Group Buy: 1982 Ford Escort bASe. Purchased.

[Kiltox]

[captain_70s]

That's how you can tell an Acclaim is posh, even the base comes with two door mirrors.

[adw1977]

The passenger door mirror definitely wasn't standard and now it seems that it wasn't fitted until recently.  Ford were still selling cars with only one door mirror until at least 1988.

For anyone interested in the details of the equipment levels, I've scanned the full range brochure:

July 1982 Ford range brochure

[meggersdog]

  On 02/03/2021 at 15:31, Kiltox said:

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Don't know what that's all about but the MoT inspection manual states 1st august and atleast position 'a' which is a view along the offside of the vehicle

[Kiltox]

  On 02/03/2021 at 16:47, meggersdog said:

Don't know what that's all about but the MoT inspection manual states 1st august and atleast position 'a' which is a view along the offside of the vehicle

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Good old government  

 

[Eyersey1234]

  On 02/03/2021 at 15:56, adw1977 said:

The passenger door mirror definitely wasn't standard and now it seems that it wasn't fitted until recently.  Ford were still selling cars with only one door mirror until at least 1988.

For anyone interested in the details of the equipment levels, I've scanned the full range brochure:

July 1982 Ford range brochure

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Didn't realise Ford did a full range brochure 

[timolloyd]

Can confirm base Vauxhall Novas only came with one door mirror until very late 80s.

[R1152]

  On 02/03/2021 at 15:56, adw1977 said:

The passenger door mirror definitely wasn't standard and now it seems that it wasn't fitted until recently.  Ford were still selling cars with only one door mirror until at least 1988.

For anyone interested in the details of the equipment levels, I've scanned the full range brochure:

July 1982 Ford range brochure

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Foot-operated screen washers on the base Fester? My 16 had those.

[puddlethumper]

  On 02/03/2021 at 11:46, Fumbler said:

That would be a fun photo opportunity.

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I could join the BASE line with my 305 van.

[JMotor]

Just caught up with this thread. 

Well purchased sir. 

 

[wuvvum]

  On 02/03/2021 at 18:15, R1152 said:

Foot-operated screen washers on the base Fester? My 16 had those.

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My 6 has them too, as did the Merc 115.  So did the D Series, come to think of it.

[R1152]

  On 02/03/2021 at 19:19, wuvvum said:

My 6 has them too, as did the Merc 115.  So did the D Series, come to think of it.

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Pump with your foot (16TL) or decadent electrically-actuated washers (16TS, but still a pedal on the floor)?

[MJK 24]

Incredible chod!!  Well done to all concerned!

Two mirrors weren’t essential in the early to mid 80’s?!

 

[wuvvum]

  On 02/03/2021 at 19:21, R1152 said:

Pump with your foot (16TL) or decadent electrically-actuated washers (16TS, but still a pedal on the floor)?

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Pump with your foot.  If I haven't used them for a while it's like inflating a bloody air bed.

[Fumbler]

  On 02/03/2021 at 19:06, puddlethumper said:

I could join the BASE line with my 305 van.

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I could too with my car, but it's a rather plush edition of the base model. Decadence including levelling headlights, a radio, heated rear glass and a rear washing wiper. Be bad not to mention the full height doorcards(!) as well.

EDIT: I forgot to add that most of this is the fault of the previous owner, as one had to pay for most of these base-detracting features.

[stuboy]

saw this at work today..............

 

 

[Unlucky Alf]

I hadn’t noticed it only had one mirror,  it really is fantastically base spec!

By comparison, my first escort  a totally gutless 1.1 (low compression) back in 1983 had not one, but FOUR of them, all in chrome!.   II whipped them off pronto and rubber bunged the holes up.  

 

Interesting design fact on the Mk3 cabin design:

 If you have the passenger window open, and turn sharp right at speed at a junction, whatever is on the dashboard ‘tray’ goes flying right out the passengers window.   you have been warned

[Richard_FM]

I remember my Uncle mentioning he once borrowed a Ford Fiesta with only one sun visor!

Probably specced by the same Scrooge who decided the Mk2 Escort Popular should have drum brakes on the front wheels, cross ply tyres & stickers for badges, with some other penny pinching!

[Braddon81]

  On 02/03/2021 at 15:56, adw1977 said:

The passenger door mirror definitely wasn't standard and now it seems that it wasn't fitted until recently.  Ford were still selling cars with only one door mirror until at least 1988.

For anyone interested in the details of the equipment levels, I've scanned the full range brochure:

July 1982 Ford range brochure

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Standard fit passenger door mirrors  became a standard fit legal requirement along with rear seatbelts and indicator side repeaters on all cars registered in the Uk from January 1986.

[adw1977]

  On 02/03/2021 at 22:54, Braddon81 said:

Standard fit passenger door mirrors  became a standard fit legal requirement along with rear seatbelts and indicator side repeaters on all cars registered in the Uk from January 1986.

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Austin Rover and Ford apparently didn't get that memo.

July 1987 brochure

March 1987 brochure

[chancer]

  On 02/03/2021 at 22:54, Braddon81 said:

Standard fit passenger door mirrors  became a standard fit legal requirement along with rear seatbelts and indicator side repeaters on all cars registered in the Uk from January 1986.

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Entry level proton cars (GE spec) in the early 90s came without a passenger door mirror

[BorniteIdentity]

Buying a heap is a rollercoaster of emotions.  I learnt years ago that - actually - it's the thrill of the chase that I enjoy the most.  Come to think of it, I was always the same with the fairer sex.  Ownership is nice and all that, but the nervous excitement of the first meeting and the first encounter are, for me at least, the peak.

So it's through more honest eyes that I look at the Escort this morning.  I thought I'd better check the levels before I went out - seeing as we had a flash of the gravy boat and the brake indicator light on Saturday.  Brake fluid looks fresh AF and the oil almost new.  Coolant is blue, screenwash isn't water (which is one of my absolute pet peeves seeing how cheap screenwash is and how horrible legionella is).  I say our man was being honest; he likes a car to be mechanically strong and good.

Unfortunately, there is rust creeeping absolutely bloody everywhere.  I will get the wire brush on the inside of the bonnet later and get some Vactan on it, but I will likely start picking up decent panels over the coming months - even if they have to go in my loft or a new shed.  

There's a manual choke; not what I was expecting with a VV.  That said, I forgot to see if it's had the standard Weber 32 upgrade so will take some photos later for your diagnosis.  It doesn't work tremendously well and I don't think it's opening up fully when the level is right open.  Fortunately, the amiable @alf892 is already keen for a meet up when guidance and law allows, so we'll take a look at it together and maybe I can learn something.  (Once he's stopped laughing at the car)

The lovely @vulgalourhas offered to make us some sheepskin seat covers which I can not WAIT for, so will measure up for those later today.

The passenger mirror will be removed and preserved just as soon as I can get the guy at the breakers to answer me about buying his blanking panel.  And the wheel trims will come off just as soon as I can afford to buy those black centre caps.  

Honestly, it does drive brilliantly.  The tracking needs doing and the tyres really do need binning (20 year old INDIA GT anyone?!) but it farts along wonderfully.  Hope you get to meet it later in the year.

 

[Datsuncog]

 

  On 02/03/2021 at 22:54, Braddon81 said:

Standard fit passenger door mirrors  became a standard fit legal requirement along with rear seatbelts and indicator side repeaters on all cars registered in the Uk from January 1986.

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  On 03/03/2021 at 08:21, adw1977 said:

Austin Rover and Ford apparently didn't get that memo.

July 1987 brochure

March 1987 brochure

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Quite true - my Fiesta 1.1 (Ghia spec no less!) was registered in June 1986, and had no seatbelts fitted in the back.

It also had the lighty-up manual choke, which worked pretty well.

[Datsuncog]

  On 03/03/2021 at 09:43, BorniteIdentity said:

the wheel trims will come off just as soon as I can afford to buy those black centre caps.

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Do you just need the three caps, or is that simply the best value listing on the 'Bay at the mo?

If I'd only had the foresight to fill my pockets with the damn things at breakers yards in the mid-90s, I wouldn't have to worry about a pension plan...

[BorniteIdentity]

  On 03/03/2021 at 11:46, Datsuncog said:

Do you just need the three caps, or is that simply the best value listing on the 'Bay at the mo?

If I'd only had the foresight to fill my pockets with the damn things at breakers yards in the mid-90s, I wouldn't have to worry about a pension plan...

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All four sadly. 

[greengartside]

Let me have a look down the local scrappers at the weekend, I’m sure he’s got some mk3 Escort steels knocking about - we may be lucky and score some centre caps from it. 
 

Are the smiley-face Transit centre caps similar? 
 

EDIT: the Mk2 Fiesta Popular with the steel wheels from 1986-89 are the same cap.

[vonmon]

  On 02/03/2021 at 15:56, adw1977 said:

The passenger door mirror definitely wasn't standard and now it seems that it wasn't fitted until recently.  Ford were still selling cars with only one door mirror until at least 1988.

For anyone interested in the details of the equipment levels, I've scanned the full range brochure:

July 1982 Ford range brochure

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That’s ace, thanks man 

[BorniteIdentity]

  On 03/03/2021 at 21:46, greengartside said:

Let me have a look down the local scrappers at the weekend, I’m sure he’s got some mk3 Escort steels knocking about - we may be lucky and score some centre caps from it. 
 

Are the smiley-face Transit centre caps similar? 
 

EDIT: the Mk2 Fiesta Popular with the steel wheels from 1986-89 are the same cap.

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Thanks champ

We have three on order at a fiver a pop.  I do want to get these trims off so a fourth would be useful.

[mk2_craig]

  On 04/03/2021 at 09:55, BorniteIdentity said:

Thanks champ

We have three on order at a fiver a pop.  I do want to get these trims off so a fourth would be useful.

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From memory these were held on only by a push-fit between the wheel bolts, so any Escort steel wheels lying around won't still have them attached over the centre hole.  However I am absolutely certain that I have at least one of those black centre caps in the garage.  I'm buggered if I can find it though!

I do remember salvaging a full set of silver ones from my Escort when I put these full width trims on, which (because I have a dreadful habit of never chucking anything away) are very likely to be in the same place.  I'll have a hunt around over the weekend! 

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

  On 02/03/2021 at 17:46, Eyersey1234 said:

Didn't realise Ford did a full range brochure 

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Not only did Ford make these beautiful full colour range brochures, they printed them more or less monthly so that tragically brokebrain shutins like myself can collect them all and pour over several almost identical issues looking for minor detail changes.