Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2024 i Classic Ford

The demographic of classic car drivers is getting younger, with more than a quarter of them now aged under 40, according to research from Hagerty. And with more Millennial and Gen Z buyers out there, there’s been a shift in the way so-called modern classics are perceived — as reflected by the return of Hagerty’s RADwood festival celebrating 1980s and 1990s machinery, plus the launch of new value index from the company charting the values of such vehicles. Hagerty’s findings show that 27 per cent of classic car buyers are aged under 40, up from 21 per cent four years ago. And that information is not taken from a small sample; Hagerty insure around 2 million classic and collectable cars worldwide, and this demographic data is from those insured clients.…

Almost 20 years ago the first Classic Ford Show was held on a sunny Sunday in July at Santa Pod Raceway. A lot has changed since 2004, but — a couple of years’ enforced break due to Covid aside — we’re pleased to say that the show has taken place every year since, and one thing definitely hasn’t changed — your enthusiasm. Without it, there would be no cars, no clubs, no show, no magazine even, and we’re hugely grateful for your support. For 2024 and the 20th anniversary, we returned for the third time to the South Of England Event Centre and we’re pleased to say that we’re really starting to settle in to this new venue. It’s different from the previous two homes of the Classic Ford Show…

Someone, somewhere was the first person to look at a Cosworth YB and think, ‘That would be very easy to fit into a Pinto’d Escort, but I don’t want any of that fuel-injected, turbocharged gubbins.’ Removing the primary source of extra oomph to then spend more money attempting to replace that power is not an obvious train of thought, but if that visionary were here now, we’d buy them a pint. Or 12. Trends change, tastes evolve and technologies advance, but we reckon that a YB into a classic Ford remains one of the best transplants around. Big power, turbocharged YB’d Fords may offer the best of both worlds with speed and driveability in a wide range of conditions, but there’s something inherently special about a naturally-aspirated lump. Whether it’s…

It’s hard to believe, but just two weeks prior to the Start of Season Fordmeet at Squires café near Leeds, the event had to be postponed due to a waterlogged field. With so much planning and promotion taking place behind the scenes, the last thing organiser Simon Shipley and his crew wanted to do was cancel the eagerly anticipated event entirely. Fortunately, the right decision was made and with a now-unusual let-up in rainfall and a promising forecast, the famous Squires showfield dried out for round two with the bonus of sunshine for the 700 plus attendees. While this event was open to any car wearing a Ford badge, the favourable weather brought out a healthy number of classics resulting in a wide selection of Escorts, Cortinas, Fiestas, Granadas, Capris,…

PAY LESS AND NEVER MISS AN ISSUE! SEE PAGE 22 Contents correct as we go to press, and will change… Happy birthday RS Turbo ON SALE July 5! How to pick the right diff ratio One for the (fast) road Modern classic saved Meanwhile, get your classic Ford fix at https://linktr.ee/classicford Ask for it in your friendly local newsagents, or call us now on 01959 543747…

What’s been done this month: Refreshed the Orion’s interior, ordered up some new numberplates Next on the to-do list: Make the Orion even more 1990s-spec Thanks to: Retro Plates, www.instagram.com/retroplates Fordmax Car Breakers, www.facebook.com/fordmaxcarbreakers Last month my budget Orion project raffle win was made to drive a lot better with various fixes, but this instalment is one which I couldn’t wait any longer for — making the interior right. Especially as I had the Classic Ford Show to get ready for! For a low-mileage car with a glowing MoT history it was unreal how bad some aspects of the Orion’s interior were. Ripped and stained seats, a driver’s door card that looks like a dog had used it as a chew toy, and a few too many missing and broken…

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…

HEADING SOUTH With the summer holidays almost upon us, we felt it appropriate to rewind to 1967 and this image of cars making their way south through France for a getaway. In front of the French-plated truck, the main point of interest has to be this 1965 Mk1 Cortina Estate using a custom front bumper and a slightly-worrying system of ropes to transport a small sailing boat, and at least two people, presumably with all their luggage. Sadly no details on how long the car lasted after this ordeal are held by the DVLA.…

It’s better to travel well than to arrive’ someone much more enlightened than ourselves once proclaimed. And we have to agree. For while classic Ford ownership can be immensely satisfying, having one perfectly usable but stuck in the garage or lock-up, or parked up gathering dust is a bit pointless, isn’t it? Whether it’s heading to the continent later this summer for the European Ford Event or even the Nürburgring Nordschleife (see page 50), retracing the steps (well, tyre tracks) of your favourite TV detective (above and page 36), or just going for a drive for the hell of it, there isn’t much that can top grabbing the keys to your classic Ford – especially if it’s been fettled to make the most of the experience. All of the feature…

HARRY POTTER ANGLIA SLOT CAR £53.99 Pendle Slot Racing It was only a matter of time, wasn’t it? Scalextric are now producing a Harry Potter Edition 1:32-scale Anglia 105E complete with Ron and Harry inside, capturing the charm and enchantment of the beloved film series on your favourite slot car track. Contact: www.pendleslotracing.co.uk GOT A PRODUCT YOU'D LIKE US TO FEATURE IN CF? EMAIL THE DETAILS TO:CLASSICFORD.ED@KELSEY.CO.UK ALLOY RADIATORS From £190 Burton Power Burton Power is now a dealer for the Coolex range of radiators which can be fitted to the majority of classic Fords. Most are available in a choice of black or polished finishes. Fords catered for include Anglias, Escorts, Capris, Sierras and Cortinas. Prices start from £190 for a Mk1 or Mk2 Escort or Anglia 105E unit.…

There have been numerous small-screen police detectives driving Blue Ovals over the years. Ford supplied Zephyrs to Z Cars in the 1960s, Consuls and Granadas to The Sweeney in the 1970s and The Professional’s Capris. Fondly remembered from the 1990s is Spender, a detective drama that generally eschewed car chases and flashy stunts for gritty realism and subtle humour. Spender, played by Jimmy Nail, was quietly-spoken and reflective. He’d fight — and usually win — but only if he absolutely had to. His understated, dark-hued Sapphire RS Cosworths suited the undercover Spender and, like many of those television detective’s cars, against the odds one of those Sapphires still exists… “I’ve owned a couple of Cosworths in the past,” explains the 4x4’s owner Dan Lillywhite, “and a friend bought one that…

JUNE Cosworth Drivers’ Club Day June 8 Hever Castle, Kent UK www.facebook.com Players Classic June 8-9 Goodwood Motor Circuit, Chichester, UK http://players-show.com Ford Capri Club Nederland Internationale Meeting June 14-16 Beekbergen, The Netherlands www.fordcapriclubnederland.nl Squires Classic Fordmeet June 16 Squires Cafe, Leeds UK www.facebook.com Ford Nationals June 23 British Motor Museum, Gaydon, UK www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk Cortina MK3 Club National Weekend June 29-30 Smeatons Lakes Campsite, Nottinghamshire UK www.cortinamk3club.com Wonderland Classic & Sports Car Festival June 29-30 Ferry Farm Fields, UK www.capriclub2000.co.uk JULY CF Classic Ford August 2024 issue on sale July 5 https://linktr.ee/classicford RS Combe July 6 Castle Combe Circuit, UK www.rscombe.com Kent’s All-Ford Show July 7 Aylesford Priory, UK www.kentsallfordshow Goodwood Festival of Speed July 11-14 Goodwood House, Chichester, UK www.goodwood.co.uk Classic Nostalgia July 20-21 Shelsey Walsh Hillclimb, UK www.classicnostalgia.co.uk XR…

Email hi-res images to classicford.ed@kelsey.co.uk or post them up on our Facebook page.…

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 if you’re not completely confident of your ability to complete any task safely, leave it to the experts. The A B C of tuning D is for… Dry sump Often found on race engines, a dry sump kit improves the complete lubrication system. The original oil pump is replaced with a belt-driven external unit to pull all the oil from the sump and into a separate tank, normally fitted in the boot. The sump is replaced with a…

What’s been done this month: Fitted suspension and wheels, painted the Estate Next on the to-do list: Try to mate the Crossflow engine and Cortina ’box Thanks to: Molotow Belton Premium Spray Paints I love a good deadline! It focuses my mind, and justifies me not doing the things on my long to-do list. Simon is the one who often sets me deadlines, and this time the request came: ‘Can you bring a project car to the Classic Ford Show?’ That call set me planning a very aspirational list of things I wanted to get done before I put my two-door estate on display. Looking back now I’m amazed how unrealistic that list was! I went on to reduce that list just about every day as I fell further behind…

During the optimistic 1970s, throwaway servicing arrived in the motor industry. Few industries were more guilty than makers of aftermarket car parts. In came sealed-for-life parts and out went the grease nipple. In many cases, sealed-for-life equalled a short life expectancy, coupled with lower production costs. This was brilliant for manufacturers and vendors, but rubbish for car owners. Today, such parts can still be found on otherwise well-cared for vehicles, so the only sensible course of action is to replace them. Apart from steering and suspension joints, one of the best examples of this penny-pinching is the propshaft’s universal joint. Vibration can develop when wear occurs to the needle roller bearings and their associated tracks. This may only be slight at first, but if your classic Ford is buzzing or…

Van: 1975 Mk1 Ford Transit Start condition: Fair condition with rusty sills Condition now: stripped shell, converted to right-hand-drive, painted and dry built Time taken so far: 40 days (with five men on the job) Estimated date of completion: June 2024 When it comes to finding the right car parts and accessories, there’s probably very few of us out there that haven’t let our keyboards take the strain by tapping the name of our desired item into eBay’s trusty search bar. What would’ve previously meant hours of phone calls and trawling through various websites or magazine adverts to find a supplier of the particular part we’re hunting down, now takes literally seconds until a whole smorgasbord of options are listed before our eyes. And it’s not just second-hand items either,…

THE PROFESSIONALS’ CAPRIS We can’t prove it, but the reason Ford continued to build the Capri well into the 1980s was down to this cult TV series, as many a budding boy racer slapped down a deposit on a Mk3 3.0S after watching main characters, William Bodie and Ray Doyle, who worked for the British intelligence department CI5 (Criminal Intelligence 5), screeching around north London. And before he joined Bodie with his own 3.0S, Doyle was also frequently behind the wheel of a Diamond White Mk2 RS2000. Watch it: Apple TV Where are they now: all eight Capris used in the series are believed to have survived LIFE ON MARS CORTINA As a modern day take on the classic 1970s cop show, Life on Mars was always destined to have…

It was back in 1982 when Steve Wilkinson first entered the motor trade, working as a mechanic for his local main dealership. This was a year that proved significant not just for Steve, but also Ford’s much-loved Cortina as production of the popular repmobile and family car was about to give way to the all-new Sierra. “My dad owned numerous Mk1 and Mk2 Cortinas before being swayed towards the Vauxhall Victor,” Steve recalls. “This was quite an unusual step to make, though I always felt I had more of a connection with his Cortinas.” After spending a few years fixing customers’ cars for a living, Steve made the move into sales, and he’s remained in that trade for the last four decades. “I found the sales side of things more…

The Valve Bouncers & Gear Grinders Gathering was an event organised by the Hunter British Ford Group to get classic Ford owners from their club and the Ford RS Owners’ Club (Australia) to meet up in Newcastle with some local motorsport identities. The special guests included Wayne Bell, who was a rally driver with the factory Holden Dealer Team for many years, and Dave Boddy who had been his navigator. Bell subsequently was recruited to build rally cars for Hyundai and oversaw the expansion of their rally program. George Garth was a proficient racing driver and raced in the Bathurst enduro many times in smaller capacity cars. Darrell Peattie and Trevor Peterson are both locals who drove race cars but Trevor is better known as a guru on small Ford…

Kev From: UK Cars: Mk2 Cortina, Anglia 100E, Mk4 Escort XR3i Kev has a classic Ford for every occasion with this stunning trio. Over to him: “I’ve had the Mk2 Cortina a couple of years — when I bought it, it looked OK but I decided to strip the interior, take the engine out and go through it to detail the underside and add some nice new bits. Since my ownership I’ve fully rebuilt the engine and fitted an uprated oil pump, fast road cam, heavy-duty valve springs, a new intake manifold that allowed the twin 45s to fit, and added a stainless exhaust manifold. While the engine was out, I painted the bay and fitted new brakes and new suspension arms with a heavy-duty anti-roll bar, then added anti-tramp…

Info Contacts: Revotec 01491 824424 www.revotec.com Rally Design 01227 792792 www.rallydesign.co.uk A while back we fitted a Sierra Cosworth radiator to a Mk1 Capri. The logic was, if it will cool a 300 bhp turbo Sierra it should stand a chance of cooling the mild, small-block Ford V8 that’s powering the Capri. And if doesn’t then there’s a world of upgrade alloy radiators already available that will bolt in its place. With that sorted what we needed then was a thermostatically-controlled fan to cool it. But we’ve had plenty of V8 experience before and know you need as much cooling potential as possible — especially sat in traffic where airflow can be restricted. So we’ve opted to fit two fans — and besides, our Sierra radiator (the tatty one shown…

You never forget your first time, do you? For so many of us, the first car we owned is the one that’s clung to most tightly in our affections, the one we increasingly yearn for in later life as the desire grows to relive those halcyon days of youth. For Nathan De’Ath, it was a Fiesta Supersport that made those magical memories in his formative years — and appropriately enough, this particular model was something of a first-time love for Ford itself, too. Back in 1979, the product planners at Ford of Europe were starting to think about the potential and the commercial viability of creating a sporting variant of the Mk1 Fiesta. They first dipped a toe in the water by soft-launching a pair of S models, available with…

With the Mk2 Capri losing its sporting appeal, Ford restored a bit of performance to the range with the debut of the S version at the 1975 Geneva Motor Show. Complete with gold alloy wheels, distinctive striping and tinted glass, the S was announced for the UK in early June. Better still, it wasn’t just a styling exercise, the S also benefiting from a modified chassis. The spring rates were returned to the harder settings of earlier models and there were Bilstein rear dampers, firmer front struts, and beefed-up anti-roll bars. Power was provided by the same engines as the GT model, with the 2-litre version proving particularly popular with its blend of strong performance and affordable running costs. During its transition from a limited-edition to a full production model,…