Behold the 4 headed monster!

[dome]

Thanks to FOAD of this parish a friend and I went to suss out a potential future Dome Smoker today.

 

I've always loved Scorpios, despite(or possibly because of) their somewhat challenging looks. So when FOAD posted up last week about one local to me for sale I had to go for a look. 

 

Phwoooaarrr

 

 

Just as lovely* from the other side with some Bonus arse crack action...

 

 

 

Nice and Easy to work on*

 

 

 

 

2.5td so veg friendly. Off the road for 3 years, Cat C so needs a VIC check.  And an exhaust. And one sill is a bit crumbly. And the brakes are seized.  And the windscreens got a fucking big crack in it.  And no doubt more...

 

It was just parked up after a rear end bump and left. So it was only right to try and ressurect his handsome* big beast.

 

The setup in this pic with jump leads onto the terminals didn't work so after a bit of bodging to fit a round post  battery to the ford terminals the fucker only started! 

 

It actually ran pretty well and sounded pretty fruity due to the exhaust being fucked. Brakes are completely seized so we couldn't get it to move and the alternator light is on. Arse

 

Need to sort out getting it home-hiring a trailer and sticking it on the back of the Octavia seems the best bet-anyone in Fife know of a trailer/dolly available?

 

More to come, need to cost up getting the thing roadworthy. Possibly more than I really want to take on but I'll keep you all posted. I would love to save it...

[wuvvum]

Four headed monsters are almost impossible to jump start, for some reason.

[Lacquer Peel]

WINNER WAGON. I had a Scorpio TD Ultima for a while, mega comfy and 'long legged'. Hope the brakes just need freeing and it doesn't need 4x new calipers or something.

[DodgyBastard]

My pal with the recovery truck would probably charge £60 to get it back to yours if you're stuck. Glad to see someone going for it.

[320touring]

Wow! Excellent work:)

[RoadworkUK]

Scorpios are probably #1 in my most under-rated cars of all time list. I should imagine a diesel estate one can probably answer pretty much any transportative question you can throw at it.

 

The only way it could be more useful would be if it was amphibious or could hover.

[twosmoke300]

To me the estate always looked like it was designed by 2 different people . Front end all curvy and different and back end v square and conventional . Must have a massive load area tho . Top shiting

[HillmanImp]

When they brought this car out I thought that this was finally proof that time travel was possible, as the only fathomable reason I could see for Ford actually thinking that the styling of this car was a good idea was if it was a car that they had designed with great success in the future when tastes and expectations were different and they felt like bringing forward some of that success and popularity to an earlier time and reaping the rewards.

 

I do like them as they are different but have no idea what Ford were thinking in terms of commercial success.

[Lankytim]

You couldn't free the brakes with the engine running? You wimp!!!

[NorfolkNWeigh]

The Bugeye Scorpio facelift, always seems to me just about the cheapest yet effective of all time . That one looks particularly nice in that colour.

 

 

Can't help thinking that by the time you've bought,transported and fixed that one you could get a nice ,up and running 2.9 with plenty of change to pay for the extra fuel.

[derskine]

On the whole I don't think it's too bad condition wise.

It was good to meet you guys too.

[dome]

 

Can't help thinking that by the time you've bought,transported and fixed that one you could get a nice ,up and running 2.9 with plenty of change to pay for the extra fuel

 

 Aye, that's probably true, but is it the Autoshite way? I want a diesel too. There's one TD Estate on ebay that looks pretty nice, it starts at a grand though and is 500 miles away from me...  

 

 

Will try to sort out transporting it, need to free off the one brake that resisted us-even with a hammer and then a 6ft metal bar it still wouldn't free off

[320touring]

 

 

 

 Aye, that's probably true, but is it the Autoshite way? I want a diesel too. There's one TD Estate on ebay that looks pretty nice, it starts at a grand though and is 500 miles away from me...  

 

 

Will try to sort out transporting it, need to free off the one brake that resisted us-even with a hammer and then a 6ft metal bar it still wouldn't free off

 

Plenty time to get it ready for the next scotoshite meet

[dollywobbler]

To me the estate always looked like it was designed by 2 different people . Front end all curvy and different and back end v square and conventional . Must have a massive load area tho . Top shiting.

 

That's because, in a very traditional Ford cost-cutting manner, the back end is exactly the same as the facelift Mk3 Granada/Scorpio rear. An outsourced styling job IIRC, so Ford accountants no doubt wanted to spread that cost out a bit.

 

Ridiculous efforts to save near-hopeless basket cases is what makes this site brilliant. 

[mercrocker]

Great save, indeed.   They will all be dead, very soon... I cant remember when I last saw a non-Guppy one, for example....

Ford estates seem to have a history of fractured design, too - Mk 1 Escort - bang Mk2 front on, job done.   Mk. 1 Granny likewise - except it had a Mk2 scuttle and a post structure as well.   Best one was the Mk3 Zephyr - farmed out to Abbotts of Farnham they used to have to fit Zodiac doors to the roofless Zephyrs as the Zody doors were vertically trailing-edged.   Because of trim differences this meant using Zodiac front door cards to match the rears....

[Pillock]

The arse end of the Frogface Estate had been around since it shared a brochure with the Sierra.

 

I so would. That scratches my luxobarge itch that is getting ever more, erm, itchy. To me it's better than a Jaaaag or a Merc, they may be more luxurious but there's something about a big ford that shouts "I'm one of you, just lots richer".

[Lord Sterling]

Dome - Today you are a WINNAR! I find it almost impossibly interesting when I see cars of this age/calibur resurrected from slumber. I look forward to seeing this car running and some pictures of its sumptuous interior.

[dome]

Thanks guys for the positive comments-need to finalise the deal and arrange getting it home yet but it'd be crazy not to having gone this far-it'll be getting scrapped otherwise.  Will speak to the owner this week and sort something out. Really want to rescue it, Shiply quote of £40 to get it transported lessens the pain somewhat.

[Junkman]

Scorpios are probably #1 in my most under-rated cars of all time list. I should imagine a diesel estate one can probably answer pretty much any transportative question you can throw at it.

 

Well, it ends where a Range Rover starts.

[Junkman]

What's it like to be the oddball out amongst all them Ovlovs?

I do like the car, well done.

[Squire_Dawson]

It is a good save of an unusual car. Well done.

[HillmanImp]

The Bugeye Scorpio facelift, always seems to me just about the cheapest yet effective of all time . That one looks particularly nice in that colour.

 

 

Can't help thinking that by the time you've bought,transported and fixed that one you could get a nice ,up and running 2.9 with plenty of change to pay for the extra fuel.image.jpg

 

Thats a subtle facelift. Its only when you have put them together that I have ever noticed the difference.

[phil_lihp]

The fact that this is a neglected, unloved example of an unpopular car with cosmetic deficiencies and it has a tractor engine means I was contemplating this.  I'm very glad that chance has passed, looking forward to seeing it cleaned up, mended and on the road where it belongs!  The diesel must be getting rare and if someone on this forum won't save one, who will?

[oman5]

I'd be happy to run one, they drive pretty much like the mk3 Granada which is no bad thing, especially in nutter-bastard 24v form.