Jump to content
Server maintenance Read more... ×
Panko

Panko's Mk1 Escort (Round 2)

Recommended Posts

Well, here we go again. 

 

A week ago, i had no intention of buying another Mk1 Escort any time soon. However, a mate of mine from when I had my last escort couldn't resist contacting me, and putting me onto this beautiful little 4 door Mk1 for sale way up in Kerang, about 3 hours north of Melbourne. 

I took a look at the photos, and promptly called the owner. I was pretty much sold there and then. 

 

So yesterday, Michael (my Escort informant), my good mate Callin and I set off from Sunbury at around 9am in Michael's VW Amarok (I'm glad we did...ill explain soon) to go look at this car, with cash in hand ready to drive this beauty home to Melbourne. 

 

The owner was a retired old guy, who collects some interesting and beautiful cars. He was very honest with his asking price, and very genuine. I somewhat feel like i might have ripped him off a little with the price, but it was well within his price range, and he was happy to accept. Even left his club plates for me to drive it home. 

 

now for the good (and bad) photos of our adventure. 

 

These next few pics are the photos the owner sent me. the car is totally original. 1975 (october) factory 4 speed 1300XL. Has 139,000km on the odometer, but the engine in it apparently has about half that. The original engine came with the car, which has been rebuilt as some stage, with non standard pistons...so some investigation needs to go into that, as it may end up being a stronger engine than the one thats in it...very weird. 

 

YYICmmN.jpg

 

interior is MINT.

 

56TWurW.jpg

 

yjnOgtf.jpg

 

the previous owner had it for about 3.5 years, and only drove it a handful of times. 

 

hIlDsno.jpg

 

 

 

SO i bought the car, and set off on the long journey home. during the test drove she drove like a dream. smooth, plenty of power and comfy...

 

9BJ2oRa.jpg

 

we got 30 minutes from Kerang then this happened....

 

obviously the guy i bought it from never had a problem with the car because it only ever got driven around town, never on the HWY. so me attempting to drive it home, sitting on 90km/h was enough to sort out the bugs...like the distributor which was inevitably going to die..and leave me standard :( 

3qLsZ8X.jpg

 

SO, we flat towed the car as far has Harcourt, where Michael's dad was nice enough to borrow a friends trailer, and meet us. we trailered it back to Michael's house, arriving back to Sunbury about 8pm last night. and thats where i left the car, on the trailer in Michael's driveway, along with 1 of his Mk1 4 door Escorts. 

 

Ayxqjw3.jpg

 

A big thanks to Michael and Callin for the support and help yesterday, i would've been fucked if i had taken the xf or my daily to go collect it. thank fuck for Michael and his Rok. 

 

anyway, Michael is a legend, he is going to get it going for me (just needs a dizzy) at his house. 

 

Can not wait to start enjoying this beast :) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It has a points distributor I assume.

What broke?

 

Did it come with the original wheels and hubcaps?

(and venetians for the rear window) :)

 

And a lawn bowls hat? :P

 

 

What's the colour - is it Ford Kelly Green?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Very tidy, I like.

 

What's the plans for it, just drive and enjoy?

 

Looks like a battery has exploded at some stage.

 

Plans...not much really. Get it roadied and club registered, no rush though. twin barrel carb and extractors just to get it to breath a bit better. My wheels i had for my last Escort (15x6" Saab interceptors) maybe a touch lower. corner bumpers for the front. and thats about it. all of which I've pretty got already. 

Electronic ignition after this episode haha. 

 

 

It has a points distributor I assume.

What broke?

 

Did it come with the original wheels and hubcaps?

(and venetians for the rear window) :)

 

And a lawn bowls hat? :P

 

 

What's the colour - is it Ford Kelly Green?

yep points dizzy. remember my other one did it as well, and you fixed the dizzy at my house. 

 

original wheels, colour coded, no hubcaps. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

What a score!

It's survivors like this that I reckon will skyrocket in prices over the 5-6 years, people are really getting to the old school stuff again, and they're just getting harder to find in good nick.

 

How about that leg room in the back...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Some pics Michael sent me after he got mine off the trailer and running and driving again today. his blue beast is badged as a 1300XL like mine, but runs a 150HP 1600 in it. its just a tad angry. Oh, and when he gets it registered its his new daily bahahaa

 

rlIl1kL.jpg

 

fpNcOXD.jpg

 

for reference, those wheels on the front of Michael's car are my wheels that ill be running on mine eventually. 

 

kMLH3p4.jpg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I love the brick sitting in front of the back wheel to hold back the power while your'e not looking...

The whole car looks unreal, great score

Oh yeah its angry, like it will destroy your XF man hahahahaha

 

No really the hand brake isnt great lol.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This thing is cool. Do you mind if I ask what you paid for it. Doesn't have to be a $ figure, just cheap, going price or lots. Advertised in the right place this would catch a good dollar. I always see an orange 2 door parked at a local swimming pool on Saturday morning that's no where near as clean as this one. I keep telling the misses im gonna put a note on it to see if it would be for sale but never have paper on me at the time.

I also knew where a pretty rough mk2 RS was and never got around to chasing it up, Its now gone and I cant stop kicking myself about it.

Before I got my Corty I was after a MK1 but couldn't find a clean one.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Some pics Michael sent me after he got mine off the trailer and running and driving again today. his blue beast is badged as a 1300XL like mine, but runs a 150HP 1600 in it. its just a tad angry. Oh, and when he gets it registered its his new daily bahahaa

 

25AB845A-B961-473A-830E-C41FB82A0ED8_zps

 

DEC8A12B-EF48-4E1E-AEE6-7B8B609707EE_zps

 

for reference, those wheels on the front of Michael's car are my wheels that ill be running on mine eventually. 

 

D8B1B8D9-6797-4CFA-A7CD-086BEC669A05_zps

 

If your gonna put those saab wheels on you gotta paint em silver i reckon.

 

Nice score mate!

I'd love to come by one like that.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This thing is cool. Do you mind if I ask what you paid for it. Doesn't have to be a $ figure, just cheap, going price or lots. Advertised in the right place this would catch a good dollar. I always see an orange 2 door parked at a local swimming pool on Saturday morning that's no where near as clean as this one. I keep telling the misses im gonna put a note on it to see if it would be for sale but never have paper on me at the time.

I also knew where a pretty rough mk2 RS was and never got around to chasing it up, Its now gone and I cant stop kicking myself about it.

Before I got my Corty I was after a MK1 but couldn't find a clean one.

I paid about the going rate. Perhaps a tad on the low side, but well within the going rate.

 

 

 

  

I wouldn't touch this car it just looks awesome how it is bone stock!! Cool find indeed.

Its only minor changes that i plan on doing, all bolt on or off. Mostly cosmetic things, just to clean it up a touch.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Ok well nothing has changed on this just yet. 

 

Michael did get it running, however it wasnt quite right. he put the spare dizzy in and tuned it as best be could be ear, having no timing light. anyway, i picked the car up to drive it back to where the car is being kept for now, but it didnt feel right. a bit under powered, and then under heavy load i heard what i feared, it was pinging like a mofo :( The car made the 30 minute drive, but it was getting a bit warm, so i knew something was wrong. 

 

Last night, after driving back to Melbourne from SA for 8 hours, i decided while i was with the escort id get the timing right. we tried sticking the timing light over it, but not good, we couldn't get it retarded enough. so we resorted to the workshop manual...

following the workshop manual's guide, we did a base static time on the engine. it turns out, the dizzy had been put in 1 tooth out on the camshaft :( hence why it was way advanced and pinging and getting hot. thankfully its now running like a dream again, no misfiring, no coughing. i haven't driven it yet since getting the timing right, but its idling and revving up perfect.
the worst part is, i have to redo this all over again when i get my electronic dizzy for it. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So a small update. 

 

I ordered my electronic dizzy, and it was on my door step the next day. free over night express post from QLD to melbourne. pretty happy with that

 

Ive installed the new ignition system, and wow. starts and runs perfect. doesn't need choke to start when its cold, and now that the timing is all back to the correct setting, it actually has ok power for a 1300. and sounds cool :P can't wait to get my 32/36 weber on ;) they sound grouse with a bit of induction noise. 

 

I'm heading back up there today, so hopefully the ignition system will prove its worth, and start first turn of the key after sitting for a couple days. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

×