Ongoing tales of a Pinto in That There London

[filthyjohn]

Nous sommes arrivé

 

 

But wait, there's a whole other car to get yet!

[filthyjohn]

Nous sommes arrivé

 

 

But wait, there's a whole other car to get yet!

[JohnK]

Glad that everything went smoothly John!

[filthyjohn]

Ok that was ages ago, this is now!

[hairnet]

DSC_0009.JPG

 

Fordperv, the car thinks so too.

new trainsit connect threw one of those today

 

couldnt make out what the icon was but apprently its for cold

 

madness - new vans have far too many toys has cruise and dab

[filthyjohn]

So who's up for a guessing game? I'm off to the south coast now to pick up something to drive home in. Certain people already know what it is, so I'm afraid they are barred.

I only hope it's decent enough to get me the 344 miles home.

[JohnK]

I know I know!

 

Awwwh can't believe I'm barred

[filthyjohn]

This train is gonna split in half and go to two different places! The jeopardy is palpable! I might end up in Littlehampton wherever that is!

[RoadworkUK]

I'm beginning to think that an early Sierra Ghia might be the best car in the world.

 

Let's look at the evidence:

 

A) That ^ interior, blue "chatsworth" trim and ultra-polished "wood" door cappings (those Ghia crests are original, by the way), colour-toned blue dashboard and "graphic information module"

 

Joystick stereo balance / fade control.

 

C) Very well built, better than later Sierras- Ford got progressively meaner with the Sierra in both build and trim- and the Ghia lost its wood trim for '85.

 

D) Pinto engine is non-interference, innit? Nicely tuneable, too.

 

E) Ghia is best looking of all the non-sporty Sierras, complete with XR4i-style foglamps, and of course the black-lined rear lamps of the early models which are probably as rare as Autoshite Steve Wright show fans.

 

F) The Ghia headlamps, made by Cibie, are among the best I've ever experienced.

 

G) 165HR13 tyres, 105hp and RWD = roundabout fun, if you're that way inclined.

 

My Dad's one had, for some reason, the Sierra Laser / Orion Ghia wheeltrims, which I think suited even better than the aeros.

 

 

If ever there was a car he should have kept, it was that.

[JohnK]

 

D) Pinto engine is non-interference, innit? Nicely tuneable, too.

 

 

 

Yes. Laser_wheels will confirm this from his exploits when he owned it, he lost at cambelt roulette but a new belt saw everything running spot on again.

[Jim Bell]

Is it Garycoxs 480?

[fordperv]

RoadworkUK

 

Yep the 2.0 pinto is non interference, but the 1.6 pinto bends valves if the belt breaks

 

The "xr4i style" foglamps you describe on the ghia are exactly the same items as fitted to the xr4i and 3door cosworth/ rs500 also escort cosworth

[320touring]

Last thing I got near Lewes was the CX, surely you aint that daft...

[Bren]

I'm beginning to think that an early Sierra Ghia might be the best car in the world.

 

Let's look at the evidence:

 

A) That ^ interior, blue "chatsworth" trim and ultra-polished "wood" door cappings (those Ghia crests are original, by the way), colour-toned blue dashboard and "graphic information module"

 

Joystick stereo balance / fade control.

 

C) Very well built, better than later Sierras- Ford got progressively meaner with the Sierra in both build and trim- and the Ghia lost its wood trim for '85.

 

D) Pinto engine is non-interference, innit? Nicely tuneable, too.

 

E) Ghia is best looking of all the non-sporty Sierras, complete with XR4i-style foglamps, and of course the black-lined rear lamps of the early models which are probably as rare as Autoshite Steve Wright show fans.

 

F) The Ghia headlamps, made by Cibie, are among the best I've ever experienced.

 

G) 165HR13 tyres, 105hp and RWD = roundabout fun, if you're that way inclined.

 

My Dad's one had, for some reason, the Sierra Laser / Orion Ghia wheeltrims, which I think suited even better than the aeros.

 

ford-sierra-laser-5.jpg

 

If ever there was a car he should have kept, it was that.

Sorry but it's a close second to the 2.0is. Surely the rarest sierra?

[warren t claim]

Sorry but it's a close second to the 2.0is. Surely the rarest sierra?

2.0 GLSi must be rarer in pre facelift spec?

[filthyjohn]

I guess nobody cares what I bought then...

 

[JohnK]

You're a fucking legend* doing this full trip in a day mate.

[filthyjohn]

 

Anyone?

[purplebargeken]

Prelude? I can say this as I is also barred

[purplebargeken]

It was a really good day today. I sat waiting by the garage and had to actually keep warm! Simply unheard of!

 

It was most excellent to see a white Sierra trundling along. As John and his brother saw, there are a couple of XR4's locally. Might say hello at some point. There was some chod spotting along the way to my mates place in Crews Hill including a beautiful pale metallic green Saab 99. 

 

Great to meet both lads and they are to be congratulated on their epic journey. This is the stuff of autoshite lore. After dropping the car off, food was consumed and the intrepid AS duo were dropped off at Edmonton Green station.

 

I shall try and have more of a look at the car tomorrow and report back with piccies hopefully. 

 

The lads saw the rather crumpled gold 190 . It looked very forlorn. It'll be sold for parts if anyone has interests.

[filthyjohn]

Well, 17 hours and a few minutes after setting off, we're home. That's a personal record, and one I'm not in a hurry to challenge.

 

 

[Barry Cade]

Them Sierra's don't like the wind either!

This one's too early to have the "ears" behind the rear window to help with unintended lane changing.

[purplebargeken]

Today was spent having a closer look at the Sierra. I was thinking about my old car last night and how the two compared. My car came from Glebe Garage in Widnes. We had 4 new cars from them in the day and they were a decent bunch. I thought it would be ace if I could get a set of plates with their details on.

 

I had a look at the rear plate today and...........

 

 

I haz happy face on. Now how do I get a new set done?

 

I've taken pics of the very worst bits. The interior is good for its age and the seat material is lovely. It is coming up really clean. The sunroof blind is cleaning up very well indeed. The headlining has gone a tensy bit tent-like in a couple of small sections (and I do mean small). The dash has a couple of compulsory cracks but that is how most of them are nowadays. The clock isn't working for some reason (fuse check due). A couple of bulbs are out on the interior light set up. No seat belts in the back (no worries as no-one else goes with me in my 'old' cars. The petrol cap is a bit tight I believe.

 

Am I happy with the car? hell yeah! The body bits that need doing are well within my now limited ability

 

Have some more of the stuff that needs attention!

 

 

 

Bit on the passenger front wing:

 

 

[purplebargeken]

and more:

 

 

This one if for filthyjohn who also has an Amazon:

 

 

More photos to come over the next couple of weeks. 

[purplebargeken]

Rear view 'pre-fettling'. The rusty marks by the number plate are just that. They came off nicely with some compound. 

 

[JohnK]

The petrol cap is a bit tight I believe.

 

 

 

Pah... You lot are just bloody soft !

 

Glad you're happy with it Ken and with the Glebe Garage ref it was obviously meant to be! That's the second car I've sold you like that (Green Rover was from same dealer as the Dolly if I remember ?)

[purplebargeken]

Haven't tried it myself mind

 

That is correct John, Rover and Dolly from either the same group or the same garage

[purplebargeken]

Forgot to add that the paint is flatter than a squirrel that has just been run over by a Romanian HGV.

 

It's flat but doth respond well to compound and claying

[Ghosty]

Today was spent having a closer look at the Sierra. I was thinking about my old car last night and how the two compared. My car came from Glebe Garage in Widnes. We had 4 new cars from them in the day and they were a decent bunch. I thought it would be ace if I could get a set of plates with their details on.

 

I had a look at the rear plate today and...........

 

 

I haz happy face on. Now how do I get a new set done?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Send this pic (and maybe a detail shot of the dealer info) to DMB Graphics and they'll be able to make you a pair no problem like a few on here have. Probably just an email - not sure how you do it as I haven't personally, the A4's old font plates are blank ones from eBay.

[danthecapriman]

That's a lovely car in a great spec too.

 

Given the rate you got the old green dolly looking so good, this should be show standard within a couple of weekends shouldn't it!?

Looking forward to updates on this.