Panko 2,480 Posted September 18, 2016 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. interior is MINT. the previous owner had it for about 3.5 years, and only drove it a handful of times. 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... 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 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. 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 6 tpak addict, 2redrovers, robbie and 3 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CHESTNUTXE 7,310 Posted September 18, 2016 nice score m8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Free.51 2,717 Posted September 19, 2016 Yeah very nice Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SPArKy_Dave 8,871 Posted September 19, 2016 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? What's the colour - is it Ford Kelly Green? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bear351c 10,270 Posted September 19, 2016 Beautiful car. Well done, sir. 1 Panko reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr Polson 10,214 Posted September 19, 2016 Very tidy, I like. What's the plans for it, just drive and enjoy? Looks like a battery has exploded at some stage. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Panko 2,480 Posted September 19, 2016 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? 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
Defective 1,692 Posted September 19, 2016 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... 1 Panko reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Panko 2,480 Posted September 19, 2016 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 for reference, those wheels on the front of Michael's car are my wheels that ill be running on mine eventually. 1 2redrovers reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hendrixhc 10,920 Posted September 19, 2016 Good score. Id stick with the full front bumper. Be different to the rest! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr Polson 10,214 Posted September 19, 2016 You should contact Survivor Car Australia, they could well do a story on it if you wanted. Corner bumpers meaning ditch the whole front bumper and have two seperate ones on each side? 1 Panko reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Panko 2,480 Posted September 19, 2016 once its registered chris i just might yeah corner bumpers. i like being able to see the nostrils at the front below the number plate. 1 SirkWhyXF reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
user272 526 Posted September 19, 2016 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 1 Panko reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Panko 2,480 Posted September 19, 2016 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. 2 user272 and 2redrovers reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LJDB 103 Posted September 19, 2016 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
xr6tjet 98 Posted September 20, 2016 I wouldn't touch this car it just looks awesome how it is bone stock!! Cool find indeed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SirkWhyXF 1,533 Posted September 20, 2016 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 for reference, those wheels on the front of Michael's car are my wheels that ill be running on mine eventually. 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
Panko 2,480 Posted September 20, 2016 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
FORD_MAN 1,026 Posted September 22, 2016 Hey Panko ya snob, when where you up here, (Kerang) I could of given you a tow, I would of been in either Kerang or Swan Hill, with a empty car trailer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Panko 2,480 Posted September 23, 2016 My bad. I didnt know all the way to Sunbury though? Thats a long way for you Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Panko 2,480 Posted September 27, 2016 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. 1 deankxf reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xhadyboy 492 Posted September 27, 2016 Sounds like a first world problem. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FORD_MAN 1,026 Posted September 27, 2016 meh its only 2.5hrs from here, I've driven up to Holbrook NSW to pick up a mates EL XR6 before. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Panko 2,480 Posted October 1, 2016 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 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. 3 Defective, 2redrovers and deankxf reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
user272 526 Posted October 1, 2016 Looking forward to seeing this car on the next meet, big pig little pig? 1 Panko reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites