2019/02/17 07:16:35
fpv_escort
Hi all,
 
Managed to track down this car a few years ago and acquire it. The car was built as a "street car" (category in Tasmania- basically improved production) but ran as a sports sedan on a number of occasions. The car campaigned in around 1983 and was raced for around 10+ years around Tasmania. There's even some footage of it here- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgYcqt-4Pfk&t=334s
 
This has been my biggest resto ever with lots of rust repairs, repairing and grafting of fibreglass flares and soon hopefully painting. The car ran a dry sumped 2 litre pinto, so at this stage will build it as a wet sump to save on costs. I plan to restore the car back to it's guise when it ran as a sports sedan (Group U) to hopefully give it some more value.
 
The project has slowed a little as I'm doing some racing in my other escorts (Group N 1300's) but hopefully will get back to it shortly.
 
p.s Please don't judge my dodgy rottiserie or my welding, I'm a complete novice!!

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2019/02/17 07:31:52
fpv_escort
Work started in a pretty undesirable area (no concrete- but level) in our new property. Lots of cutting out rust and welding in new panels.
 
As an ex race car there were plenty of surprises and a few dodgy jobs but the shell was pretty structurally sound.

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2019/02/17 07:35:57
fpv_escort
The outer sills and driver's side floor was absolutely shot so ordered some new panels from the UK and has a crack at fitting them. As a first timer attempting the outer skills there was lots of research + reading other's posts on how to tackle it. Was reasonably happy with the outcome.

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2019/02/17 07:50:04
fpv_escort
Roger Miller wrote a brilliant article on fitting fibreglass bubbles onto a mk1 escort- I had previously paid bodyworks guys to fit them to previous cars but why not have a crack. A great read and very insightful on how to prevent cracking and how to ensure the flares are bonded to the steel. I really wanted to be true to the car as supposedly the flares were bought from Bob Holden in the late 70's. The flares were cracked and damaged in some places but i managed to repair some areas and reuse them on the car.
 
I also fixed them back onto the same mounting holes on the car (probably would've looked a little tougher with them mounted further down on the car) to maintain the originality. 

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2019/02/17 07:57:33
fpv_escort
Pretty much where I am to date with the car. Experimenting with colours to suit the original paintwork (at this stage I've got Vixen- BA Falcon) and lots of rubbing the guide coats.
 
 
Even managed to track down a set of original magnesium 13x8 globes which is what the car ran back in the day. The wheels need a fair amount of work but hopefully they'll come up a treat.
 
Also managed to get the garage concreted which has transformed the area.

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2019/02/17 15:00:37
Drewdog
Awesome car, love seeing these racers revived, lots of history there. Sports sedans would have to be my favourite class.
I'm gathering your going with the red and yellow livery?
Keep the pics coming. Cheers Drew.
2019/02/17 21:53:12
Bonus
Nice project . Glad this is another being saved.
As for a complete novice , not sure on that one .
Looks to me you know what your doing . 

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