***"SHOWOFF OF THE WEEK (SOTW)" JULY 28 - AUGUST 3, 2008***
I THANK ALL MY FRIENDS HERE FOR BELIEVING IN MY NIMBLE WAGON.
CHECK OUT ALL OF MY PAGES. I KNOW YOU'LL ENJOY THEM.
PAGE 1, READ MY STORY ABOUT HER AND CHECK OUT MANY NICE PICTURES .
PAGE 2 SEE HOW MY WAGON LOOKED LIKE WHEN I GOT IT PLUS MANY MORE NICE PICTURES
PAGE 3 IS MY REGULARLY UPDATED WAZUPS PAGE .
PAGE 4 IS MY EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS PAGE .
PAGE 5 - MY WHEEL CENTER CAPS STORY
PAGE 6 IS THE OTHER ESCORT MARK 1's AND MARK 2's IN OUR GROUP .
AND FINALLY, PAGE 7 IS MY FUNNY PAGE .
Page 1: My "LOVE AFFAIR" with my car, story / description of restoration, and pictures, pictures, pictures...
I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED BY WAGONS SINCE I WAS A YOUNG BOY. I SIMPLY LOVE THOSE LONG ROOFS AND FORM. AND TALK ABOUT THE SPACE AND VERSATILITY THEY COULD OFFER.
PLEASE READ ON to know how interesting it was before I was able to drive my car...
***IF YOU'RE QUITE BUSY TO READ EVERYTHING, JUST READ THE BOLD TYPED ONES AND YOU'LL SEE THE PICTURE MORE OR LESS***
When I first saw this car stacked in the garage of its original owner several years ago (in 2000), I knew I really wanted it. Because aside from being an Escort Mark 1 and not having been in the hands of different owners,..
...IT IS A WAGON...
However, it was in a TOTALLY RUSTED AND TERRIBLE STATE then that EVERYTHING had to be repaired and lots of body parts were missing. Front and rear bumpers, front grille, tail lights, rear side window glasses, front door quarter window assemblies, rear seats, all emblems, etc., etc...Aside from these, the engine had already ceased.
As I expected, it was an arduous task of THREE LONG YEARS that I went through as I brought it back to what it is now. It took a full 6 months and needed 5 pcs. of 8' X 4' galvanized metal sheets to repair and re-fabricate the body alone.
Looking for the needed body parts was the hardest that I practically jumped with joy everytime I found them one by one. From the bumpers, to the grill, to the tail lights, down to the emblems, etc.
Changed the rear end with a 3:54 ratio taken from an old 2-door Mark 2 because the original 4:7 in it was badly damaged when I got the car and made a lot of noise and vibrations.
Also had to custom fit / adopt a propeller shaft taken out of an old Datsun 200C sedan. Thanks to my good machinist, he did a great job on it.
Installed an 85-watt resistor-type alternator to do away with the old voltage regulator and have ample power supply too.
I then finally lowered the car 2" to give it more character and a sportier stance.
LOOK AT HER NOW...
MY 1972 FORD ESCORT MARK ONE ESTATE...
After having that Olympic Blue paint and Dark Blue stripes for seven years now...I'd say it was well worth it...
...SHE STILL COULD ATTRACT SOME AMOUNT OF ATTENTION...
...For me, it's MORE THAN A FEELING!!! ...
I LOVE THE WAY THE TAILGATE HOLDS ITSELF UP WITHOUT ANY VISIBLE SUPPORTS...TALK ABOUT OLD-STYLE MECHANISMS...I'M GLAD IT STILL WORKS PERFECTLY!...
Other works done?
Did some setups in audio system with two 10" subwoofers and two 6" X 9" 350-watt speakers (and some "secrets") hooked up to a simple head unit that's enough to make my rearview mirror vibrate and create some fun.
Replaced the steering wheel for better grip and feel but kept the original one.
Maintained the original front seats. Had them re-padded and reupholstered.
Fabricated the rear seats since it was missing when I got the car.
With these came new headliners, carpets and sidings .
Installed a pair of Fanfaren Horns and Fiamm Air Horns
All these and many more works were done before I was finally able to sit behind the wheel of this wagon...
THE CYCLE OF OUR "PASSION FOR WHEELS"...lol...FUNNY BUT TRUE...
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL...
Door handle and my rear wheel...
Original foglamps (with Ford oval logo on the lens) and rear Escort emblem...
Chrome fender-mounted side mirrors left and right...
Wheels with "makeshift" centercaps...
Replica of the original "OFFICIAL LICENSED PRODUCT" sticker on the dashboard corner...
Front quarter window and original front fender side emblem...
Shots of my front hood showing the F O R D emblems, foglamps, and aluminum grille...
Rear tail lights (are they hard-to-find!)...
Chromed rear vent cover...
Roof antenna base and original gas cap (thanks, Cris)...
Wheels now with original center caps...(check out the center caps story on page 5)
Angle shots of the face...
A nice shot of the RS Stripes...
DO YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN FIND THIS "SEXY GAL"? SHE LEFT ME WITHOUT EVEN SAYING GOODBYE...lol...I HOPE SHE HASN'T TRANSFORMED INTO A MERMAID YET...lol...
SOME INTERIOR PICS...
Notice how close the pedals are for my size 11 feet?...lol...
and also my friend "BLUE RABBIT" hanging on in there by the passenger side?...
NOW I KNOW WHERE THE GREAT, MULTI-TITLED COACH GETS ALL HIS ENERGY AND INSPIRATION...lol...
THE REAR SEAT was missing when I got my wagon. We had to fabricate it...with a WOODEN FRAME and SOFA SPRINGS...
CUSTOM FOLDABLE TRUNK COMPARTMENT COVER so I won't have to tidy up my trunk all the time 'coz I'm not a "trunk-tidy" guy...lol...
OLD SCHOOL THIRD BRAKE LIGHTS mounted on the rear windshield... Nice! And kinda hard to find now...
HOW TO MAKE MEN SMILE FOR THE CAMERA?...MEET MY "OFTENTIMES VERY CARELESS" OFFICIAL CAR PHOTOGRAPHER...lol...
SEE HOW MY CARELESS PHOTOGRAPHER'S "INATTENTIVENESS" TO DETAILS HAVE DESTROYED OTHERWISE NICE FAMILY PHOTOS?...lol...
Future Plans?
Dropping in an Airconditioning System into the car to make it more comfortable to drive around. And installing a Pertronix electronic ignition for better engine efficiency. Also might have to do some upgrades in the brake system to give the car better stopping power. I like the way she goes but nervous about the way she stops...lol...
NEVER EVER LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOUR WAGON...
BEFORE BECOMING SOTW, MY WAGON HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN THE "TOP FORD ESCORT RIDE" HERE FOR MONTHS...
..."TOP FORD RIDE" SEVERAL TIMES...
...AND HAS BEEN AMONG THE "TOP OVERALL RIDES" TOO...
***PAGE 2 SHOWS YOU HOW MY WAGON LOOKED LIKE WHEN I GOT IT, AND ALSO MANY MORE NICE PICTURES THAT WERE TAKEN AS IT WENT ALONG THROUGH THESE YEARS. CHECK IT OUT!***
