates of my large diecast collection (spent far too much this year lol) if anyone wants to have a go (posted in the for sale car boot section).

Bought this in the mid 90s, I was still a teenager. Did lots to it but eventually it went on eBay. Still out there, last pics that popped up were someone proposing they use it as a drift car


Run to the Sun 1998 in my 1600 Ghia auto

The previously midnight blue 1300 Ghia I ended up with. Drove like a sack of shite

Signal amber 1300 Ghia I co-owned with my mate. Awesome colour

1600 Sport I bought out of the Basildon Evening Echo, fitted with a 2.0 Pinto using all the proper RS2000 mounts, bellhousing etc.
I ended up scrapping it before realising it was registered alongside some of the works rally cars

A random wide arch 4 door that turned up at work

My friend's 1300 Ghia (same silver/red colour combo as my 1600), that had been his mum's when we were at school. He spotted it for sale in the local paper years later and bought it back. Was a low mileage car and everything felt tight, best driving Escort I've experienced 

Should be black behind the grille though

Check out Paint Factory pearl aerosols, I use them and the effect is mad. 
I bought them in QDs but I see them in various cheap hardware stalls, market etc

Use very sparingly! This was pink over black

Went a bit nuts on this one for a metalflake effect

I put the tiniest dusting of pearl over this red just to liven it up a bit

Bought this in the mid 90s, I was still a teenager. Did lots to it but eventually it went on eBay. Still out there, last pics that popped up were someone proposing they use it as a drift car


Run to the Sun 1998 in my 1600 Ghia auto

The previously midnight blue 1300 Ghia I ended up with. Drove like a sack of shite

Signal amber 1300 Ghia I co-owned with my mate. Awesome colour

1600 Sport I bought out of the Basildon Evening Echo, fitted with a 2.0 Pinto using all the proper RS2000 mounts, bellhousing etc.
I ended up scrapping it before realising it was registered alongside some of the works rally cars

A random wide arch 4 door that turned up at work

My friend's 1300 Ghia (same silver/red colour combo as my 1600), that had been his mum's when we were at school. He spotted it for sale in the local paper years later and bought it back. Was a low mileage car and everything felt tight, best driving Escort I've experienced 

Should be black behind the grille though

Bought this in the mid 90s, I was still a teenager. Did lots to it but eventually it went on eBay. Still out there, last pics that popped up were someone proposing they use it as a drift car


Run to the Sun 1998 in my 1600 Ghia auto

The previously midnight blue 1300 Ghia I ended up with. Drove like a sack of shite

Signal amber 1300 Ghia I co-owned with my mate. Awesome colour

1600 Sport I bought out of the Basildon Evening Echo, fitted with a 2.0 Pinto using all the proper RS2000 mounts, bellhousing etc.
I ended up scrapping it before realising it was registered alongside some of the works rally cars

A random wide arch 4 door that turned up at work

My friend's 1300 Ghia (same silver/red colour combo as my 1600), that had been his mum's when we were at school. He spotted it for sale in the local paper years later and bought it back. Was a low mileage car and everything felt tight, best driving Escort I've experienced 

Should be black behind the grille though

Bought this in the mid 90s, I was still a teenager. Did lots to it but eventually it went on eBay. Still out there, last pics that popped up were someone proposing they use it as a drift car


Run to the Sun 1998 in my 1600 Ghia auto

The previously midnight blue 1300 Ghia I ended up with. Drove like a sack of shite

Signal amber 1300 Ghia I co-owned with my mate. Awesome colour

1600 Sport I bought out of the Basildon Evening Echo, fitted with a 2.0 Pinto using all the proper RS2000 mounts, bellhousing etc.
I ended up scrapping it before realising it was registered alongside some of the works rally cars

A random wide arch 4 door that turned up at work

My friend's 1300 Ghia (same silver/red colour combo as my 1600), that had been his mum's when we were at school. He spotted it for sale in the local paper years later and bought it back. Was a low mileage car and everything felt tight, best driving Escort I've experienced 

Should be black behind the grille though

Bought this in the mid 90s, I was still a teenager. Did lots to it but eventually it went on eBay. Still out there, last pics that popped up were someone proposing they use it as a drift car


Run to the Sun 1998 in my 1600 Ghia auto

The previously midnight blue 1300 Ghia I ended up with. Drove like a sack of shite

Signal amber 1300 Ghia I co-owned with my mate. Awesome colour

1600 Sport I bought out of the Basildon Evening Echo, fitted with a 2.0 Pinto using all the proper RS2000 mounts, bellhousing etc.
I ended up scrapping it before realising it was registered alongside some of the works rally cars

A random wide arch 4 door that turned up at work

My friend's 1300 Ghia (same silver/red colour combo as my 1600), that had been his mum's when we were at school. He spotted it for sale in the local paper years later and bought it back. Was a low mileage car and everything felt tight, best driving Escort I've experienced 

Should be black behind the grille though

Bought this in the mid 90s, I was still a teenager. Did lots to it but eventually it went on eBay. Still out there, last pics that popped up were someone proposing they use it as a drift car


Run to the Sun 1998 in my 1600 Ghia auto

The previously midnight blue 1300 Ghia I ended up with. Drove like a sack of shite

Signal amber 1300 Ghia I co-owned with my mate. Awesome colour

1600 Sport I bought out of the Basildon Evening Echo, fitted with a 2.0 Pinto using all the proper RS2000 mounts, bellhousing etc.
I ended up scrapping it before realising it was registered alongside some of the works rally cars

A random wide arch 4 door that turned up at work

My friend's 1300 Ghia (same silver/red colour combo as my 1600), that had been his mum's when we were at school. He spotted it for sale in the local paper years later and bought it back. Was a low mileage car and everything felt tight, best driving Escort I've experienced 

Should be black behind the grille though

Check out Paint Factory pearl aerosols, I use them and the effect is mad. 
I bought them in QDs but I see them in various cheap hardware stalls, market etc

Use very sparingly! This was pink over black

Went a bit nuts on this one for a metalflake effect

I put the tiniest dusting of pearl over this red just to liven it up a bit

Things are moving forward!
Following a few days of local trundling, I decided to test the Mondeo on the motorway. 
I figured that a gentle run at 50-60mph would be wise first, so I popped up to Stevenage, then full speed on the return. Suitable period signage deployed.

 
Arrangements had been made for the car transporter to pick up the Capri, so time to get things ready. The car was pulled out into daylight...

...giving space, whilst waiting for the transporter, for a good wash of the garage floor with de-greaser.  The engine, previously having been down the side, has been moved into the middle (note - moving a pinto with gearbox attached, on your own, is not recommended).

Scuse the terrible picture, but it was taken quite late in the day!

Now wait to see what the painter thinks of it. In the mean time, there are parts to order...

All like that up to about '77, along with loads of detail changes. Engine size on the wings for one, quite early autos have AUTOMATIC badges under the rear number plate, single number plate light instead of two etc etc.
Weirdest change I've discovered was door hinges on the estates. I put MK1 saloon doors on my '77 Estate after buying a '79 estate as a donor and funding they didn't fit, hard to describe but they swapped the sides on the top hinge.

A few from me.
Recent spots in Belgium:

Hyundai i20. Looks to have been there for a long time.

This 207 in a local shops carpark that I use to park in too. 207 has been here for a good year or so, it was here in August last year.
UK:

This Polo is by mine, owned by an older gentleman. Hasn't moved now for a good half a year but is still taxed and MoT'd (or least it was last time I checked)

Focus in Halesowen. Been here for ages, not moved since about 2010/11.

75 V6, although it doesn't look abandoned, it hasn't moved for a while.

106, Erdington near a shiter. 

Toyota Avensis. Outside a shop in Selly Oak, Birmingham.
 

I thought the MK2 Escort only used to be built in Dagenham and Cologne  Saarlouis so that's probably correct 

Thanks for the reminder. Found this the other week

Update on this one inside the abandoned Sea Cadets place - it's finally drawn the attention of vandals

Such a waste on a car that didn't even get its first MoT