Timewarp Ford Escort Mk2 1.6 Ghia

It's been a while, in fact far, far too long since we've posted anything up. So it's time to do something about it! It's not New Year but time for a new resolution to post more cars, but with a little less information than before so that we stick to it.

This is what inspired us to get back into gear.

OK. It's not an RS2000, it's not even a Mexico. But it is what I drove back in 1986, when I was a mere 18 year old. Even though insurance for teenagers was far more affordable back then, anything with an RS badge on it was beyond affordable unless you were earning big money (and stacking shelves in the local supermarket was not big money, merely petrol and beer money). Plenty of telephone research (no confused.com, internet or even mobile phones back then) revealed that the legendary Ford 1.6 litre "Kent" engine as fitted to the MK1 Mexico was insurable when fitted to the Mk2 1.6 Ghia as it came in at mere Group 4. Supposedly the "Sport" model was also considered Group 4 by some insurers but not by those willing to insure a spotty school boy with one years N.C.B.

SCA153V might not have been the Mk1 Mexico I really wanted but it was an Escort and, thanks to a twin venturi Webber carburettor and 4 branch exhaust manifold, made a whopping 86 BHP. Being  rear wheel drive and pretty light weight, care was needed on roundabouts. The, now coveted, driftability of the Escort was in truth a hindrance to a fairly novice driver.

The good news was that all the Ghia models were made in Germany at the Saarlouis plant and seemed to be receive far better rust-proofing than the Halewood produced Sport, GL and L models. The only rusty panel on mine was a front wing which had been replaced after an accident at sometime. This was replaced during my ownership, as were the strut tops, which gave me my first experience of spraying and paint matching.

The one downside to the Ghia model was the interior. Resplendent in brown velour and with a lovely slab of (what I think might have been genuine) wood where lower models made do with  plastic, it was a think of beauty, as long as you were over 50 years of age. In truth I didn't really care - it was comfortable, had a radio/cassette player and that engine and rear wheel drive made up for everything else!

So what about this one then? With only 2 owners and 73,594 miles under it's belt it's in pretty much showroom condition. Ziebarted from new, it's had two new front wings in the recent past but is reportedly a show winning car.  Unfortunately we can't tell you the price because it's sold but full details otherwise can be found here - Ford Escort Mk2 Ghia from KGF Classic Cars

What we do know is that prices of these are rising fast now that RS Models are typically over £10,000 for any reasonable examples. And thanks to their extra build quality, Ghia models seem to be relatively plentiful compared to other non RS models. For some unknown reason many of the Ghia Models sold were gold. Mine was, and looked identical to the one pictured on the left, other than having a tobacco rather than black vinyl roof.  Happy Days!