Text sent David.
The Green 4 door on Gumtree looks more damaged than first appearances suggest.
 

looks like the 2 door got away.
I missed it by one day it sold yesterday and is now going to be turned into a rally car.
 
Lesson learnt for next time.

an update if anyones interested.. I've grown attached to my kidneys and right arm, so it's likely a coupe isn't going to happen. What little is around is seems to be either just a door handle and bootlid masquerading as a complete car, or just totally shagged beyond my limited abilities and budget.
 
I might have come across an ex 2lt 4 door, missing only the engine, and seats. It sort of suits me, as I can have plenty of time to find an engine while buggering the body up further.
 
So since the forum is pretty quiet at the moment, some dumb questions I'd value your comments on:
-Since its got no engine anyhow, time to go zetec or 2ltr (its a manual shell)? For the guys who have done zetec, do you have your cars registered/insured that way as such and was it an effort to get approval?
- My idea was to recreate a rallye pack , bonus is it has the rubber bootlid spoiler (except now it will be 4 door version). A big part of the appeal of what I'd hope to get back was that typical 2 litre rally sound (bwaar? How do you type the sound:)) Anyhow, would that traditional throaty sound be lost if the engine was changed to the zetec?.
 

are you taking shopping orders whools?

This came last night. !!
After advice on the difficulty for 2 door parts, plus looking at how cool Misha's and other 4 doors on here have turned out, I went for this 78 2 litre which was on gumtree, a basic straight car to start with for a reasonable price. The aim is to recreate a rally pack, over the next few years. I haven't had much time to go over it yet,pissing down with rain last night,  but it is basically missing the engine. It came with 2 radiators, extractors, alternators, air filter, electronic ignition,spare seat, 4 speed gearbox and a box of new gaskets so far. So on the wish list is bumperettes, minilights and the rubber rally pack front spoiler ( which I cant find the right one sofar new). The body looks like someone has done the heater cowl, and I expect to at least replace the rear arch. Floors and subframe looked ok and unlike a few Ive checked recently, hasn't been crunched.  Battery has been relocated to the boot and it has my must have go faster rubber spoiler. I stuck an old  minilight against it just for looks, and its tuffer already :) 
If anyones upgrading their pinto later on or knows of a rebuildable block.
The original fusebox looks like it has been bypassed, but I haven't followed the loom yet to see where a replacement might be.
Finally, every issues there's a white 2 door ad for a supplier in Classic Ford magazine that just gets me everytime,being a 2 door, it has grp4 arches, and what look like deepdish 13" minilights with good profile old school rubber. So dumb question, but I'm assuming there's no arch extensions available for a 4 door?
 
I forgot how small these cars actually are, even compared to the Capri.
 

Looks like a reasonably good starting point. I'm still deciding whether I'm going to rebuild the 4 door i have here as well as the 2 door, if i decide not to I'll let you know. It has complete running pinto in it

Well done, persistence always wins in the end. Don't forget to start up a project thread, always good to watch them being revived...
Cheers Drew

Ha Drew, my progress wont make for much of a thread though, more action if you watch grass grow. I will post anything though if its newsworthy!
 
I'm planning to try and wait until many other things are done first ( at least the new shed), so it was really more a matter of finding something before prices continued to go sick. If theres any opportunities that arise in the meantime like Tickesckys possible motor, then thas an added bonus.
Thanks for the tips guys,I'm realising  this place has some good people who don't mind to help out others with their knowledge and support.

grill refurb on a budget.
it actually looks better than the photos show, plus I ran outta time before work to remove all the tape
 

Those grilles are a bitch to mask perfectly. Is your FORD lettering removable? Mine isn't damn it!