Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2015 i Classic Ford

THE COVERS ARE OFF! Entries open for 2016’s Great Unveiling at the Classic Ford Show. Is it that time already? The 2016 Classic Ford Show may be some eight months away, but when you’ve got a deadline to finish a fresh classic Ford build, that’s no time at all. With that in mind, we’re on the lookout for new projects and rebuilds that will be finished in time for next year’s show. The best five will then be revealed one-by-one at a ceremony in front of thousands of enthusiasts at the show. Prior to the unveiling, the cars will be kept under wraps so as not to spoil the surprise, and after the show all will be photographed for exclusive, full features in Classic Ford. What we’re looking for Classic…

Home again Prepfab back in the UK Top-notch Group 4 Escort builders and parts fabricators, Prepfab Motorsport Engineering have moved back to Blighty. Headed up by longtime rally fan, Richard Lepley, he relocated the main part of the business along with his family to France in 2010, but now they’re back en masse in their main Lincolnshire-based workshops, and keen to crack on with building cars and developing parts for the ever-burgeoning Historic rally scene in the UK. Perhaps best-known for making a trick range of alloy goodies, Prepfab also famously used to keep a Group 4 Mk2 Escort shell ‘in stock, and this is something Richard is keen to continue, with a fresh, painted shell imminent. Contact Prepfab on 01427 858114 or go online to see the full range…

Where to go in September FordFest When: Sunday, September 13 Where: Santa Pod Raceway, Northants NN29 7XA, UK What’s going on: A brand-new event for 2015, FordFest mixes classic and modern Fords and pits them side-by-side up Santa Pod’s world-famous drag strip. If that’s not enough to satisfy your appetite, there will be a full timetable of live entertainment taking place off the strip including motorsport stunts and a huge display of club cars from the Ford scene, everything from immaculate restored classics to the very latest performance and modified motors. Expect a top-class displays from us too, plus all the usual features you would expect to see at a show including show and shine competition, trade stands and more. Find out more: www.fordfestshow.co.uk…

Anglia 105E Classic Fords restored: Looking for an Anglia project to restore, Bill Reynolds got more than he bargained for — in more ways than one. Words Marc Stretton Photos Gerard Hughes More than 40 years after spending his courting days in a Ford Anglia, Bill Reynolds decided it was time to own a 105E again. And, when Bill spotted what looked to be a suitable car in very good condition, he bought it. The only trouble was that on the weekend the purchase was made, he was miles from home, supposedly supporting his son, Lee, at a race meeting at Castle Combe and the car was another 50 miles away in Berkshire… No problem, Bill pinched the race car trailer, headed over to Newbury, picked up the 1959 Anglia,…

Top 10 Radical Mods For an extreme classic Ford, factor in at least one or two of these modifications... Words Jon Hill Engine transplant How hard: The old favourite’s still one of the most dramatic — upgrading the existing’s power unit is great, but far more exciting is swapping in the biggest or most exotic engine you can find. Maybe it’s not all about the biggest but the most cost effective route to horsepower – however, the sensible amongst us will research the project, so it’ll fit with minimum cutting and hassle. A tape measure and a sensible head are your best friends – but not too sensible! Roof chop How hard: It’s not surprising lowering the roof isn’t that popular now, but there was a time when everything was…

PLAYERS CLASSIC Need a break from the norm? Then head to Goodwood circuit for the annual Players Classic event, where anything goes — it’s not just about the VWs. Words and Photos Adrian Brannan If you mainly stick to the Ford scene’s show calendar you might never have heard of Players Classic. Held at Goodwood circuit, and with cars being vetted with prior approval months before, it sounds like it might be a festival of elitism wound up in an inaccessible niche. Thankfully, the reality couldn’t be further from the truth, and having only approved cars filling every last square inch of the site creates a fantastic standard of cars, and even better, the cars were of unparalleled diversity. Shows of this ilk might be rooted in the VW scene,…

YOUR PROJECTS Classic Fords being built in garages, workshops and on driveways! Rob Davis From: UK Cars: Mk2 Escort “My Mk2 Escort four-door deserved some attention, so I’ve fitted new front wings, both rear arches and am currently deleting the Ghia trim holes. I’ve made loads of progress including a fresh Crossflow but I won’t do too much more to the bodywork as I do love ‘em rough and ready!” “I love driving the thing more than cleaning it because it brings out the silly teenager in me — and I’m a 41 year-old mechanic!”…

CF TECH Welcome to Classic Ford’s regular technical section, where you’ll get all the advice you’re ever likely to need, whether buying, restoring or modifying a classic Ford. It’s jam-packed with essential technical information, so turn the page to find out how to rebuild a Lucas distributor, see how Gavin’s getting on with his project Cortina, get technical advice from our experts, and go behind the scenes at Jason Pillar Classic Cars — it’s all here and more. SAFE TECH When working on cars and using tools of any kind — especially power tools — always use protective gear: goggles, gloves, ear defenders, masks and a decent set of overalls are essential. A fire extinguisher is also advisable. Never work under a car without supporting it with axle stands and…

Gavin’s Mk1Cortina When it comes to wheel designs, if you want something different, be prepared to dig deep, as Gavin’s wallet found out this month. What’s been done this month: Finished building a house, deliberated over what wheels to run on the Cortina, ordered a (very) expensive set of wheels from Japan Next on the to-do list: Crack on with the rest of the car, oh and my 24-valve Mk1 Cortina Estate, too Contact:  ishizuka@ 5 zigen.co.jp Recently, I was reading an article written by sometime Classic Ford contributor, Paddy McGrath talking about the common thread which joins all us car guys together — the joy which our hobby brings us. It’s something I haven’t enjoyed for some time due to spending my spare time building a house for my…

WELDING CLAMPS Whether restoring or radically altering your classic Ford, a selection of clamps is invaluable when there’s welding to be done. Words Gary Stretton Photos Gerard Hughes Successful welding is dependent on a number of factors, none less so than how the work being welded is held in position as the process proceeds.Tightly held together pieces of metal are easier to weld and better assist stronger welds than non-contact welds. And importantly, tightly held work is less likely to distort. Methods of securing metal during the welding process vary according to factors such as access and personal preference. For example, we use a combination of self-tapping screws and welding grips/clamps.Welding clamps are quick to use, versatile and don’t require any other process to secure them – self-tappers require a…

Project Hunter PROJECT CARS YOU SHOULD BUY - AND MODIFY... Illustrations: Simon Coulson Sticking with this issue’s Radical Or Restored theme, Classic Ford’s top-notch illustrator, Mr Coulson has done us proud with a couple of creations that really need to see the light of day. For the Pop, think aircooled VW-influenced Resto Cal more than Resto however, as the base car is in such good shape it would be a shame to go to town on the bodywork mods. A good amount of prep and a respray in the original colour it is, then, but not before some fairly radical mods underneath courtesy of air suspension to make this Pop sit really, really low. We’ve also brought the front strut towers inwards to create a decent amount of tuck for…

Welcome Call us greedy, but when it comes to classic Fords we want it all. The restored-to-standard, the heavily-modified and more often than not, those cars that are somewhere in-between. To some, though, there’s a definite side of the middle line they want to stand on, and so this issue we thought it would be fun to pit one extreme against the other — from radical to restored, so to speak. We’d be interested to hear which side you subscribe to, and why — drop us an email or write to us using the contact details to your left. If you’re reading this the day the magazine goes on-sale in the UK, and want to see both radical and restored classic Fords in one action-packed place, them come check out…

Outside the Box Keenan Smith had never seen a Mk2 Cortina before, so when he took one on as a project car, he decided to put his own take on it, with stunning results. Words Simon Holmes Photos Linhbergh Nguyen When it comes to modifying classic Fords, it’s all too easy to follow the preset formulas that seem so common — at least in the UK. But what if you were modifying a classic Ford for the first time and weren’t aware there were already favoured formulas? What if you took fresh inspiration from other sources instead? The result would be something like this, as Keenan Smith’s Mk2 proves. “I built this car without any guidelines, or even a slight understanding of the usual standards,” tells Keenan. “The funny thing…

Top 10 Restoration Tools Repairing rotten bodywork? These are the best tools to make the job easier. Words Jon Hill Joggler Joining panels edge to edge involves precise cutting out, coupled with practise and technique to weld them together; avoiding distortion and buckling metal. But there’s a much easier way, using a joggling tool, which puts a step into the panel you’re joining; the thickness of the piece you’re letting in — allowing the new metal to sit flush whilst, strengthening the joint minimising distortion. Use with seam welding or plug welding. Contact: www.sealey.co.uk Hole punch set Plug welding is great for replicating spot welds and for creating relatively quick joints minimising distortion, where two pieces lap over each other. What’s required is drilling a system of holes around…

Cortina Mk1 Fleet Classic Fords restored: James Clarke is one enthusiast who has always had plenty of love for the unloved, but now others are seeing things his way thanks to this almost-unique, fleet-spec Mk1. Words Jeff Ruggles Photos MattWoods You’ve got to have sympathy for the base model in a car’s range, because it never has much of a future. Ignored in favour in sportier and more luxurious versions, used as donors to create replicas or simply employed as workhorses and discarded, there aren’t many enthusiasts who would aspire to own an entry-level derivative. Fortunately, in James Clarke we’ve discovered a man who does, and he now holds the keys to what is probably the rarest Mk1 Cortina in the country as a result. “I take on cars that…

WHAT'S ON Photo Linhbergh Nguyen SEPTEMBER FordFest September 13 Santa Pod Raceway, Podington NN29 7JQ, UK 01959 541444 European Ford Event September 13 Raceway Venray, Venray 5813AD, The Netherlands www.europeanfordevent.nl Kent’s Classic Car Show September 13 Aylesford Priory, Aylesford ME20 7BX, UK 01732 840787 www.kentsclassiccarshow.co.uk Rally Day September 19 Castle Combe Circuit, Chippenham SN14 7EY, UK 01249 782417 www.ralyyday.com Footman James Manchester Classic Car Show September 19-20 Event City, Manchester M17 8AS, UK 0844 8889991 www.manchesterclassiccarshow.com OCTOBER Classic Ford on sale October 9…

Rebuild Lucas distributors Rough running problems? It could be down to wear inside your classic Ford’s distributor. Here’s how to rebuild the Lucas-based versions. Words and Photos Rob Hawkins There’s a lot more to a distributor than just its points, condenser, rotor arm and cap, as we discovered when we spent a day with H&H Ignition Solutions of Dudley in the West Midlands. Watching them stripping and rebuilding a number of Lucas distributors (commonly found on many ’50s and ’60s classic Fords), we found out the importance of bob weights, advance curves and the vacuum unit. The team at H&H Ignition Solutions consist of three people; Lee Hull, Phillip Hull and John Morley. They ran distributor assembly lines in a much larger production set-up, then decided to divert their experience…

EXPERT CLINIC TROUBLE WITH YOUR FORD? SEND IN YOUR QUERY AND WE'LL SORT IT OUT Anglia Exhaust Q I have an Anglia that’s been modified with a 1700cc Crossflow unit. Could you tell me where I can get an exhaust system to suit? Mine is in desperate need of a new exhaust system, but no-one in my area can help me. Jeff Hooper Email AYou’re in luck, as unlike a decade ago, the choice of systems available for modified Angleboxes is currently pretty good. In a nutshell, you have three choices: Maniflow can supply you with a mild-steel complete system to suit, with either a 4-2-1 or 4-into-1 design manifold.They don’t keep these on the shelf but are made to order using jigs, so there’s no need to take your…

YPRES HISTORIC RALLY The fast, twisty Tarmac around the Belgian town of Ypres is the perfect playground for the Escorts to take on all-comers. Photos Jeannot Boesen The UK may be home to the majority of historic rallying that takes place throughout the year, but we don't always get it all our own way and over in Belgium they make the most of the fast, flat but often narrow and bumpy roads around the northern town of Ypres for this annual historic rally. Every June some 25,000 spectators head to the region to watch the Escorts take on the Opel Asconas and Porsche 911s. With 95 per cent of the stages on Tarmac, the action is guaranteed to be fast and frantic, and this year spectators were also treated to…

Old Skool Ford Drag Challenge 2014 Saturday night’s all right for racing, at least at Santa Pod where the OSFDC competitors tore up the strip with some lightning fast passes. Photos Kieran Jenkins Round 5: Saturday Night Special, Santa Pod, August 8-9 Santa Pod is to drag racing what Dagenham is to Ford and at Round 5 OSFDC’s very own Dagenham boys, Mark Thorogood and Darren Scannell showed that the only way is Essex! Having raced his immaculate yellow Mk1 Escort in Holland, Darren returned to Santa Pod to lay down some sticky rubber using all of his 550 Cosworth horses and, even with a standard T5 gearbox, finished a successful weekend with a 10.05 and a third place trophy. Mark Thorogood’s showstopper 100E (and former Classic Ford Grafters feature),…

LOST IN TRANSLATION Your projects: Mark Murphy’s an expat in Thailand building a spectacular Mk1 Escort van — complete with a Toyota six-pot turbo motor and Nissan suspension, that he plans to go drifting with… Words Simon HolmesPhotos Jmayel El-Haj Name: Mark Murphy Age: 36 Job: Anything that pays the bills! Location: Thailand Car: Mk1 EscortVan Start condition: Driveable, but not maintained for a long time Condition now: Getting there Time taken so far: Six months Estimated date of completion: Are these things ever complete? Hopefully drivable early next year If you were to move to another country, what would be the one thing you couldn’t bear to live without? For Mark Murphy, it was classic Fords and after moving away from the UK some years ago, he found that…

ON THE WEB East Kent Trim open online store They been supplying interior and exterior trim via mail order and at the shows for classic Fords for more years than probably anyone else, but now East KentTrim Supplies have opened a bespoke online store, meaning that new windscreen rubber you need for your project is just a click away. All of the hundreds of items that East Kent supply for classic Fords, including screen, door, light and glass seals, carpets and even headlinings are now available to view and order on the brand-new site, and new products are being developed and being added to the site as fast as they can — the latest to be released are the hockey sticks for the Mk3 and Mk4 Escort Cabriolets. Check out…

BODY SNATCHERS When Lily Ashley needed a car for daily duties, dad Nick unleashed his imagination and contacts to create an Escort-based monster. Words and Photos Bryn Musselwhite There’s a very fine line in life between being practical, stylish and unique at the same time. Everybody likes to think of themselves as being different to the next person, but in truth we’re all made of the same stuff. Sure the blood and chemicals can vary, but it’s generally what goes on the outside that we can easily choose to make different. But combining practicality in a stylish way that nobody else has done before? That takes something special, and you don’t just stumble into building something like this Mk1 Escort, it gets filtered down through years of experience. With a…

YOUR CARS THE BEST OF WHAT'S DROPPED IN OUR INBOX CAR OF THE MONTH Colin Cole From: New Zealand Car: Mk2 Escort “I have been building this Mk2 Escort for the last eight years,” says Colin, who hails from the city of Auckland on New Zealand’s north island. “It started as a rusty but driveable car, and I have replaced or repaired every panel on the car, prepared and painted it, built the diff, suspension, roll cage, brakes, fuel tank and just about everything else — I guess you could say it has been a labour of love! It has a 250 bhp Honda S2000 motor and gearbox fitted, dry-sumped and a wide Atlas diff with a 5.1 diff ratio.” Bet it sounds as good as it looks! Simon Webster…

YOUR PHOTOS Cars, roadtrips, shows, tattoos... share your images right here. Email hi-res images to classicford@futurenet.com or post them up on our Facebook page.…

JASON PILLAR CLASSIC CARS Striking out on your own is a big risk, but one that’s paid off for Jason Pillar, who’s built up an enviable reputation for restoring rotten Fords. Words Marc StrettonPhotos Michael Whitestone When was the banking crisis? Wasn’t it about 2007? Yes, that was it… the same year Jason Pillar decided it would be a great idea to pack in a perfectly safe job, buy a house with a workshop attached and start his own restoration business – Jason Pillar Classic Cars. That was sensible wasn’t it? Well… yes, it was, and for several reasons. One is that Jason is a seriously skilled welder and bodywork man (along with having pretty handy mechanical and painting aptitudes up his sleeve). Another is that, as a long-standing Ford…

QUERY OF THE MONTH ’BOX SWAP Q I recently bought a 123E Anglia from a house clearance firm, so I can’t ask the previous owner any details and sadly the car didn’t run. I have since stripped the car completely in readiness for welding, and my thinking is to fit a 1600 Crossflow and a 2000E gearbox, if I can find one. Having stripped the car, I note the previous owner has made a few changes here and there, mainly cosmetic, but i’ve been told you can fit 2000E ratio gears into a 123E gearbox. Is there anyway I can tell if he has already done this before I go to the trouble of sourcing a 2000E ’box? The gearbox has several casting numbers: 105e 7006c, 7 K 10 A3,…

VATANEN'S TOUCH With Ari Vatanen behind the wheel, this works Escort RS1800 had a glittering career on the British rally stage, and now it’s been carefully restored and is back out being used as Boreham intended. Words Graham Robson Photos Mitch Pashavair Mk2 Escorts don’t came much more famous than this. Apart from Roger Clark’s immortal POO 505R Cossack car, it was this amazing APG-sponsored car of 1975/1976 which Timo Makinen, then Ari Vatanen, drove so flamboyantly, that enthusiasts remember so vividly. This, of course, was the famous left-hand-drive ‘APG’ car, which was a brand-new Borehambuilt car in November 1975 (and the sister car to two other works machines — LAR 800P, and LVW 690P — which were new), and was allocated for use by Timo Makinen and Henry Liddon…

CAPRI RS3100 Built as a homologation special, the RS3100 is right up there in the rarity stakes. Here’s what you need to know. Words ChristianTilbury Photos Adrian Brannan With the Mk2 Capri mere months away and a fuel crisis in full swing, it was hard to comprehend Ford’s reasoning behind the November 1973 launch of its RS3100. For anyone following the European Touring Car Championship however, there was clear method in the manufacturer’s madness – the RS3100’s introduction being merely to meet the homologation needs of a new racer that would trounce BMW’s CSLs. The RS2600 had already paved the way for the UK-only RS3100 – the new RS even adapting many of its features – but it was the subsequent need for a larger engine that saw the RS3100…