My life in cars - More new Shite! Mk3 Escort!

[Somerset Suffolk]

Love a MR2 ! back when I had mine, they were £200 and genuine front wings were £20 second hand and £120 brand new from Toyota - I still use the yellow wheel choc in the tool kit to this day - Think of got a brake master cylinder for a mk1 in a shed somewhere ? !  

[Joey spud]

Back in the day the only memorable break down with these was rain water would drip through the vents on the engine cover onto the alternator causing it to fail/bearings to seize.

[Somerset Suffolk]

1 hour ago, Joey spud said:

Back in the day the only memorable break down with these was rain water would drip through the vents on the engine cover onto the alternator causing it to fail/bearings to seize.

yep ! and if you jet washed it, the plugs could get wet and cause a miss fire - wish I still had mine !

[trigger]

On 31/01/2026 at 14:17, Joey spud said:

I know exactly where this photo was taken as I used to sometimes park at the same spot in my RAC van when I had a meal break down that end of the county.

That's really cool! I've had a look on street view and it ties up perfectly, it hasn't changed at all in 35 years either!

I've had the wheels all off today and given the car a bloody good wash and thankfully I haven't seen anything which I didn't know about so that's always good, I didn't take many photos though

I'm a bit annoyed as I can't get in it in my garage yet as I still have my dad's Ford Popular in there, it's been too wet for him to drive it home, which is about 30 miles away, rather him than me though, it's horrible to drive!

The Manta is being a bit of a twat at the moment too, I took that for a quick spin a few weeks back and the brakes kept locking up, I stripped the brakes down and found the rear cylinders had seized so I swapped them out for some new ones, no problems, until I bleed the brakes and the master cylinder blew!

I stripped it off yesterday and started trying to find a replacement, it's like rocking horse shit, after ordering the wrong one on eBay and thankfully getting it credited again I drove down to Past Parts in Bury St Edmunds this morning to see if they could help.

They could fully rebuild it for £240+vat or supply a seal kit for £27, being a tight arse I've opted for the later, fingers crossed that works or else I'm starting a Onlyfans page selling feet photos.

[trigger]

I've been pretty busy in the garage recently.

Dad came over and helped me rebuild the brake master on the Manta, it wasn't too bad of a job in the end, a bolt inside the cylinder had come undone so we wonder if that was part of the problem.

Once it was all put back together and rebleed it was much better and seems to be holding up.

I used it a bit the last couple of days and it's now performing well, I'm still not a fan of the auto box and it is rather juicy but i do feel as cool as penguin piss when driving it so I can live with that for now!

In other news the XR3i sold the other weekend, I commented on a FB post I had a similar one that I was thinking of selling and immediately someone messaged me asking about it, it turned out they lived about 15 mins away and had one when new and sold it 20 years ago and has been looking for another one for years.

I didn't even have to advertise it and it sold!

Also the MR2 is almost ready for the road, I've done most the jobs that needed to be done now other than the bodywork, I repainted the alloys and replaced a couple of the tyres.

A local wheel specialist wanted £450 to do that! Brakes all stripped and cleaned and sorted, polished it all up too

And fitted a new rear exhaust box because shiny pipes

The speaker grill is on the floor as I was changing the speakers out.

Unfortunately the oil pressure switch is leaking badly so I'm waiting on a replacement to arrive and then I can actually drive it at last!

[grogee]

11 hours ago, trigger said:

and then I can actually drive it sell it to Grogee at last!

FTFY

[trigger]

Well a few months have passed, the MR2 is now on the road and providing sterling service, I'm very much enjoying driving it, it very analogue to drive which is great, you drive the car, not the car driving you like the newer stuff.

I've got it booked into a local body shop in July for both rear arches and bumpers to be fixed and painted so that's I'll smarten it up.

The Manta, as I've spoke about on the news 24 thread, has been a bit troublesome. It's suffering from fuel evaporation when hot, I'm pretty sure now that a electric fuel pump would cure it but I've lost interest in the car now, had it been a manual things would be difficult but personally I haven't gelled with the autobox in it, it sucks all the power and fun out of the car for me so it's currently up for sale, I've got a couple coming to view it tomorrow from 200 miles away who seems very keen so hopefully it will find a new home with them

Meanwhile, a new car has entered Trigger Towers...

[trigger]

My friend picked this 1982 Escort 1.3L up last week from a garage in Nottingham way, the story is the previous owner was changing the brakes and rear shocks on it in 1987 (no idea why as the old ones look fine), he cocked the rear shocks up, lost patience with it, shut the garage up and didn't touch the car again! His tool box and the parts are still in the boot!

Anyway, recently the block of garages were having a roof fitted, the builder saw the car, bought it off the owner, and then flipped it straight on to my mate.

https://ukbarnfinds.com/1982-ford-escort-1-3l-found-after-39-years-off-road/

It's only covered 36000 miles and is mint considering, how long it's sat there. My mate who I do a lot of work for dropped it round yesterday afternoon for me!

It's got to be a lot of work but I'm going to try and get it to the FotU in July, I might be busing my luck but it's worth a go.

Wish me luck!

[Tenmil Socket]

It’s not even got a passenger side door mirror!

I can’t wait to see this progress!

[andy18s]

Reckon that will clean up nicely,the GM quality sticker is an interesting touch ..

[Marshall2810]

Think you've done very well there without knowing what you paid but looks a peach. Also local interest for me being so close to Nottingham. 

 

[mk2_craig]

1 hour ago, trigger said:

My friend picked this 1982 Escort 1.3L up last week from a garage in Nottingham way, the story is the previous owner was changing the brakes and rear shocks on it in 1987 (no idea why as the old ones look fine), he cocked the rear shocks up, lost patience with it, shut the garage up and didn't touch the car again! His tool box and the parts are still in the boot!

Anyway, recently the block of garages were having a roof fitted, the builder saw the car, bought it off the owner, and then flipped it straight on to my mate.

https://ukbarnfinds.com/1982-ford-escort-1-3l-found-after-39-years-off-road/

It's only covered 36000 miles and is mint considering, how long it's sat there. My mate who I do a lot of work for dropped it round yesterday afternoon for me!

It's got to be a lot of work but I'm going to try and get it to the FotU in July, I might be busing my luck but it's worth a go.

Wish me luck!

Wow what a find! Does that have the 4 speed gearknob which @N19’s Capri needs? 

[trigger]

25 minutes ago, Marshall2810 said:

Think you've done very well there without knowing what you paid but looks a peach. Also local interest for me being so close to Nottingham. 

 

To be honest I haven't a clue if I paid too much or not, it currently feels like a fortune but the days of mint ones being bought for £500 (like my last one earlier on in this post) are long gone!

7 minutes ago, mk2_craig said:

Wow what a find! Does that have the 4 speed gearknob which @N19’s Capri needs? 

No idea, this is what my knob looks like

I think I've also found out why he was struggling with the shocks 39 years ago...

No idea what a Orion Estate looks like though 

[danthecapriman]

That is incredible! Looks to be in fantastic condition having stayed in the garage unused all those years. 
I can’t wait to see it washed off just to see how the paint comes back. Interior looks mint too, after a hoover and dusting I bet it’ll come up lovely.

Any signs of mice etc in it?

Good luck wished, although I don’t think you’ll be needing it considering how well you’ve done the others👍

[N19]

Different knob to the one I need I think! However, looking like it'll come up nice - doesn't look rotten? I think we can all sympathise with parts not fitting and thinking "sod it, I'll come back later" but maybe not 39 years.

[beko1987]

I was born 10 days after that tax disc was issued 😂 

Lovely car, you'll have it buffed and waxed and looking like new soon 🤞 

[adw1977]

7 hours ago, Tenmil Socket said:

It’s not even got a passenger side door mirror!

That would have cost £11 extra!

Actually this is one of the last Escort L cars to do without, the passenger side mirror was made standard during 1982.

[danthecapriman]

1 hour ago, adw1977 said:

That would have cost £11 extra!

Actually this is one of the last Escort L cars to do without, the passenger side mirror was made standard during 1982.

£11! Tight bastards!😄

I was going to say, I can’t remember seeing any mk3’s without the passenger side mirror like that so it must have become standard fit pretty quickly.

[Noel Tidybeard]

aren't those wheels off a GL?

[Stinkwheel]

On 31/01/2026 at 14:17, Joey spud said:

I know exactly where this photo was taken as I used to sometimes park at the same spot in my RAC van when I had a meal break down that end of the county.

It's Church road just off the A26 coming north out of Southborough/Tunbridge Wells facing the cricket pitch and the Hand and Sceptre pub.

For me it was a great place to park and have a nice nap as the spot offered some welcome shade and cool back in the days before air con was fitted to the patrol van fleet.

It would be an easy image to recreate if that's your thing.

And for added win you have Vauxhall lane just up the road too.

I was just catching up on this thread and was about to post the same thing, but youve done it already 

[Brigsy]

Seen this pop up on the socials in last few days. Looks great, hopefully an easy recomission

[adw1977]

2 hours ago, Noel Tidybeard said:

aren't those wheels off a GL?

No, they're correct for an L.

Brochure scan

[Noel Tidybeard]

oh yes GL used Ghia wheels

[adw1977]

3 hours ago, Noel Tidybeard said:

oh yes GL used Ghia wheels

Same wheels, but Ghia had bright centre caps and rim embellishers.

[trigger]

 

7 hours ago, adw1977 said:

No, they're correct for an L.

Brochure scan

Your brochure scans on Flickr are still my number one "go too" when I need to check on something!

I haven't done much on the car yet but I have cleaned the interior which has come up beautifully and cleaned the boot out, the floors immaculate!

Sold the Manta today too, that's off to the West Midlands.

[adw1977]

Wow, that boot floor looks brand new.

[beko1987]

10 hours ago, trigger said:

 

Your brochure scans on Flickr are still my number one "go too" when I need to check on something!

I haven't done much on the car yet but I have cleaned the interior which has come up beautifully and cleaned the boot out, the floors immaculate!

Sold the Manta today too, that's off to the West Midlands.

Ooooh boy here we go! 😍 

[Spottedlaurel]

11 hours ago, trigger said:

Sold the Manta today too, that's off to the West Midlands.

Good news for you. I'm very pleased to have seen it as I am rather partial to a chrome-bumper 'B', but the combination of 3-door body and auto 'box isn't quite so appealing.

[trigger]

Thanks! Yeah it just didn't float my boat in reality but I got the full asking price and new owner is over the moon with it, he's talking about driving it back home over to Shelsley Walsh direction, rather him than me!

Anyway, today I cleaned 39 years of garage dust of the Escort, I really went for it, wheels off, scrubbed the arches, washed the floor, scrubbed the engine bay!

I got this can of proper Jizer of my dad, it's probably as old as the car but it's bloody good stuff at getting the oil and grease of the engine

Thankfully all the tar down the side came off with a plastic scraper and some panel wipe quite easily.

The interiors had a good clean too

Apparently this could be the orienteering club logo?

No idea still on this one though

I'm really annoyed with myself as I pushed my thumb through the now incredibly rare door pocket whilst trying to clip it back on...

And I had a quick go at polishing a bit of the bonnet, I think it will come up well but it's a shame there's a few big blisters on the bonnet and from wings, only surface though.

 

[Brigsy]

Looks great, thats survived really well.

Shame about the door pocket. Id be tempted to get a smart repair on that, theres a place near me that can work wonders on interior damage.