Always wanted one of these rare beauties, and this 95% original example came up for a great price! As I said before, my 360 broke for very decent money, so it affords me enough for a fun motor still, and pays off a few bills. Talk about win win.

Collected it from Cardiff yesterday, which was the final jaunt in me driving 1000 miles in my TDCi Mondeo (which now has EGR and DMF issues!). I got in 45/50 minutes kip in that time. Sleep is for the weak!










Plans are to tidy up a few odds and ends, fit amber indicators for the original look, renew bushes, master cylinder etc so it's fun to drive, shine up and enjoy.

What say you V3M, any OSF love? - No decent pics yet, as you may notice.

Have to admit ... a desirable car! Give it back it's original look and you've got a winner there ...

Cheers

Tom

Hey! That's a suitable replacement I like them when they're close to standard. You spotted Mystery Machine's estate? Very 80s:

You lucky lucky jammy man!

That looks a real good buy, nice one!

Pleased that you have got yourself another toy!

Sorry to hear about the Mondeo problems... not so good!

Matt.

Flipping Fordists....

(a very good friend of mine has a 100E with a Zetec in it, I'm allows to hate Fords...)

Looks not max powered enough to be a decent project though, whats the rust like on them?

Very 80's! Hope the rust situation isn't too bad

Thanks everyone! Yeah, originality is the plan. Need to order some number plates too.

Just making a list for eBay now. I like how out of the 8659 made, there are now only 350ish left, but almost all mk3 Escort parts are still readily available. Exactly what I want from an old car.

Speedy, never seen MM's RSi estate looker before. I like it!

Matty, cheers mate. The car cut out after only around 20 miles, when under load, towing the empty car trailer at 70mph in 6th with the glow plug light flashing, which usually signifies EGR issues. So I stayed out of 6th, and it behaved for the most part, only cutting out another 3 or 4 times in over 500 miles. In the morning, I blanked off the EGR valve at my mates in Taunton, and ripped off my centre exhaust shield, as it was hanging down from all of the standing water and the rear of the car as good as dragging its arse from all of the extra weight - also stopped off in Bournemouth for MR2 charge cooler and bodykit parts for my mate.

After this, the MPG on my car was sky high, and it pulled like a train without issue. Better than it has ever been infact. Averaging 58/59 mpg @ 70mph (no trailer) and a solid 38 mpg for the return journey with only 3 occasions of cutting out, again staying out of 5th. So happy with that, considering.

The DMF is starting to rattle a bit now when I dip the clutch (waiting at junctions etc) so that is on my list of things to do at some point shortly. Yay(!)

As for the cutting out, that can also signify knackered injectors unfortunately. One goes down, so the ECU cuts power to them all. This may be my fault, as the last two times, I have ran the fuel tank past the 0 miles indicator on the fuel computer - they're always overcautious, right?

Bet I have pulled some crap through the lines! The car seem fine today though, DMF aside, and I have driven around 50 miles, with and without the trailer, so hopefully it's no big deal at the moment!

Oh yeah, rust.

It's been patched a few times before, as to be expected. Sills, floorpan, crossmember corners. Boot floor has never been touched though, which is nice to see!

Appears to be rock solid now though, and has spent the majority of the last 5 years in storage. It's had a new front panel, new wings and arch repair panels along with a full shoot a few years back, so is in overall very good condition, rear valance, arches, doors, chassis rails, inner wings etc etc all rock solid.

The car has been Ziebarted from new, so that must have helped a lot.

It has no MOT at present, but dare I say it should require zero welding to be road legal once more?

The previous owner (works at Kwik Fit, so I viewed it on a 4 post ramp) reckons it needs a wheel cylinder, two CV boots, two front tyres (part worns supplied) and a few bulbs, and then all will be well. I am inclined to agree after having looked it over the entire thing with two clued up mates. No doubt there will be the odd bit we didn't notice, but I can't see it being anything major.

Due to its age, and lack of recent use I will vbe renewing all of the bushes, ball joints, master cylinder, overhauling the brakes etc anyway though.

Get her nice and tight, and reliable!

Ahh you should have stopped off in Bristol on the way through, would have made you a cuppa! Might've even gotten to see Jon's 340 and watch me drift into a kerb...

Speedy88 wrote:Ahh you should have stopped off in Bristol on the way through, would have made you a cuppa! Might've even gotten to see Jon's 340 and watch me drift into a kerb...

My mate would have probably broke every bone in your upper body with a seriously gratutitous man hug, had you offered him tea! He runs on the stuff, and had none since we left at 6pm Friday, until around 12pm Saturday, think that was coffee actually. Whatever it was, it was Welsh.
He was wounded when my mate in Taunton told us he had no milk, Then was too fucked after his 45 mins kip to take up the offer of a tail happy S14a powered drive on wet roads to go and buy some lol.

I text Jon a stalkers pic of his motor outside of Halfords last week, he was all omg wtf and such, Was taken by my mate though.
I was very near (in?) Brizzle too. Cribbs Causeway. Would be good to meet some faces one day dude!

BTW, what's it say on MM's rear door?

Area 52 He just thought it up and made them - in the RS font.

Speedy88 wrote:Area 52 He just thought it up and made them - in the RS font.

I see it now. Very cool.

There is something wrong, no oil outside of engine

Seriously, that is very nice early model, not many around anymore.

Offside Front For The Winz.

jtbo wrote:There is something wrong, no oil outside of engine

Seriously, that is very nice early model, not many around anymore.

Lol @ engine oil. A leaky engine makes for a rust-free chassis though Jani. I think of it as a form of waxoyl

Thanks mate. I thought of you this morning as it happens. The temperature was freezing. Too cold for shorts and t-shirt anyway, as I opened the gate.

I know you like to keep an eye on the air temp.