1978 Ford Escort Mk2

Recently imported from South Africa, very little is known about this car and we have next to no paperwork for it.

The original chassis plate from the slam panel is missing but what looks like a chassis number has been stamped in the metal next to one of the suspension strut towers. There is nothing official that we can see to confirm that this is a 1600 Sport but if we take it on trust that it is what it claims to be then it would have been built in either 1979 or 1980.

It would appear that this car has undergone a restoration and repaint of the bodywork fairly recently as it looks in pretty good condition although it is blistering in places such as the roof and boot lid. It is finished in what could be Cologne Blue with the 1600 Sport decals and trim lines applied neatly down the sides.

The makeover has been nicely done but there are a few 1600 Sport inconsistencies that could be remedied, such as adding a lower front valance and replacing the rear boot decal with actual badges “ESCORT 1.6” followed by a “Sport” sticker and a Ford oval opposite.

Paint, bodywork and fittings aside, the rest of the exterior is yet to be refurbished. The window surrounds and rubbers, for example, look old and cracked and the passenger door is missing its glass.

The car sits on 13-inch Minilite-style wheels, painted black and in reasonably good condition with Accelera Eco Plush tyres dating from 2017.

A start has been made on restoring the interior. The upholstery across the seats and door cards looks in good order, although a little mildewed in the rear. It is also not in the correct cloth for a 1600 Sport which had Cadiz striped fabric on the seats and vinyl door trims. The carpets and underlay appear clean and intact.

Soft trims aside, the interior still needs a lot of work. The rev counter dial is badly deteriorated and the needle is broken, the odometer is blank, various bits of plastic trim are missing or damaged, the headlining is damaged and marked, gearstick gaiter missing, steering column shroud damaged, dashboard cracked and the steering wheel incorrect and missing its boss. There is also old mastic in the corner of the windscreen where a previous repair has been attempted.

This isn’t an exhaustive list, potential bidders should scrutinise the detailed photos to make up their own minds about the level of refit required inside.

The engine compartment is clean and tidy and was evidently included in the recent repaint. The motor appears to be a 1600 Kent engine painted blue with a chromed rocker cover - but this has not been verified. Whilst some components look recently renewed, others look a little rusty - as do many of the fixings. In contrast to the pristine engine bay metalwork, the front grille could do with a renovation - although it appears to be solid and rust free.

Underneath the car, there is evidence of recent work and renewal to the suspension and steering components. Across the subframes and floors there are a few areas with undulations and possible signs of previous repairs, which would be expected. There is a liberal coating of underseal across the underbody and aside from occasional surface rust, no signs of significant corrosion.

Inside the boot, the carpets are present and appear in reasonable condition. The boot lid itself looks in good order with no rust evident anywhere around the boot lid or luggage compartment.

Coming from South Africa, there is little to no paperwork with this car. Just what we would expect in the way of a SA Registration certificate and a UK NOVA clearance letter in readiness for registration in the UK.

The Escort Mk2 was also very popular here in the UK but so many suffered through rust in our wet and cold climate with salted roads. South Africa’s warm climate is therefore a commonly tapped source of rust-free classic Fords - we have others too - and so long as you know what you’re looking for and doing, they can provide the basis of a great classic car.

This particular example starts and runs, although it is blowing through the exhaust manifold so it is very noisy. However the clutch isn’t currently connected, so the car cannot be driven.

It’s most definitely a project but it has a solid shell and most of what you’d need to make it into an exciting and desirable Fast Ford, so we think it will sell for between £7,000 and £15,000.

For the Ford aficionado - and there are many out there - there are some things already done that will need changing to more accurately represent a 1600 Sport, but this car still represents a very manageable “running but not going” project and a great opportunity to recreate something of value.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.