Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2023 i Classic Ford

The Classic Ford Show — Europe’s largest classic Ford event — will take place on Sunday May 12, 2024, once again at its new home — the South Of England Showground in West Sussex. If you love your classic Fords you will love what this show has to offer. Expect a huge trade village offering everything from panels to engines, a massive club area, and the Great Unveiling where five builds will be uncovered. There will be demos from the best in the business, hundreds of standout show cars on display, and we haven’t even touched on all the special feature areas at the show! Plus 2024 sees the Classic Ford Show celebrating it’s 20th birthday — yes the show really did start way back in 2004, so we’ll be…

A. Mk1 Escort Owner: Kevin Keating Featured: December 2022 It took Kevin 25 years to complete this Mk1 but it was so worth it, debuting at the Classic Ford Show with the look and feel of a proper 1990s-modified Mk1 for the street, strip and sprint track. B. Mk3 Capri Owners: Mick Skipp and Graham Clarke Featured: March 2023 A real crowd-pleaser when it debuted at the Classic Ford Show last year, Mick and Graham’s dedicated restoration on this über-rare GT4 is something else. C. Mk2 Fiesta Owner: Nicky Brazier Featured: December 2022 Who modifies a Fiesta van these days? Nicky does, that’s who and his fresh take on the pint-sized commercial is a track regular too — complete with Zetec power.. D. Mk1 Cortina Owner: Kevin May Featured: December…

NOVEMBER Rallye Prescott November 5 Prescott Speed Hillclimb, Gloucestershire UK www.prescotthillclimb.co.uk Ultimate Stance November 5 Telford International Centre, Shropshire UK www.ultimate-stance.co.uk Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show November 10-12 NEC Birmingham, UK www.necclassicmotorshow.com Newark Autojumble November 19 Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire UK www.newarkautojumble.co.uk Classic Ford January issue on sale November 24 https://shop.kelsey.co.uk/classic-ford-magazine DECEMBER Newark Autojumble December 10 Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire UK www.newarkautojumble.co.uk 2024 Sunday Scramble January 7 Bicester Heritage, Oxfordshire UK https://bicesterheritage.co.uk/events/januaryscramble-2024 Autosport International January 11-14 NEC Birmingham, UK www.autosportinternational.com Retromobile January 31-February 4 Paris Expo Porte des Versailles, France www.retromobile.com Race Retro February 23-25 Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire UK www.raceretro.com Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show March 22-24 NEC, Birmingham UK www.necrestorationshow.com Zephyr & Zodiac Owners’ Club of Melbourne 50th Anniversary March 30-April 2 Ballarat, Victoria, Australia https://zzocm.com.au Techno Classica Essen…

PAY LESS AND NEVER MISS AN ISSUE! SEE PAGE 24 Stunning show cars, perfect products and more ON SALE NOVEMBER 24! The best classic Ford tech Ex-South African circuit racer Know loads about camshafts Contents correct as we go to press, and will change… Ask for it in your friendly local newsagents, or call us now on 01959 543747 IF YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS AN ISSUE: One of the best ways to ensure you receive every issue of Classic Ford is to place an order with your local newsagent. Once set up, your copy of Classic Ford will be held for you to collect, saving you the hassle of having to scour the newsagents’ shelves for it. So don’t miss an issue — simply complete the form here and…

My name is Ben and I have a problem, I simply cannot resist an old Ford! Even more so when they have a quirk, or something about them either cool, odd or different. With my project Cortina taking far longer than I hoped and thought it would and nothing to take to Ford Fair this year, I was on my way to view a Mk2 Escort project that had caught my eye. It was a car I’ve had my eye on for a few years, originally spotting it for sale in France. The rare colour (Jade Green), originality and patina drew me in and then realising it was a super-early Mk2 only added to it. Unfortunately, it disappeared but then came up for sale again locally. A good friend, Ben…

Q Do you know if I can upgrade the carburettor on my 1100 Valencia engine, or if a twin-choke one can be fitted? Finally, do you know of any upgraded exhaust manifolds for the 1100 Valencia engine? Maxwell Jarvis Germany A The best route is to track down an old twin 36 DCNF set-up. These were available on certain German Fiesta models, and complete sets including the inlet manifold crop up on the second-hand market from time to time. The exhaust query offers up a coupe of options — both Janspeed and Peco used to manufacture an aftermarket tubular manifold for the Fiesta. These are usually around £150 second-hand but bear in mind they were produced in mild steel so it’s difficult to find one that’s not cracked or rusty.…

The Bosch K-Jetronic petrol injection system was at the heart of the Ford’s 1980s hot-hatch revolution. Though not the first petrol injection system used by Ford, K-Jetronic brought injection fuelling accuracy to mass-market status. But for many classic Ford enthusiasts fuelling has always meant carburettors. Injection is perceived as complex, and fault-finding seen as a dark art compared to dealing with a carburettor that’s playing up. The truth is different, as fuel system fault-finding on a K-Jet equipped car is definitely within the realm of us DIY mechanics. The system also has considerable scope for tuning. Our step-by-step guide shows how to tackle the more common problems the Bosch system can throw at unsuspecting owners. If your K-Jet car either won’t start or just runs badly, follow the steps here…

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 insurance specialists can offer some great-value policies. Most class a vehicle eligible for classic insurance as being over 20 or 25 years old, but some allow exceptions for modern classics, so do your research before you dismiss a classic insurance policy out of…

SHOWSTOPPERS The Classic Ford Show’s Great Unveiling may be unique in the world of outdoor events, but car manufacturers have been doing something similar (undercover, quite literally) at motor shows for decades – including Ford, of course. And while the Corsair may be celebrating its 60th birthday in 2023, this classic image dates from two years later — October 1965 — when Ford revealed the updated models to huge crowds on their massive stand at the British International Motor Show in Earl’s Court, London. While externally pretty similar to earlier versions, the new Corsairs featured not just Ford’s revolutionary Aeroflow ventilation system but also the brand-new Essex engine (in V4, 1.7 and 2-litre format), which would also power the Transit, released in the same year.…

Here are four good reasons not to miss the jam-packed next issue: 1. With the legendary Escort Rally Special recently taking place, Jeannot captures the best of the Mk1 and Mk2 action. 2. We’ll also be announcing the Classic Ford Of The Year along with a whole host of honours in our special Classic Ford Awards feature. 3. Looking to buy the iconic Corsair 2000E? Then don’t miss our in-depth expert guide — only in the January issue. 4. Plus we’ll be revealing some of the standout cars of 2023! The January 2024 issue of Classic Ford hits the newsagents’ shelves and is available to download from Friday, November 24. Why not subscribe to make sure you don’t miss it? Check out our latest offers on page 24.…

A cover gracefully glides from perfectly prepared bodywork, a crowd audibly inhales in unison before breaking into applause. These are the moments that The Great Unveiling is made for. Visitors to this year’s Classic Ford Show were blessed with an incredible line-up of show cars right across the venue and the anticipation of The Great Unveiling creates an additional buzz. It doesn’t take an ex-Boreham engineer to identify a Capri silhouette beneath a cover, but it’s fair to say that nobody was expecting Brian Davis’ stunning Mk1 to emerge. A seasoned racer who’s built and campaigned umpteen Fords since the 1970s, the roadgoing ‘Grab Capri’ homage is Brian’s labour of love and final big restoration. He’s certainly chosen to finish in style. Inspiration “I’ve always been a Ford man,” says…

As the wild winds blow in off the North Sea, whipping the spoonbills into a frenzy before whistling inland to Norfolk’s mighty oaks, an ingrained hardiness is forged within these coastal communities. Townspeople and villagers pull together to support one another, crafting local networks and time-honoured traditions, and it’s this Anglian spirit that we find woven through the very fabric of the Mk1 XR2 that’s gleaming before the lens today. Its owner, Marc Cushing, has the seaside air in his lungs – his bespoke kitchen business, The Norfolk Workshop, can be found in Cromer; the Fiesta’s bodywork was perfected just a few miles down the road in North Walsham, with the drivetrain rebuilt by another business in that same town. For Marc, the inception of this XR2 restoration project represents…

The wonderful classic motor racing event staged over the August Bank Holiday weekend at Silverstone Festival offered the perfect occasion to highlight Ford’s dominance in racing as the company celebrated 120 years of manufacture this year. The Blue Oval brand has become practically ubiquitous in the world of motorsports, with Grand Prix, GT, Touring, and even NASCAR vehicles all readily visible on the circuit. Many Ford clubs were present at the Silverstone track, which is commemorating 75 years of motorsport history. In addition, there was the usual spread of visitor attractions which included an auction, live music, a retail village and plenty of good food. There was non-stop racing action over the course of the weekend with 16 race events, and there were numerous opportunities to approach the paddock and…

The Queensland All Ford Day was held at Willowbank Raceway in July. With around 1500 Fords on show the magnitude of the heritage of Ford in Australia was clear to see. From all models of the locally produced Falcon to European small Fords, imports from the USA plus a rare Ford show car and works rally Escort, the diversity of the cars present was impressive. Organised by the Falcon GT Owners’ Club QLD there were understandably plenty of performance versions of this model on show. At the other end of the scale there was a great turnout of Cortinas, Escorts and Capris with many presented in original condition or with period modifications. There was a 1969 Falcon Surferoo on display. This was one of three show cars built by Ford…

Vernier pulleys are one a way of accurately setting the camshaft timing on your engine. Camshaft timing can be just as important as camshaft selection, as a good camshaft will be wasted if you don’t get it right. All camshaft manufacturers will specify a particular setting for their cam kits and this is the figure that will give optimum performance on a perfect engine. This is how the engine should be set up for initial testing. On a standard engine the camshaft pulley (or sprocket) will be fixed to the end of the camshaft by a set of bolts and a keyway or Woodruff key. This secures the pulley in a fixed position. Fine for a stock engine, but next to useless in a performance application — the alternative is…

Progress on the Sierra naturally slowed during the summer holiday break, but I brought in some reinforcements to ensure I was still chipping away at it. Step in my good mate Shaun, who got to work one day chopping out my old steering column mount and working out how to remount it now I had lengthened it to clear the pedal box set-up in the original location. We gained some room by spinning the column around and then Shaun knocked up a new design of mount. It’s not quite finished yet and the column will still need shortening to get the correct driving position, but it’s a good step forward. He also went about removing the old roll cage gussets, as I didn’t like how they had been fitted and…

Nigel Baker and his Mk1 Escort are no strangers to Classic Ford. This very car was featured back in August 2006 in an earlier iteration. Welcome back! The retired coachbuilder and panel beater reminded us of his history. Starting at the very beginning, Nigel bought a Prefect 107E at the tender age of 17. The bug bit early and it didn’t take long before it was sporting a 1500 GT engine, Lotus steels and disc brakes. Nigel fondly remembers buying a brand-new Mk1 Escort Mexico in 1974 from the Brighton dealership, Endeavour Motor Company. It was a big moment getting the keys to the Olympic Blue model. Over the years Blue Oval highlights on the Baker drive have included a 1966 Mustang that was built for the strip, a 1954…

There have been many fond Ford moments at the Ulster despite the inaugural rally having both Ari Vatanen and Roger Clark retire while running as Ford Motor Company entries. Porsche dominated year one and it was Russell Brooks first to get an Escort on the podium with second in 1977. Third time of asking and it was a Ford one-two with Ernest Kidney following John Taylor’s semi-works car home. One of the best known names in Irish rallying, Bertie Fisher scored his first international win at the 1982 Ulster. Feeling there was a need for legal pace notes on stage rallies, Fisher was coaxed out of a semi-retirement upon the news the codriver could carry such instructions without fear of a penalty and went on to have many more successful…

You could say Steve’s connection with Capris began by accident when in 1981 at the age of 17, he embedded his Mk1 Escort into a parked Vauxhall VX490. In desperate need of a replacement vehicle, he began to ask around at work to find out if anyone had a cheap car they were willing to part with. “By chance, one of my work colleagues had a Mk1 Capri 1600GT in Vista Orange for sale,” Steve remembers. “I bought it for a song and it fulfilled its role happily for a further six months.” Impressed by that first GT, Steve made the decision to replace it with a slightly better example of the same model, this time in Roman Bronze. “It was around this time I had my first passenger ride…

Car: Escort 1100XL Start condition: complete and original, but a non-runner Condition now: bodywork sorted, running gear being fitted up Time taken so far: 12 months Estimated date of completion: Spring 2024 Who: Jimmy Cosgrove Age: 42 Job: NHS nurse Location: Angus, UK Who: Jason Clark Age: 50 Job: mechanic Location: Angus, UK When it comes to buying your next project, ‘Buy the best example you can afford’ is a term often bandied about in classic car circles, but in the realm of classic Fords, surely ‘Buy the least rusty you can afford’ is more apt! Jason Clark certainly subscribes to this ethos and, although more than capable of cranking up the welder, he’s the first to admit that bodywork is not his thing. “I’m a full-time mechanic,” he reveals,…

The second Caffeine & Machine location has now officially opened. The Bowl in Bedfordshire follows the outfit’s first successful location near Stratford-upon-Avon, which first welcomed petrolheads in 2018. The former roadside pub on Bedford Road, Ampthill, has been lovingly reworked as a new destination for automotive enthusiasts and has been named in reference to the nearby Millbrook Proving Ground. The classic-style roadhouse diner is open daily for food and drinks — visit caffeineandmachine.com to find out more.…

The 2024 Classic Ford Show may be some six 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. HOW DO I ENTER? Reckon you’re well on the way to finishing something special in time for May 12, 2024? Email photos and details to…

How far do you drive in a normal year? The UK average is about 12,000 miles although this two-wheel-drive 1990 Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth, in its unusual factory black paint, had covered 73,472 miles when Keith Harwood bought it from the first owner, Rachael McDonald, in March 1994. Keith was actually after an RS500 when he saw the advert in the Auto Trader. “Mrs McDonald also had an RS500 but that one was too much money,” remembers Keith. “I liked the Sapphire Cosworth, it had great performance and was a nice car to drive.” Keith drove the Sierra as his second car for the next six years. “Although it never went out in the rain or saw snow or salt. I really looked after the Cosworth and did oil changes…

Kevin ‘Kev’ Sammut From: UK Car: Mk1 Escort Kev’s unique Escort can best be described as his signature car and built exactly to his requirements. This RS2000-inspired creation started life as a 1971 1300E, taking five years to restore, upgrade and renovate and he still isn’t done with it yet. Originally from Malta, Kev has had Mk1 Escorts in his blood since he was young, and the iconic model has been a mainstay in his life ever since. With a brief deviation with a Mitsubishi EVO, he soon missed the analogue feel of the Escort and tracked down this car and made it his very own. Built as a cruiser, with several creature comforts, including power-assisted steering, hydraulic clutch and electric windows — operated by a touch of the original…

Recently, I have had quite a few requests to test a twin-choke, downdraught Weber DGV or DGAS carb against a single, sidedraught Weber DCOE. In fact, I tried a 40DCOE on a Lynx manifold against a 32/36DGV some time ago. There was next to nothing in it, though the DCOE gave a small torque improvement lowdown. However, the test engine was starting to show oil pressure loss so I abandoned testing. That made the test slightly inconclusive — the sidedraught didn’t pick up power, but could that of been related to the oil pressure loss? However, I know it wasn’t! The single 40DCOE wasn’t worth fitting in place of a 32/36. I found myself with a rare few hours of dyno time spare the other week, so I decided to…

Ford’s focus on family transport was sharper than ever with the February 1956 unveiling of the Mk2 Consul, Zephyr and Zodiac. With the original version still selling strongly, the surprise launch of the new and improved Mk2 underlined Ford’s commitment to UK households, while the contemporary styling of its latest model saw crisp, clean lines replace the original’s ageing curves. While the Consul and Zephyr had their merits, it was the range-topping Zodiac that was the most desirable of the Three Graces, as Ford had coined the Mk2 line-up in homage to the trio’s elegant appearance. Like the Zephyr, the Zodiac benefitted from an enhanced version of the straight-six motor that had seen service in the Mk1. A modest increase in bore and stroke raised capacity to 2553cc and there…

The Classic Ford Tour returns for 2024 and next year we’re off to the Isle Of Man for a jam-packed classic and sports car weekend. Taking place over five days from May 16-20, the tour costs from £429 per person and includes four nights bed and breakfast in a 3-star hotel, ferry crossings, incredible closed-road runs on the famous Sloc Mountain Road, access to the TT pitlanes for a photo-shoot opportunity, admission to the Isle Of Man Motor Museum, afternoon tea at the famous Creg-Ny-Baa, a classic car meet in Jurby on the Sunday Morning, full road book and rally plate. Phew! Interested? Call tour organisers, Scenic Car Tours on 01732 879153 now to reserve your place or go to https://www.sceniccartours.com/classic-ford-tours The tour costs from £429 per person – to…