A few snaps of the new Escort

[Alexg]

Here is the old girl, picked up from Hemel Hempsted in the week. She pulls to the left a bit and smokes a little when cold, but performs well apart from this. It's amazing how advanced and modern she feels against the Allegro. Today I spent a bit of time cleaning the dashboard, steering wheel, gear knob and switchgear (1 1/2 hours actually) with a toothbrush, sponge and Fairy Liquid. It's come up a treat.

 

Unfortunately the dashboard is cracked (aren't they all) and the blue door pocket on the passenger side is broken. The seats need a really thorough clean as they are quite stained. The exterior paintwork's slightly faded, with one large extreme area on the bonnet. I had a quick go at a very small area with some Autogleam super resin polish, which responded very well. I will hopefully attend to this over the next few weeks.

 

Ziebarted from new so exterior wise is remarkably rust free. Both front doors have a small amount of grot, although this looks worse due to a liberal amount of Hammerite splashed over the top. It's the same on the near-side arch. The owner was clearly very keen on rust proofing, the wiper arm recess on the scuttle panel are filled with grease. There are a few battle scars on both wings, boot lid and drivers door, but hopefully the dent-man at work can knock these out on Friday.

 

Plans after a full clean include cambelt change (I have no record of when it was last done), an investigation into the pull to the left, and obviously some age appropriate number plates. Here are a few pictures...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[phil_lihp]

Well done, that doesn't look half bad, these seem to be pretty rare now, especially in that sort of condition, is it a keeper?

[trigger]

Yep, that's another box of Kleenex finished.

[cms206]

That's a nice thing that! I keep getting urges for an Orion as a runabout to take the heat off the Volvo but I reckon it wouldn't last five minutes round here before some fucker stole it.

[trigger]

I keep getting urges for an Orion.

 

Hmm, me too, a nice early Mk1 Ghia i , this one was winking at me earlier but It's in Ireland and I haven't got £1800. http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C346676

[Angrydicky]

That is lovely.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I'm knocking one out RIGHT NOW on the strength of those rare GL steelz.

[Lord Sterling]

That is a really nice car, really verybclean. The dash reminds me of Fatha_Sterlings old Ford Escort, I remember having to clean it and got a bit carried away with the dashboard shine.

 

What is that grille thing on top of the dashboard? I always thought it was some speaker thing.

[retrogeezer]

It was a speaker cover on the base models with mono radio fitted.

 

The estates look good and I think that was a great buy, cambelt is an easy job too - even I could do one!

 

That Orion is lovely and not a bad buy at the £1400 without the 'personal' plate. Same colour combo as my Escort Ghia:

 

 

[RedSparrow]

Nice purchase! Looks pretty clean too. Where did all these go? Another car from my childhood that vanished overnight.

[Morgan84]

I'm sure there are ways of filling and concealing dashboard cracks. Looks a nice car,and when you change the oil,put a stop leak in as well,which may help the valve stem seals and possibly reduce any blue smoke

[Mr Lobster]

That does look very nice. Can't imagine that you'd lose your money when you come to move it on either.

[purplebargeken]

Crikey, if that is the extent of the bodywork woes then you have a damn tidy example there. I seem to recall that Halfrauds do a plastic trim repair kit that might be of use for the dash. Have to admit that I haven't seen an Escort dash go like that before. Sierra's yes, but not the Escort.

 

Lovely, lovely car.

[Cavcraft]

That's fab, Alex. Pulling to the left could be tracking, but it's probably worth trying swapping one back wheel with a front and then the other side if it hasn't cured it.

[retrogeezer]

Have to admit that I haven't seen an Escort dash go like that before. Sierra's yes, but not the Escort.

 

All the Mk3's with the 'soft feel' dash have this problem (GL and above), an uncracked dash is worth about £200 these days to the RSTurbo boys.

 

The base and L models had a hard plastic dash and don't have the same issue.

 

*edit - £300!!

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mk3-Escort-Xr ... 7675.l2557

[Alexg]

Thanks for the comments guys. I'm unsure of plans at the moment apart from rectify the niggles and enjoy. I imagine it's a short termer though as the Allegro will be back soon.

[trigger]

Is the steering pulling all the time or just under braking?

[ProgRocker]

Nice Escort, Alex. I always thought later GLs had the rev counter as opposed to the Quartz clock.

 

I keep getting urges for an Orion.

 

Hmm, me too, a nice early Mk1 Ghia i , this one was winking at me earlier but It's in Ireland and I haven't got £1800. http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C346676

 

Mark 1 Orion Ghias have been getting me hot and bothered quite a lot recently.

[Alexg]

Is the steering pulling all the time or just under braking?

 

Always. Not hugely noticeable until you're on the motorway, when my steering-wheel needed to be constantly at the 1 o'clock position.

[stuboy]

id drive that

[Negative Creep]

I have a major lob on for the mk.3 and 4 Escort and Orion. I'm now old enough to say I remember them being on every street corner, and really need another in my life

[wuvvum]

My first car was a Mk3 Escort (van) - they're a thoroughly competent way of getting about, and would imagine a 1600 with a 5-speed would be quite a useful motorway tool as well. I think you've done well there.

[retrogeezer]

Is the steering pulling all the time or just under braking?

 

Always. Not hugely noticeable until you're on the motorway, when my steering-wheel needed to be constantly at the 1 o'clock position.

 

Next time you get out after a bit of a drive see if the near side front wheel is hot to the touch. Our old XR2 did this and it was the caliper sticking a bit..

[trigger]

That was what I was thinking to Si, It might pay to rip the front wheels of and just check your caliper and wishbones.

[Split_Pin]

That's lovely that is.

 

I'm a big fan of the dash on these and how the more developed the dash becomes the higher up the range you go. e.g. no centre console on the base, a sort of 'hangdown' effort on the L and the 'all the way to the floor' on the higher models like you. Ford knew how to make the GL owner feel that bit more special.

[Alexg]

Next time you get out after a bit of a drive see if the near side front wheel is hot to the touch. Our old XR2 did this and it was the caliper sticking a bit..

 

That was what I was thinking to Si, It might pay to rip the front wheels of and just check your caliper and wishbones.

 

The guy I bought it from said he had just put some brake pads on the front. It's the first place I'll check....

[Spiny Norman]

That looks proper smart, you forget how tidy these old Escorts looked before they went all fat and gloopy.

I've had cars in the past where I've had bathroom sealer in the cracks in the dash, all you have to do is find some the right colour.