Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2022 i Classic Ford

FRONTEND YOUR EYE ON THE WORLDWIDE CLASSIC FORD SCENE. ‘NEW’ RS500S TO BE BUILT AWS announce trio of continuation Touring Car-spec Sierras Touring Car preparation specialist, CNC Motorsport AWS will build three Andy Rouse Engineering (ARE) specification Sierra RS500 Group A race cars in collaboration with the four-time British champion. Each will be constructed from an original Sierra bodyshell to an exacting design set by the 60-time British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) race winner. Just as it was in period, the first chassis, set to be completed by early 2022, will be built from a brand-new 909 Motorsport shell, which has been unused and carefully stored since the 1980s. The cars will come with HTP papers, fuel cell and roll cage certificates and will be ready to race. Founded by…

POP 100E PENSION PLAN To keep him busy during his retirement, Bill Gysin got stuck into rebuilding this V8-powered 100E project — with spectacular results. Words Simon Holmes Photos Adrian Brannan To many people, the idea of retiring might mean winding down from any serious work load or big project, but when Bill Gysin decided to retire around two years ago, he began thinking about what would do with his free time. “I wanted something to tinker with in the garage to keep me busy,” confirms Bill. “I was after a project and had a soft spot for a 100E, as my brother and dad had one in the past.” In fact, Bill is no stranger to a modified Ford, as he used to compete in the Rover V8 Challenge…

HERITAGE GRANADA 3.0S Ford heritage: It may have taken quite a few years for Lee Painter to realise his Granada dream, but as his flawlessly restored 3.0S shows, it was well worth the wait Words Daniel Bevis Photos Adrian Brannan The fabric of time has an unnerving habit of rippling back and forth at will. You may very clearly remember, for example, the release of your favourite album or movie and have it parked in your brain as ‘one of those things that happened recently’, only to be markedly perturbed when somebody points out that said flick or record is enjoying its 25th anniversary. Bin day always comes as a shock, as you could swear blind that you’ve only just put the damn things out. Conversely, a conversation with your…

CFTECH Know this BEAT THE 40s Graham’s set himself a challenge this issue — to get a Weber 32/36 DGV carb to out-perform a pair of 40 DCOEs. Is it possible? Read on… Words and Photos Graham Bahr IMPROVING YOUR CLASSIC FORD JUST GOT EASIER Over the last few months I have run several engines on a Weber 32/36 DGV and both twin 40 and 45 DCOE Webers, and contrary to what some say, the 40s always outperformed the 32/36 giving more top end power and midrange torque. Not surprisingly, the 45s always made the most power. However, multiple carbs are not for everyone so I set my self a little challenge. Take an engine with similar power to your average warmed over fast-road Pinto and see if I could match…

EXPERT CLINIC TROBLE WITH YOUR FORD? SEND IN YOUR QUERY AND WELL SPORT IN OUT QUERY OF THE MONTH BINDING BRAKES Q I have a 1962 Anglia 105E which is suffering from an intermittent problem with the front brakes binding. I have ensured that the brakes are adjusted correctly and the wheel cylinders have been replaced but on occasions I can feel a slight pull on the brakes, and when I check, the nearside wheel is hot compared to the offside. This I believe is due to sticking brakes yet when I remove the front drums the wheel cylinders are all free and move smoothly. Have you any clue as to what the problem may be? Dean Palmer UK A As the wheel cylinders are new and you have double-checked…

CF BUYING RESTORING FACTORY FRESH Reader’s restoration: When Steven Gibson was asked to restore this 1978 RS2000 the request was ‘Do it as if it was your own car’ and that meant making it look like the day it left the factory… Words Mike Renaut Photos Adrian Brannan For the past 20 years Steven ‘Gibby’ Gibson has run Gibby’s Spraying Services in Harthill. He paints cars and tackles accident damage repairs by day, then in the evenings Gibby enjoys restoring old Fords — especially Cosworths. He owns some nice low-mileage examples, but Gibby had never restored an RS2000 until Richard McCulloch got in touch. “Richard loves old Escorts; he bought this one-owner 1978 Escort RS2000 in 1999. After driving past it for years he finally convinced the owner to sell,…

CF BUYING RESTORING BUYER’S GUIDE ESCORT XR3i MK4 Sporty, stylish and easy to look after, the second-gen XR3i has a lot going for it. Here’s what you need to know. Words ChristianTilbury Photos Adrian Brannan The strong following of the original XR3i, coupled with car buyers’ increasing penchant for hot hatchbacks ensured that the sporty version once again topped the Escort line-up when Ford revealed its revised Mk4 range in 1986. Like its cooking counterparts, the new XR3i received reworked bodywork, a Granada-style dashboard, improved security and tweaks to the suspension location, which were designed to counteract lift under acceleration and dive under braking. While Ford’s specialised SVE division developed the original XR3i, the Mk4 version was stitched together by the manufacturer’s mainstream engineering departments, the emphasis being on optimising…

PRODUCTS THE LATEST, GREATEST BITS FOR YOUR CLASSIC FORD PRODUCT OF THE MONTH GORDON SPICE RACING CAPRI £42.95 Pendle Slot Racing Pay tribute to the much-missed racing driver, engineer and race team owner, Gordon Spice with this superb 1/32-scale slot car of his 3-litre Capri as campaigned in the BTCC in the late 1970s. Highly-detailed, it features working lights, is Digital Plug Ready for Scalextric digital tracks (plug not included) and comes in a display case. Contact: 01282 612418, www.pendleslotracing.co.uk MICHELIN EXALTO From £90 Vintage Tyres Vintage Tyres now stocks the new Michelin Exalto PE2 tyres for a range of modern classic cars including the Sierra RS Cosworth and Escort XR3i. Available in a variety of sizes for 13, 14 and 15 inch wheels, the Pilot Exalto looks just right…

MK3 ESCORT CAUTION: REAR WHEEL STEER Taking on an unfinished project is always a risk, but when Adrian Till’s mates had to stop work on this reardrive RS Turbo build, he knew he had to see it through. Words and Photos Jon Cass When we first spotted Adrian Till’s 1985 RS Turbo we had a feeling it would be hiding something a little out of the ordinary under the bonnet — the wider track, semi slick tyres, big brakes and roll cage tell us this is no average Series 1. What we weren’t expecting was a Cosworth YB with 450 bhp sent to the rear wheels! Yes, this is still a Mk3 Escort, but not as you know it. Adrian has been a huge fan of the Blue Oval since…

heritage: granadas THE JOY OF SIX THAT ESSEX IS ALL-TORQUE TXxhxexrxex xwxere a number of engine options available in the Mk1 Granada and Consul range. Depending on spec level and budget, one might have opted for a 2-litre V4, which in later models was replaced by a Pinto four-pot, while our European counterparts could choose a Taunus-spec 1.7 V4 or a Cologne V6 in assorted flavours of displacement. But for the full-on gold medallion and big lapels vibe, Brits zeroed in on the Essex V6. This configuration was available as a 2.5-litre, but the top-of-the-tree model packed the purposeful rumble of 3-litres. The 60 degree V6 was assembled at the engine plant in Dagenham (hence the nickname), displacing 2994cc and serving up 138 bhp — but the real story was…

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

CFTECH UPGRADE GUIDE MK3 CAPRI Classic, plentiful and just as easy as a Mk2 Escort to improve — here’s how to get the best from a four-cylinder Mk3. IMPROVING YOUR CLASSIC FORD JUST GOT EASIER When you speak about the classic Ford building blocks, the Mk3 Capri is a definite cornerstone. The big V6 versions may be what everyone aspires to own, but the smaller-engined cars are truly holding the roof up. There’s a very good reason for that — the same great looks as the six-cylinder models, a massive engine bay that’ll swallow virtually anything, and the potential for excellent handling thanks to massive specialist support. “THE V6s ARE WHAT EVERYONE WANTS, BUT THE FOUR-CYLINDER MODELS ARE EASIER TO UPGRADE” The non-fancy models are the ones to go for,…

MOTORSPORT SPA SIX HOURS Classic Fords dominate the legendary Spa Francorchamps circuit for the Spa Six Hours. Words and Photos Jeannot Boesen CLASSIC FORDS FLAT-OUT ON THE STAGE, STRIP AND TRACK The 21st edition of the Spa Six Hours Classic was dominated by the GT40s. No less than 12 of these beautiful American racers completed the first six rows of the starting grid. And at the end of more than 110 laps, five of them took the first places in that marathon race. This classic race and other races like Pre-66-Touring Cars, Historic Touring Cars, Formula Juniors and Sportscars from the 1960s and a great Ford Shelby stand were present at the legendary Francorchamps circuit in the heart of the Ardennes on that first weekend of October. A few hundred…

PARTING SHOT LOOKING TO THE PAST ONE CLASSIC IMAGE AT A TIME SUITS YOU, SIR Almost 50 years ago, in March 1972, Ford launched the Granada and Consul range in Europe, replacing the Mk4 Zephyr in the UK and Taunus P7 series on mainland Europe and becoming an instant success in the competitive executive car market. Assembled at Dagenham in the UK and Cologne in Germany, the Granada and Consul were available in a range of body styles including saloon, estate, and a fastback coupe. The Consul GT coupe, seen here at a press launch event at the Hilton Hotel in then West Berlin was only built in limited numbers at Cologne and is now seriously rare (and seriously sought-after). Photo Getty…

Grafters SHELL SHOCKED Your projects: Imagine blasting a 50-year-old bodyshell and finding absolutely zero rust? That’s exactly what Chris Gaunt discovered when he started work on this super-original Capri 1600XL. Words and Photos Jon Cass Car: 1974 Capri Mk1 1600XL Start Condition: running and driving original car with minor dents and paint imperfections Condition now: Blasted and bare-metalled shell Expected time of completion: Summer 2022 Name: Chris Gaunt From: SouthYorkshire Age: 46 Jobs: Car restorer Over the last eight years, Bryn Ilsley has become an avid collector of old Fords, in fact he’s amassed around 40 in that time! Ranging from the 1970s through to the 1990s, his real passion is the iconic Escort Series 1 RS Turbo while he’s also quite partial to an RS1600i too, but the remainder…

NINE DECADES AT DAGENHAM Ford celebrated a major milestone at Dagenham last month. 9 years ago at 1.16 pm on October 1, 1931, the first Ford vehicle — the AA truck (right) rolled off the production line at what was then Ford’s newest global production facility. Over the next 71 years nearly 11 million cars, trucks and tractors were built at the plant, which if placed end to end, would stretch 10 times around the world. Close to 50 million engines have been built at the site too, and Dagenham continues to play a major role on Fords European operations, building the advanced technology diesel engines that power many of Ford’s commercial and passenger vehicles.…

THE GREAT UNVEILING GREAT EXPECTATIONS Entries are now open for the 2022 Great Unveiling. Has your project got what it takes? We’re all familiar with the stresses and strains building a classic Ford can cause, but all the hard work and effort is worth it when you can finally stand back and show off your handiwork to likeminded classic Ford fans for them to admire. But in the modern world it’s almost impossible to keep anything a secret, so when your project is finally finished and wheeled out for the first time people have already seen umpteen photos, countless social media posts, and various updates on the build’s progress, somewhat lessening the impact when it eventually does make its public debit. Well not here. The Great Unveiling is a collection…

EVENT REPORT COSWORTH DRIVERS CLUB COSWORTH DRIVERS CLUB AT BROOKLANDS The Cosworth Drivers’ Club hosted its first club meet at the historic Brooklands Museum recently, and it was a cracker. Words Jamie King Photos Jason Dodd The Cosworth Drivers’ Club (CDC) may be one of the newest clubs in the fast Ford scene, but it has already secured a strong, loyal, and passionate following of fans from all over the world. Everyone loves a Cossie, we all know that, so it makes sense for a club like CDC to exist. Formed back at the start of 2017, club founder Paul Thatcher set out to provide a place for genuine Cosworth owners and enthusiasts to discuss and show off their beloved Blue Ovals. It’s proved an immediate hit, now with over 19,000…

YOUR CARS THE BEST OF WHAT’S DROPPED IN OUR INBOX THIS MONTH Alan Cater From: Australia Car: Mk2 Escort “I’m a mad Escort fan and I am building a Mk2 at the moment. I wanted to keep the original lines as close to standard as possible but make the rest of the car as non-standard as I could afford. The original car was stripped to a bare shell and any rust removed. A new plate was fitted to the tunnel for the new gearbox, gearlever and then the shell was given a complete colour change to blue. “These are some of the mods I have done: 2-litre Zetec engine fitted with throttle bodies and ECU, four-branch extractors coupled to a 2.25 inch stainless steel exhaust system, Type-9 five-speed gearbox, new…

OUR CARS Gavin’s Mk1 Cortina Woody Woody goes standard, then modified then back to standard again — all for the shows. What’s been done this month: Got Woody looking standard, then modified, then sort of standard again… Next on the to-do list: Concentrate on my other projects Thanks to: Bishop’s Bespoke Builds 07921 437410 www.facebook.com/bishops bespokebuilds GAZ Shocks 01268 724585 www.gazshocks.com RAC www.rac.co.uk With my Woody up and running well I was hoping to have a full summer to enjoy it, and had planned a few diverse excursions with the plan to change looks a few times, changing between standard and modified whilst trying out some slightly different styles. The first appointment was a photoshoot with Classics Monthly who wanted to run a feature. For this the appearance needed to…

CF BUYING RESTORING How to Rebuild a Bosch distributor We follow H&H Ignition Solutions as they dismantle, overhaul and rebuild a Bosch distributor from a Pinto engine. Words and Photos Rob Hawkins Whether a distributor is corroded and seized or even clean and seemingly working well, it doesn’t do any harm to have it stripped, assessed and reassembled with new and overhauled components. Speaking to H&H Ignition Solutions, they’ve seen plenty of problems, ranging from securing screws that are too long and cause a short circuit, to fractured bodies and drive gear. We followed H&H stripping and rebuilding a Bosch distributor for a Pinto engine. They know these distributors inside out and can identify what engine each one has been fitted to according to the code stamped on the side…

CF BUYING RESTORING TOP 10 INSURANCE TIPS There are lots of ways you can keep insurance premiums down. Here are 10 tips on how you can do it effectively and still come away with the right policy for you and your classic Ford. 1. Don’t just renew It’s all too easy to let the direct debit continue and sign up for another year with your existing insurer. Before you do though, have a look at quotes from other insurers. If they come in cheaper and you don’t want to switch, call your existing insurer, quote the cheaper prices and quite often they will be able to bring your renewal quote down to a similar level. 2. Look at classic insurance They’re often tied into Agreed Value, limited-mileage polices but classic…