Once a common sight – but rare Ford Escort now has £65,000 price tag
IT used to be a more common sight on the road than a Beetle or a Mini.
And back in the 1960s, you could not turn a corner without seeing one.
The ubiquitous Ford Escort was a favourite with families, sales reps and boy racers. But this 1968 example of the famous car will set you back an eye-watering £65,000.
It looks like a bog-standard version of the Mark I Escort without go-faster stripes, flared wheel arches or decked out with spotlights. But it is one of only 883 which were handbuilt and fitted with a Lotus twin cam engine.
In its day, it was the ultimate wolf in sheep's clothing but by today's standards of performance, it can only be described as brisk.
It was bought by Norman Hughes, owner of Cleevewood Garages in Downend who has overseen a complete "nut and bolt" rebuild.
He bought it from the previous owner in Hanham who had drystored the vehicle for 25 years.
Mr Hughes had to put the shell on a trailer and take the rest of the car in a van because it had been stripped and packed away in boxes.
"I know it sounds like a lot of money but I know how much time and money has been put into the car," he said.
"I would say it is now better than new because of the lengths we have gone to in order to get it right."
The shell was sandblasted before being repainted and the engine, gearbox and backaxle were rebuilt and any worn parts were replaced.
But Mr Hughes said the biggest headache was finding some pieces of trim because of the rarity of the car.
He said: "The switches on the dashboard, for example, look exactly the same as on the Mark I but in fact, they are slightly bigger."
He said externally, there is virtually no difference from the Mark I except for some badges on the side.
But underneath, the car is entirely different with uprated suspension, disc brakes on the front wheels and many other modified parts.
Mr Hughes said he had been offered £55,000 by a Japanese businessman but had turned him down.
He said: "They made thousands of Ford Mexicos and I saw one of those go for £38,000 a few weeks' ago.
"I think I'm asking a fair price for something very rare and very special and which is better than new.
"It's a lot of fun and very reliable."
9 Comments
by Marshwalker99
Saturday, February 25 2012, 3:51PM
“What an over priced piece of tat. "Offered £55,000 by a Japanese businessman". Yeah, right, you get loads of Japanese businessman hanging round Cleevewood; "imaginary businessman" more like! If he'd have been offered £55k he'd have bitten the man's hand off for it! The car still isn't sold now. No surprise, who on earth would pay £65k for a tatty old escort? Think of all the decent cars you could buy for £65k. Norman Hughes is a dreamer. Still, any old excuse for some free advertising from the ever gullible and real-news bereft BEP!”
by James__Wood
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 8:19AM
“Triumph Dolomite Sprint now that was a real Q car none of those vulgar Mexico badges and with 127 bhp - 22 more than the RS2000. Although it was a little disconcerting when driving hard occasionally the brake pedal would hit the floor and flames would flicker out through the front wheels. Ah 70s technology…”
by arl24
Tuesday, January 31 2012, 1:21PM
“I will always have fond memories of my Mum's bright green Austin Maxi, as well as my Dad's Austin Montegro in the 1980s when he thought he had really arrived, driving around in that "executive" car! I will equally remember with a tear in my eye my Grandad's bright yellow S-reg Cavalier which was blown up by accident by Kwik-Fit in the early 90s!”
by Roversteve
Tuesday, January 31 2012, 1:10PM
“From the days when all cars were distinctive in design as opposed to many of today's bland,copycat designs with unnecessary bolt on plastic chrome,lights that go on and off without the driver knowing it and chopped off backs that look more suited to Noddy and Postman Pat,whatever happened to sleek,elegant lines in body design? Oh,yes, aerodynamics,fuel efficiency and the fear that your opponents are going to sell more than yourselves!”
by Dingslady
Tuesday, January 31 2012, 1:04PM
“I drive a 2002 Ford Focus now....come to think of it, it's beige too. :/”
by Dingslady
Tuesday, January 31 2012, 1:03PM
“Oh yeah, Elsewhereman! It's been a while. Don't think I'll be revisiting that!”
by Elsewhereman
Tuesday, January 31 2012, 12:47PM
“I think what you owned was an Allegro, not an Allegra, Dingslady. You can still pick one up for under a grand. Much less for a beige one. Allegros were more likely to go "woof" than "vroom": absolute dogs!
The delicious, rallying-bred, Escort Mexico was a real wolf in sheep's clothing - ten years before the Golf GTi.”
by Dingslady
Tuesday, January 31 2012, 12:07PM
“Oh, wow, this brings back some memories! I had a beige Allegra - wonder what that would be worth now!”
by Kyngsmeadboy
Tuesday, January 31 2012, 11:21AM
“Norman ~ do you advertise as an Escort Agency?”