Styled in Italy, built in Britain - The story of the blue Ital Van

[r.welfare]

Blimey, that Orion has the trip computer! I've never seen one outside of a Ford brochure, a rare option that.

[omegod]

Never mind the ply that Orion is giving me wood ! Some serious potential for something special there 

[Broadsword]

The Orion must be restored so that we can see that trip computer in action!

[danthecapriman]

Vans looking great. I remember when me and my dad ply lined our mk2 Transit, it was supposed to be a simple job but turned out to be a right shit.

 

That Onion looks lush. Well worth saving too, I can't remember the last time I saw one tbh. It's wearing an impressive dust layer too!

[Pillock]

Is that a proper RS bodykit on the Orion? I remember going to an RS dealer somewhere near Lincon whilst on hols and getting a brochure. All the bodykits were pretty much the same - glue a spoiler onto the bottom half of the bumper to make it deeper, a boot spoiler, sill covers.

 

Still remember a pretty much stock Granada, looked like a 2.0 GL or something in a solid colour like Doom Blue, and then this bodykit glued to it for the photos making it look like a pig wearing lipstick. Oh, and every car had 7-spoke RS alloys.

 

I bet that kit is a rarity now though, hardly ever see period stuff like that. Probably all got binned off in the 90s in favour of some awful smooth Max Power job.

[stonedagain]

Has the rear axle got a breather on it? If so, check it isn't blocked. If it is, pressure builds up & forces oil past the seals.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

I've just read all of this thread.  Magnificent.  Absolutely magnificent.  I remember some of these as a kid - along with the Maestro van.  What an absolute retro blast.

[PhilA]

That brings back memories. Friend had a 1.6i Ghia Onion exactly the same as that. The trip computer was chocolate teapot in terms of providing any really useful information. But it was cool!

 

Phil

[mk2_craig]

I remember pulling a boot spoiler and trip computer off a white one of those, years ago in Edinburgh. Must have been 2001 as it was derelict outside the garage I collected a red Fiesta with goosed big ends from. They were the first car parts I ever flogged on EBay and even back then made some good money.

 

I found the mirror and window switches from it last night while sorting through some stuff in my garage!

 

Can't wait to see the job you make of that Orion when it happens, little bit jealous!!

[trigger]

Has the rear axle got a breather on it? If so, check it isn't blocked. If it is, pressure builds up & forces oil past the seals.

Someone else mentioned the breather, I've had it off but it looks clear to me.

 

 

I'm guessing where its sat for 25 years the seals have gone hard, replacement kits aren't too expensive (£30 for a pair with bearings) it's just the hassle of splitting the half shafts and knocking out the bearings that's the real PITA.

[Anglevan]

Common problem on these, as you say the seals are cheap enough. Replaced them on my marina but you do need a proper puller. Don't try to bray em off ... pity you're not local as I'd have gladly lent you mine.

[Mr Lobster]

Vans looking splendid but that Orion       

[jbz2079]

I wonder how a Marina would be with an A40 box?  Or a Dolly Sprint engine?

 

The Marinas they sent to Australia had the Maxi engine and gearbox and were front wheel drive.

So, from quite shit to even shitter.

[Soap Distant]

I wonder how a Marina would be with an A40 box?  Or a Dolly Sprint engine?

 

The Marinas they sent to Australia had the Maxi engine and gearbox and were front wheel drive.

So, from quite shit to even shitter.

I want some of what you're taking...

[oldcars]

Blimey, that Orion has the trip computer! I've never seen one outside of a Ford brochure, a rare option that.

My gradfathers had that too. E plate, burgandy colour. 

[MorrisItalSLX]

The Marinas they sent to Australia had the Maxi engine and gearbox and were front wheel drive.

So, from quite shit to even shitter.

 

Not quite, Aussie Marinas were built in Australia from CKD Kits from Cowley and were fitted with locally produced E-series units in 4 and 6 cylinder flavours attatched to Borg-Warner manual and auto gearboxes. They were still rear wheel drive.

[Noel Tidybeard]

The Marinas they sent to Australia had the Maxi engine and gearbox and were front wheel drive.

So, from quite shit to even shitter. They were made in the same factory as the diesel Maxis which is how the had engines spare for the Marinas

 

EFA

[r.welfare]

What was the sketch with the Aus Marinas using the E series? Commonality with the Nomad and P76 for local content because nothing else out there was using the B series at that stage and the 1275 A was not manly enough for the conditions?

[flat4alfa]

What was the sketch with the Aus Marinas using the E series? Commonality with the Nomad and P76 for local content because nothing else out there was using the B series at that stage and the 1275 A was not manly enough for the conditions?

 

I suggest the E-series was more familiar, as the Australian plant got the development gig for the six cylinders in the range in the first place

[flat4alfa]

I never rated the Orion/Mk3/Mk4 when they were newish.  However, this next Triggerisation project might even yield a five figure sum, as the world went mad a while ago on this sort of Ford with no mileage and even a hint of the RS term

 

Can you tell my jealousy

[flat4alfa]

Also looking forward to the Triggersave of that that Transit acting as a wind break !

[purplebargeken]

Might well be less bouncy at the back with a proper load in there

 

T'was what they were meant to do

[eddyramrod]

I want some of what you're taking...

Have you seen where he lives?  Sellafield is next door...

[Felly Magic]

I think someone is getting Marinas & locally built Austin Kimberlys mixed up, which were basically a Maxi saloon, a car for the question nobody really asked

[flat4alfa]

Austin Kimberly and Tasman were based around BMC ADO17, not Maxi.  Aside from the door frames, not a lot is shared with Maxi

 

 

[MorrisItalSLX]

I think someone is getting Marinas & locally built Austin Kimberlys mixed up, which were basically a Maxi saloon, a car for the question nobody really asked

 

The BL Line-up in Australia in the 1970s in a nutshell:

 

The Moke continued being the Moke

The Clubman replaced the Mini as the small car in the range

The Marina replaced the 1100/1500/Nomad as the medium car in the range

The Kimberly/Tasman replaced the 1800 as the large car in the range

The P76 created the fucking huge car in the range

[Hendry]

Is that a proper RS bodykit on the Orion? I remember going to an RS dealer somewhere near Lincon whilst on hols and getting a brochure. All the bodykits were pretty much the same - glue a spoiler onto the bottom half of the bumper to make it deeper, a boot spoiler, sill covers.

 

Still remember a pretty much stock Granada, looked like a 2.0 GL or something in a solid colour like Doom Blue, and then this bodykit glued to it for the photos making it look like a pig wearing lipstick. Oh, and every car had 7-spoke RS alloys.

 

I bet that kit is a rarity now though, hardly ever see period stuff like that. Probably all got binned off in the 90s in favour of some awful smooth Max Power job.

Wasn’t just RS dealers who did the RS accessories from memory, the dealer my old man got his later mk5 Escort shape Orion from wasn’t an RS Dealer but had a RS wheel stand in the service/parts bit, always liked the 5 spoke ones with the RS inside a hexagonal bit on the centre cap. Brochures and pictures on the walls of cars along with the price lists with RS stuff on them when we went in to get his car serviced.

 

Best one is seeing a standard car, like the doom blue Granada GL you mention, with the RS accessory kit but still with steelies and trims.

 

Shame that although OEM genuine accessory spoilers, skirt kits, bumper extensions etc still exist in the accessories brochures for moderns you hardly see any cars with them fitted compared with back in the day Fords with RS accessories or Vauxhall’s with Irmscher stuff or even Peugeot’s with SP grilles and so on were common. Guess there’s just not the same level of ‘tasteful car customisation’ there used to be sadly.

 

That Orion looks cracking btw!

[Essex V6]

I managed to get out today in this and see my dad in Colchester to plyline the back out, this job didn't go completely to plan due to time restrictions (there was a Renault Clio inbedded in the armco on the A12 which caused a long tailback to get through) and dad didn't have enough ply after all, whilst i was there i also went to see the chap i bought the van off, he was impressed! I took some photos whilst at his barn.

 

IMG_2759.JPG

 

IMG_2781.JPG

 

IMG_2760.JPG

 

IMG_2761.JPG

 

IMG_2762.JPG

 

IMG_2763.JPG

 

He also still has the Orion that I'm buying in the back of his barn, again I've known the car since 1993 and used to spend my Saturdays whilst at school washing it and we often went to shows and track days in it during the 90's, It's been sat in the barn since 2003 and has still only covered 35000 miles. From what i can see under the dust one arch will need work now and the boot won't stay open anymore although the spoiler doesn't help. The biggest problem is that its so buried that it could be a while before it can be got too!

 

IMG_2774.JPG

 

IMG_2764.JPG

 

IMG_2766.JPG

 

IMG_2767.JPG

 

IMG_2768.JPG

 

IMG_2770.JPG

 

IMG_2776.JPG

 

IMG_2780.JPG

 

and this was about as far as me and dad got with the plying, on the plus side the speakers sound much better! I plan on covering the ply with black felt and carpeting the back. I also need to change both rear half shalf oil seals as they have started pissing out oil which is really annoying.

 

IMG_2783.JPG

Smiley Face resto next up Trig?

[trigger]

That's a pre smiley, it's a K plate 2.5D Custom. He bought it new and I spent much of my teenage years in it as the works van when I was 13-16, about 15 years ago there was the foot and mouth outbreak and it was washed in sheep dip a lot and it's now totally rotted out the chassis.

 

Shame really as it's a good spec with velour seats, lumber support, RDS tape player and a one piece tailgate, its sat here since 2005 but mechanically it's still starts and was working when it died.

 

[Cavcraft]

They’re like steroid abusing, coke snorting cockroaches those 2.5DI motors, almost impossible to kill.

Shame about the underneath, is it completely beyond saving?