Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2016 i Classic Ford

TIME TO SHINE Own a show-worthy classic Ford? Then why not enter it into the Show & Shine at this year’s Classic Ford Show. The Show & Shine competition, this year sponsored by car care experts Autoperfeckt, returns to the Classic Ford Show at Santa Pod Raceway on Sunday, June 5! The concept of the Show & Shine is simple: if you’ve got an amazing, pre-1996 classic Ford, then you could be in with a chance of winning some great prizes, and take home a trophy, too! Whether your car is an impeccably-detailed rebuild, quarter-mile demon or highly-tuned track weapon we want it to take pride of place at the centre of the UK’s premier classic Ford event. How to enter Go to the Classic Ford Show website at www.classicfordshow.co.uk…

show preview Top 10 Reasons to visit The International Ford Show This indoor show at Sandown Park is brand-new for 2016. Here are 10 reasons why it’s not to be missed. 1. Face Off competition The Face Off is a new competition specifically for The International Ford Show and is proudly sponsored by Autoperfekt! Organisers will pick the top 20 cars which will then be displayed at the show, and it’s up to the public to decide the winner which will be announced and awarded at the end of the Sunday. 2. Ford In Motorsport The old adage of ‘Race on Sunday, sell on Monday’ might as well have been made to describe Ford’s attitude to motorsport. The company has been involved in every level of racing from Touring Cars…

pinto deluxe Pitch Black Looking for a new project to replace his Lotus was proving a hard task for Pete Alpin, until this Pinto-powered, straight black Mk1 presented itself. Words Marc Stretton Photos Matt Dear “I WANTED A GOOD BASE PROJECT TO BUILD A CLASSIC FORD WITH MY OWN STAMP ON IT” Apart from those with crystal balls in the corner of the garage, most of us could write lists of the cars we regret selling — both from a nostalgic and financial point of view. When Pete Alpin sold his last Mk1 Cortina back in 1990, he knew he’d miss it but was pretty chuffed at the £11,000 the sale raised. It’s only with the passing of time does he now wish he’d hung on to a car that…

Know this THE FUEL SYSTEM The carburettor isn’t the only part of your classic Ford’s fuel system. Here’s what else you need if you plan to upgrade it. Words and Photos Jon Hill “UPGRADING A DOWNDRAUGHT CARB IS EASY BECAUSE THEY ARE A STANDARD FIT TO PLENTY OF ENGINES” Inlet manifold Upgrading a downdraught carb is straightforward because they are standard fitment to plenty of Ford engines, but the DCOE sidedraught is an aftermarket racing carb that needs a dedicated inlet manifold — unless you’ve a got a Lotus twin-cam engine that already has the manifold built in! Configuration depends on the number of carbs — usually twin DCOEs — but there are manifolds available, new and used, to cover virtually everything. THROTTLE LINKAGES Plenty of classic Fords such as…

EVENT REPORT SMALL FORD SUNDAY Forget British winters, if this year’s SFS event in Victoria, Australia was anything to go by, we’ll be spending ours Down Under from now on. Words David PretymanPhotos Chris Avery, David Pretyman Small Ford Sunday is an annual event put on by the Ford Rallye Sport Owners’ Club of Victoria here in Australia, and if you’re looking to escape the winter of the northern hemisphere, you won’t be disappointed — it was a glorious 29 degrees at the show! This year’s was the biggest yet with approximately 260 Fords gathered together at Williamstown Dockside — a bayside suburb of Melbourne. With participants arriving from around Victoria, and others travelling up to 1000 km for the event (and even a couple from New Zealand flying in…

EXPERT CLINIC TROUBLE WITH YOUR FORD? SEND IN YOUR QUERY AND WE'LL SPORT IT OUT Transit spoiler Q Do you know where I can find an original front spoiler for a Mk2 Transit? I’m restoring a pick-up and am struggling to find one. Chris Boyes Email A “They are one of the bits that are impossible to find” reckons Peter Lee of the Transit Van Club. “They were originally only fitted to the twin-wheel minibuses, not the vans, but the problem is they look real nice on the van, so people started fitting them. Sadly, Ford never made them as an aftermarket part” Pop springs Q Is it possible to fit Escort rear leaf springs to my 100E Pop? I have been looking at the single leaf springs in the…

mk1 capri STRONG PERFORMER Nic Strong might be in possession of a huge number of fast four-wheelers, but few in his collection have excited race fans as much as his Mk1 Capri Touring Car. Words Dan Furr Photos Matt Woods “WE HAD TO HAVE A SET OF CUSTOM MINILITES MADE BECAUSE WE NEEDED SUCH A LOW OFFSET” Nic Strong has a collection of modified motors he keeps in a warehouse stuffed to the rafters with classic car parts and prototypes of vehicles that Nic has designed himself. But of all the weird and wonderful machines on display, it’s his Mk1 Capri GT Touring Car that has us drooling. “I bought the car a few years back from its then-owner, Jim McLoughlin,” he explains. “The GT had performed exceptionally well in…

BUYER’S GUIDE FIESTA MK1 With the Fiesta celebrating its 40th, interest in the Mk1 is at an all-time high. Buy one while you still can... Words ChristianTilbury Photos Adrian Brannan “FORD SPENT A MONSTROUS AMOUNT OF CASH ON THE FIESTA THE LARGEST A CAR MAKER HAD EVER SPENT DEVELOPING A NEW MODEL” By the time Ford entered the supermini race with the launch of its Fiesta in February 1977, the fast-growing sector was in full swing — the Volkswagen Polo, Renault 5 and Fiat 127 already being well established. While Ford’s late arrival meant that it was playing catch-up, it didn’t have too much of a gap to close — the manufacturer’s engineers being able to incorporate and enhance the best bits of its rivals in what had been codenamed…

Welcome Despite the benefits of throttle bodies, carbs are still top dog in the classic Ford scene, and it’s not hard to see why – they look the part, they sound great (particularly in sidedraught form), and their relatively simple design means rebuilding and tweaking them is still very much a DIY prospect. But if it’s been a while since you removed the top cover from your DGV or DCOE and need a refresher, then we’ve got just the feature for you, with 25 top tips from the experts for beginners and old-hands alike. Elsewhere we’ve got some cracking coverage from the recent Small Ford Sunday event over in Melbourne, Australia. This show’s been running a few years now, but with a recent location change it’s really upped its game,…

A NICE LITTLE EARNER The Minder Capri is going to auction When it comes to TV shows and classic Ford enthusiasts, cult ’70s series Minder is right up there with The Sweeney and The Professionals. Now Minder fans have the chance to own a Capri-shaped slice of TV history, as The Minder Capri, driven by Dennis Waterman’s character,Terry McCann will be going under the hammer with H&H Classics at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford on April 20. The 2-litre Mk2 Ghia was not only driven by Terry in the opening sequence but also at various times during the series.The Capri is believed to have come close to being crushed, but escaped and now rejuvenated shows 88,700 miles on the clock. Its estimate is a eye-watering £65,000 to £85,000 —…

1929-2016 Mike Hall Ace designer was key to the success of Cosworth’s Ford road engines. We are sorry to report the death of Mike Hall, Cosworth’s celebrated road car engine designer for so many years. Active to the end (he attended a reunion of his old colleagues during recent months), he was 85 years old. Before joined Cosworth in 1966, Mike Hall had a depth of engineering experience covering Rolls-Royce diesel engines, Raleigh moped engines, and the BRM organization. He joined Rolls-Royce in 1947 and served a five-year engineering apprenticeship: “I became an R&D engineer in the diesel engines division, then graduated fairly quickly into the design office. My boss, Geoff Topliss, then went to Raleigh Industries in Nottingham, asked me to join him, where in six years, designing small…

MK1 ESCORT sublime rs1600 Sweet 16 Steve Dryden regrets few things more than selling his stunning Mk1 Sport, and now that he’s built the perfect RS1600, he’s not about to make the same mistake. Words Gareth Charlton Photos Chris Wallbank “STEVE FREELY ADMITS HE BECOMES OBSESSED WHEN IT COMES TO DOING A NEW PROJECT, BUT THAT’S NO BAD THING” A speech that inspires a generation, England European Championship success, or a Pop Factor rendition of Kelis’ Milkshake by a little girl who’s overcome a heartbreaking dead cat ordeal; there are certain things that stir the soul. A well-sorted RS1600 is one of those things. An RS1600 that’s been put together with a self-confessed touch of OCD and a bitter determination to do everything as well as possible doesn’t just stir…

top ten: trick carbs TOP 10 Alternative carb options That pair of DCOEs just not quite cutting it? Try these for size. Weber 40/44IDFs Rarity: The 40 mm versions were originally a Group One option for the RS2000 available from Ford Rallye Sport dealers, IDFs later became part of the Series X kits for the 2-litre Mk2 Escort and Mk4 Cortina, too. The carbs, inlet manifold and linkage are still available new thanks to Webcon, but if you want the original-type Group One airbox prepare to dig deep — and pay more for this one item than the rest of the kit put together. www.webcon.co.uk Stromberg CDs Rarity: More-commonly seen on later Lotus twin-cam engines, Strombergs are a similar design to SUs, but shorter making them great for low bonnets.…

PURPLE REIGN King of the ’70s, the Mk3 Cortina has always been a popular choice with the custom crowd. Richard Lowe doesn’t disappoint with his not-so-subtle street machine. Words Marc Stretton Photos Michael Whitestone So far in Classic Ford in 2016 there’s been a welcome return to the pages for some prime examples of the Mk3 Cortina — possibly the version of Ford’s best-seller that we see the least these days thanks to its ’70s steel loving to rot, and because it was the banger boys’ favourite throughout the ’80s and ’90s. We’ve had Steve Webster’s once-in-a-lifetime, garage-find 1600GXL, followed by Mark Rogers’ über-rare and perfectly-restored GT. But to be honest, those two cars are exceptions to the Mk3 rule, because if you ask most people to picture a Coke…

HERITAGE Thames 300E Classic Fords restored: Even the best advice isn’t enough to prevent you from buying one of the most-rotten 300Es going. Fortunately, Mark Aston bit the bullet and it’s now an absolute stunner. Words Marc Stretton Photos Lyndon McNeil “WE BOTH GOT PRETTY MUCH FOOLED BY WHAT, AT FIRST SIGHT, DID LOOK LIKE A HALF-DECENT 300E PROJECT” There’s plenty of advice out there for newcomers to the classic car scene; general guides on checking for filler, hidden rust or clapped-out mechanics; and specific articles for what to look out for on certain makes and models. When Mark Aston decided he wanted a classic commercial in his life he thought about such things for a while… and then completely ignored them, buying perhaps the most-rotten Thames 300Es we’ve seen…

CLUB MEET DEVON CLASSIC FORD MEET Build it and they will come! Brand-new meet such a success that more are in the works. Words and Photos Andy Moss After the purchase of my 2.8 injection Capri last February and the commencement of some restoration work at my premises, I thought it would be good to organise an old Ford meet here in Plympton, as there didn’t seem to be a lot going on in our area. So I created an event on Facebook, shared it with all the Ford-related groups and also advertised it as an event in some classic car publications. The interest I got was fantastic — so much so that we decided to raise some money for Macmillan Cancer Support. The day came and the Fords kept…

Top 25 Carb tips and tricks We all need tips to make our carburettors sing — here are 25 courtesy of Northampton Motorsport. The Weber DCOE is a racing sidedraught carburettor, meaning it’s almost infinitely tuneable so there are a billion things you can do to them — some good, and some blatant myths. By contrast the good old Weber downdraught such as the ever-popular DGV/DGAV may not be quite so variable but it too has plenty of potential for snappy performance. We’ve picked the brains of respected tuners, Northampton Motorsport’s top carburettor guru, Steve Wooding to guide us through some of the good, bad and downright ugly. We could go on forever but here are Steve’s 25 of the best. Words and Photos Jon Hill TIP 1 The Idle…

QUERY OF THE MONTH GEARING UP Q Please could clarify the situation with regard to five-speed and four-speed gearbox ratios? Friends reckon the four-speed ’boxes have better ratios, but others say a five-speed Type-9 is the same as a four-speed but with the overdriven fifth gear. I’m building a 2-litre Mk2 Escort Sport and have a Type-9 five-speed, but have been advised to stick with the four-speed RS2000 ‘box. Can you help? Geoff Dyer Email A It depends which four-speed ’box you’re comparing with the Sierra Type-9, but the RS2000’s Type E four-speeder has exactly the same ratios as the Type-9 found in the four-cylinder Fords. The 2.8 V6 version of the Type-9 ‘box has slightly better ratios, but fitting one of these involves either machining the input…

your projects: mk2 escort SERIAL THRILLER Your projects: After owning no fewer than 35 different Escorts, Neil Harris has finally decided to build the Mk2 that he’s always dreamed of. Words Dan Furr Photos Adrian Brannan Name: Neil Harris Age: 40 Job: Joiner Location: Dunfermline Car: 1979 Escort 1600 Sport Start condition: Half-built rally car Condition now: Almost ready for paint Time taken so far:Two years Estimated date of completion: Classic Ford Show, June 5 Devotion to classic Fords can be a trying pursuit. As if to prove the point, consider the experience of 40-year old Blue Oval fanatic, Neil Harris — here’s a man who sold a Mk2 Escort RS2000 for just £400 when demand for the model bottomed-out a few years back, and now he can’t save his…

Where to go in May East Midlands Ford Show When: Sunday, May 1 Where: Thoresby Park, Ollerton, Nottinghamshire NG22 9EP, UK What’s going on: As part of the long-running Notts Classic Car & Bike Show, which attracts over 1000 vehicles, 50-plus stalls and over 5000 visitors, this year’s East Midlands Ford Show promises to be a good one with show-quality Fords of all ages on display. The event features a vehicle display arena, commentator and expert judges for the concours throughout the day, trade and autojumble stalls, children’s entertainment and more. Admission is £7 per adult, £2 for kids aged 7-14, and kids under 7 go free. Find out more: www.classicshows.org…

PRODUCTS THE LATEST, GREATEST BITS FOR YOUR CLASSIC FORD EARLY LOTUS CORTINA REAR DAMPERS £111.72 GAZ Shocks GAZ now offer fully adjustable GP-spec dampers for the A-frame Lotus Cortinas, which enable the damping bump and rebound rate to be adjusted and the ride height to be varied by means of screw thread spring platforms. The dampers feature a black zinc-plated body to keep them looking good and working well for long into the future, while a gas cell is fitted in the outer reservoir to prevent cavitation and resist fade. Contact: 01268 724585, www.gazshocks.com MOTAMEC EVO ONE SEAT £229 Motorsport Tools Motorsport Tools is now producing its own range of FIA-approved competition seats including this Evo One design, compact enough to fit most classic Fords. Manufactured from strong…

Know this DCOE AND DGV CARBS Know which bit, lever or screw does what on your sidedraught or downdraught Weber carburettor. Words and Photos Jon Hill The sidedraught DCOE 1. Main jets cover 2. Fuel filter holder 3. Fuel inlet banjo fitting 4. Throttle linkage lever 5. Fuel enrichment choke 6. Float chamber cover 7. Throttle lever idle adjusting screw 8. Idle mixture screw 9. Progression hole cover 10. Pump jet 11. Vacuum take-off cover 12. Air bypass 1.AuxiliaryVenturi.This speeds up the passage of the air thus creating a drop in pressure so that it pulls the emulsified fuel out of the main jet assembly, mixing it with air before entering the main venturi and butterfly system 2. Main Venturi.Also known as the choke, which is different from the fuel…

popular science Pop Rocket A lifetime in motorsport and classic cars means you get to build some pretty special stuff, and Bill Trout’s 100E is a traditional blend of Pop modifying with some rather neat tricks. Words and Photos Jon Hill “BOUGHT A FEW YEARS’ BACK, THE 100E WAS STANDARD AND CRYING OUT FOR A PINTO AND DECENT FRONT SUSPENSION” The motorsport beat ticks very loudly in this world we’re in. Classic Ford orientated or not, it’s intensely fuelled by motorsport people. People like Bill Trout who left school at 15 on a Friday and started on Monday in the motor trade, never to look back. A lifetime spent in the field means Bill now has a proper, reputable garage in Dewsbury, where the local population can rely on him.…

On test: OIL FILTER WRENCHES Removing an oil filter needn’t be fiddly and frustrating. You just need the best wrench for the job. Photos Gerard Hughes They take seconds to fit when new, but an old oil filter can take considerably longer to remove at the next oil change. A combination of over tightening and poor access can hamper efforts to make what should be a simple task, painless. If you own a filter wrench already, perhaps it suits some applications better than others, for here is a tool that can be highly effective on one engine and utterly useless on another. So the no-great-secret is to change your oil wrench if it is no longer reaching the filters other wrenches can reach more easily. Forget piercing the filter with…

RACE RETRO 2016 With its rally stage, rows of race cars and more autojumble that you can shake a wad of Fivers at, Race Retro has it all for the motorsport fan. Words and Photos Steven Fisher With shows few and far between over the winter months, Race Retro is a hidden motorsport-biased gem at the beginning of the year, and helping to give the season a good kick off to many. Shaking those winter blues away and giving inspiration to push on with cars or projects, or even to spectate and see some amazing machines of days gone by. Spread across three days, the event is held at Stoneleigh Park near Coventry. With plenty of show-hall space and an outdoor live action area, there is always plenty to see,…

Project Hunter CLASSIC FORD PROJECTS YOU SHOULD BUY — AND MODIFY. Illustrations: Simon Coulson fundowner. Imagine if Ford of Australia applied the full Escort Sundowner look to the Mk2Transit? Imagine, too, if Ford of Australia had a sense of humour. Welcome, then, to the Fundowner.Taking our ropey-looking but actually very sold high-top Transit project, we’ve tided up the bodywork, panelled in the side windows and fitted a pair of port holes, before treating the whole thing to a full respray in luscious (and expensive) chrome yellow. A custom set of decals in lurid green are on the cards, based on the Escort Sundowner’s naturally, while some highly-polished Slot Mags have been bolted up to the five-stud hubs, after all, what other choice of wheel would you fit to an old…