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The shitest XR3 in Hampshire...


atomic punk

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I haven't seen an XR3 for almost twenty years.. I used to walk past a bright red one on Hearsall Lane in Coventry on my way to college in 1999,it had a style of wheel I've never seen before or since but they had Ford centre caps and looked as though they'd always been on it. One day it was for sale, £395 or offers I think. I didn’t have any money and it wouldn't have been my sort of thing back then but it was a tidy example and rare even then. And yes please to some Victor 101 action /pics

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Welcome.  Looks great! At least you are giving it a second life. Plus XR3s are firmly bigger money territory now.

 It would be good to see some Cloverleaf wheels on it like these for £150:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/323789628864

I pass through Hampshire every few months and I think there is a Solent meet so hopefully the next post COVID meet can be timed right when I'm passing next in August.

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It's funny how familiarity breeds contempt - or at least disinterest but years later, all of a sudden when we realise we've not seen one on the road (car shows etc excluded) for a dogs age, we suddenly appreciate what's gone. 

Personally, never a fan of XR Fords but I nonetheless like to see them around and know they still exist. The Mk.3's kind of died out completely from everyday sight about 15-20 years ago. 

This one looks remarkably tidy both inside and out for a 40 year old car. I like the BBS (RA's?) wheels as well, like most, I loathed (still do) the 'Melba'(?) cloverleaf affairs most seemed to sport before everyone got some sense and put RS alloys on. 

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Good to see a proper XR3 (no I), I wasn't into MK3s but my mate is a serial FWD Escort licker, had MK3 and 4 cabrios, a 1600E Orion, MK1 Ghia Orion, a 1.3 base done up as an XR3, a 1300 Ghia MK3, RS1600I and probably others I've forgotten. He had his 1.6I cabrio resprayed to a great standard by a guy in Essex if you want me to find out who he is?

XR3s are about the only car the cloverleaf wheels look good on, they used to appear on Fiestas and Sierras and look wank.

How's your battery tray?

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Had a mate who was semi-rich and bought an early XR3 almost from new - daft git then went out and bought an 'i' to stick on once the proper injection jobs came out - everybody knew he'd done it just made him look a bit of a tw*t. 

Nice car there and yes to a 101 thread - bit of proper old time LR stuff rather than all the poncey 'snorkel, roof tent and chequer plate' that seems to be around on the LR forums these days (unless of course you have snorkel and chequer plate in which case I'll get my coat...)

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1 hour ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

Nice car there and yes to a 101 thread - bit of proper old time LR stuff rather than all the poncey 'snorkel, roof tent and chequer plate' that seems to be around on the LR forums these days (unless of course you have snorkel and chequer plate in which case I'll get my coat...)

I think the 101 is a Vauxhall Victor rather than a forward control Land Rover...

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That is glorious! I'd have that in a heartbeat. I love old Ford's, had 3 XR3's myself, CUA 199Y, FPU 566Y and SET 730Y. I spent 4 years rebuilding CUA and I was smitten with that car, unfortunately circumstances meant I had to sell it & I heard it was written off not 6 months later! Gutted. Glad to see one getting some love, more pics as you go please.

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Personally, I wouldn't do a single thing cosmetically (apart from keeping on top of the tin-worm). It's not a show car and it's not a (dreadful) rat rod; it's Goldilocks' third bowl of porridge, just the right amount of shabby chic. Also, it oddly suits the BBS's - I would be in no hurry to swap the originals back! As long as it's mechanically and structurally sound, I say just go and enjoy it (whilst keeping to the current regulations on movement, of course...)

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That is a very nice car with an interesting history. It is nice to see a proper early XR3 with the laser seats. My friend’s father had a brand new W reg when they were launched in Black with electric windows, electric aerial, radio cassette and glass tilt and slide sunroof. It seemed very flash at the time, I remember going out in it the day after he got it. A bit later the local police had a white XR3 and a white ‘81 Cortina 1.6GL as unmarked cars, the XR3 always stood out as it had pepper pot wheels. I always wondered if someone had nicked the originals.

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Hi all, thanks for all the positive comments - it seems there is more love for these as time goes by. It wont get painted for a little while yet, but eventually it would be nice to 'finish' it,

I went down to the lockup tonight and did all the usual pre-MOT checks, freed off the brakes and it seems that it only needs a blowing exhaust sorted for a pass. Then made a 'to do' list of the work needed over the coming months,

Firstly, it seems you get no prizes for illuminating all of the warning lights simultaneously. Failed module probably, solved by taking take the bulbs out 

49964771316_10225a2b87_z.jpg20200602_193820 by Kevin  Harlow, on Flickr

A post. It has been badly welded from the other side, so MOT passable but will need to try and get in with a Dremel to cut out and repair it properly

49964268613_1738bcfef5_z.jpg20200602_193947 by Kevin  Harlow, on Flickr

Battery tray is solid but needs cleaning and protecting

49964770946_4249aa525d_z.jpg20200602_194148 by Kevin  Harlow, on Flickr

Outer sill on passenger side starting to get crispy. Floorpan behind it has previous repair needing taking out and redoing

49964268133_57b5131d15_z.jpg20200602_194527 by Kevin  Harlow, on Flickr

Area under the front seat mounting previously repaired at some point in the past, starting to go again.

49964770481_b64a8e47c1_z.jpg20200602_194915 by Kevin  Harlow, on Flickr

Hopefully get a few months of use before I make a start, maybe Sept/Oct time.

And the Victor.... here she is in all her 1960s glory, 

49964849771_be34e984df_z.jpg20191231_131932 by Kevin  Harlow, on Flickr

 

 

 

 

 

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Seeing the 101 estate photo gave me a flashback to around 1976/7 when my girlfriend's mate started going out with a bloke who worked at the Vauxhall dealer (which my girlfriends dad managed).

He had a two tone 101 estate (brown over beige I think) and I swear I had never been along the Headingham to Halstead road so fast before. Nor since.

Love to see more photos and hear the story behind the 101.

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I love those early style seats, I never had those in mine as a previous owner has fitted an RS interior to it and love the sound of a carb XR3 over the later injection model especially if it’s been converted to a nice Weber 

Has it been converted to a 5 speed as one thing I remember with my old one was someone had done the conversion and used the old linkage and it was sometimes a pig to get in 5th.

My old one was a 1981 model in White and was Immaculate but a bit of a triggers broom as I fitted a later engine after the original gave out in spectacular style with a hole in the side of the block plus it had a different carb plus a 5 speed conversion plus it also had different wheels so in reality only the shell was from 1981 on my car.

The shell though was original and rust free and was a lot better than the later cars as when I had mine a mate had a C plate XR3i and his was relatively new at 8 years old at the time but was completely rotten.

Have you still got the electronic  dipstick as I remember that being dropped on the later cars and most people got annoyed with the things and cut the wires when the dash started flashing.

 

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4 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Ah the "clean hands" system. Even in the 90s when there were loads of these about, a dipstick with the wires attached was gold dust. 

I know a bloke who bought an entire Ghia, just for the dipstick.

Love the XR3, OP. It has a real charm, looking at it does.

I had a taste of mk3 life for a bit; 

I look forward to seeing the adventures of yours. 

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6 hours ago, RickRirai said:

Great looking car, sounds like you've put a lot of work in to it already. I've been toying with the idea of respraying mine, do you have any idea what colour yet?

You've got the same wheels on it as my Golf2 I think.

They’re the Orion Equipe wheels by the looks of it

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