Mk1 & 2 escorts - what are my options?

[Andyfish2000 78]

I would like to build myself one of each, but apart from the kamtec shells, i don't know what else is available for bodies and wheels so am,y help is appreciated please. 

Thanks

[ploots 155]

I shall watch this with interest as I want to build a mk1 escort in the future, I've seen a few on ebay absolutely stunning but a rediculas price in my eyes, good luck 👍

[Juhunio 1170]

Check out https://landlmodels.co.uk 

The shells seem to be pretty good for the money, wheel options aren’t always totally clear (or in stock) but lots of ideas at least 

[Doc Hollywood 156]

I am also very interested in this thread as I were thinking of doing a MK2 ford escort on a TL01 chassis as I like the look of a ford escort. I had a thought for the wheels Tamiya mini light wheels are about right perhaps, you could spray them any colour. or there are people selling 4 spokes on eBay and minilights but don't know how good they are

[Superluminal 1544]

Your other option is about five billion pounds on ebay judging by what some of the recent ones on ebay have been going for

[Mad Ax 2973]

+1 for L&L Models - quality is not quite that of Tamiya but it's very good, prices are about right and their range is fab (and seems to be growing all the time).  They've had trouble getting stock in this year but seem to have a full house at the mo - I'm tempted to bag an extra few bodies for myself  

[TwistedxSlayer 1010]

Not read any of the thread.

 

Just prefer my escorts to be blonde 🤣🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

[Superluminal 1544]

1 hour ago, TwistedxSlayer said:

Not read any of the thread.

 

Just prefer my escorts to be blonde 🤣🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

Ones with the larger rear?

 

[Superluminal 1544]

Looking for that pic id fotgotton how cool the xr3i looked with the egg poachers.

Cant remember the last time i saw one but it doesnt feel like that long ago i was at college and they were all over the place

[Mad Ax 2973]

11 minutes ago, Superluminal said:

Ones with the larger rear?

I like big boots and I cannot lie

[martinjpayne 209]

You couldn't do worse than a set of these for that old school look...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EZRL2130-Cerchi-Escort-RS/162443169430

[svenb 1712]

26 minutes ago, Mad Ax said:

I like big boots and I cannot lie

I for one enjoy a escort with a nice bonnet 

[topforcein 1319]

18 hours ago, martinjpayne said:

You couldn't do worse than a set of these for that old school look...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EZRL2130-Cerchi-Escort-RS/162443169430

or you could just get the hpi ones with the hpi slicks to match like i did

[Carmine A 1300]

On 8/14/2020 at 6:46 AM, Juhunio said:

Check out https://landlmodels.co.uk 

The shells seem to be pretty good for the money, wheel options aren’t always totally clear (or in stock) but lots of ideas at least 

Lots of nice choices... Not a lot IN stock. 😖  Do really like the options, not available here in the Colonies!! 

The £64 question - does anyone know if they ship to the U.S.??

[yogi-bear 1697]

Retro Racing was producing some shells a few years ago, not too sure if he's doing it anymore.

or how much work are you willing to do? There are some options to 3D print yourself a shell, but a lot of work. 

 

you need to do a lot of smoothing too

 

and there are many other variants available, I have a Mk 1 but haven't printed it, here is a Cortina as well,

 

 

[Novamadcars 113]

That cortina looks great 👍 

[No Slack 102]

The Cortina shell is nice. 

[yogi-bear 1697]

The Cortina is a very classic looking car, one of my favourites. But the issue with that body is that is too narrow for most RC chassis, so at some stage I'll work out what do about it. Thats a long time away though, I'd like to finish off the Mk 1 and 2 Escorts first.

[Carmine A 1300]

13 hours ago, yogi-bear said:

The Cortina is a very classic looking car, one of my favourites. But the issue with that body is that is too narrow for most RC chassis, so at some stage I'll work out what do about it. Thats a long time away though, I'd like to finish off the Mk 1 and 2 Escorts first.

You're WINNING, Mate! 😁

Yes, it will be a LOT of WORK before it becomes a RC Body. I've messed with 3D Printed Parts for a while. Done the filling, sanding, Primer, sanding, filling, sanding, Primer, sanding.... ETC.!!! 😖

Never tried anything as ambitious as a whole Body!  But I'd really like to. I'm plopped into a rather grim position..... Never had a 3D Printer (and STILL feeling that I'm the ONLY Person left in the Hobby - without a 3D Printer!!! 😞😢) 

Hopefully next year...  There's NOBODY living anywhere near me that I know with a 3D Printer. The Library does have one... but it's over 8 years old , and CRAP.  There are Services in the U.S. that will Print Files for you. They're expensive, and I really don't have it.

......... So I WAIT.

Frankly I'd love to do a Mk.II Escort. Ford ROBBED us Yanks with the Escort.  You Guys in the UK got a FUN, quick, decent Handling and REAR Wheel Drive Car!!! 😳😁 

WE poor slobs got an Escort too................... A TINNY, CHEAP, SLOW AF, Poor Handling, FRONT Wheel Drive Car!! 😖😡😢  (THINK I'm kidding??  0 to 60 ........ 26 SECONDS!!! 😭😞) 

Honestly, I'd have two choices. Both I've had the high Pleasure of actually Driving whilst in England on passes whilst Stationed in Germany, almost 30 years ago.... The Ford Escort Cosworth (which I believe you simply call it the "Cossie") .....  And the Ford Sierra (not quite as fast, but FUN!) Shockingly, Ford DID give us that one... But SOME Genius in Marketing THOUGHT the Name for ours should be the "MERKUR XR4Ti".  WERE they F'in KIDDING!!?? 

Very nice Car. Comfortable, quiet, FAST, good Handling. But that NAME!? It's like they wanted to make sure it DIDN'T sell.  It also looked ODD. Probably not to you, but at the time, we were only about 4-5 years removed from big and boxy. It was VERY Round with some odd lines, and what looked like Ford swiped some double Rear Spoilers off of the Cossies, and plopped them on the back of the "Sierra".... 

Anyway, long winded (AGAIN!), but those would be the two Bodies, that as soon as I get the opportunity, I'm going to want to build!! 😊 

LAST thing, I promise!! YOUR Sierra - Front or Rear Wheel drive?? 😉

[yogi-bear 1697]

4 hours ago, Carmine A said:

You're WINNING, Mate! 😁

cheers

4 hours ago, Carmine A said:

Yes, it will be a LOT of WORK before it becomes a RC Body. I've messed with 3D Printed Parts for a while. Done the filling, sanding, Primer, sanding, filling, sanding, Primer, sanding.... ETC.!!! 😖

Never tried anything as ambitious as a whole Body!  But I'd really like to. I'm plopped into a rather grim position..... Never had a 3D Printer (and STILL feeling that I'm the ONLY Person left in the Hobby - without a 3D Printer!!! 😞😢) 

Hopefully next year...  There's NOBODY living anywhere near me that I know with a 3D Printer. The Library does have one... but it's over 8 years old , and CRAP.  There are Services in the U.S. that will Print Files for you. They're expensive, and I really don't have it.

......... So I WAIT.

Frankly I'd love to do a Mk.II Escort. Ford ROBBED us Yanks with the Escort.  You Guys in the UK got a FUN, quick, decent Handling and REAR Wheel Drive Car!!! 😳😁 

WE poor slobs got an Escort too................... A TINNY, CHEAP, SLOW AF, Poor Handling, FRONT Wheel Drive Car!! 😖😡😢  (THINK I'm kidding??  0 to 60 ........ 26 SECONDS!!! 😭😞) 

that reminds me of the first car 1:1 I ever bought, a delight piece of crap, but I was too young and naive at the time to know. It had 2 cylinders, so I thought it would be economical, nope. And those slow Escorts would probably soundly beat me, it had a top speed of about 80 k/hr and uphill about 40 k/hr. It was also very unreliable, and to top it off I bought it on hire purchase, which ended up being at an insane interest rate.

4 hours ago, Carmine A said:

Honestly, I'd have two choices. Both I've had the high Pleasure of actually Driving whilst in England on passes whilst Stationed in Germany, almost 30 years ago.... The Ford Escort Cosworth (which I believe you simply call it the "Cossie") .....  And the Ford Scorpio (not quite as fast, but FUN!) Shockingly, Ford DID give us that one... But SOME Genius in Marketing THOUGHT the Name for ours should be the "MERKUR XR4Ti".  WERE they F'in KIDDING!!?? 

ya gotta love it when the change the names for the location. I was a VW Golf fan for a while and I did like that they were called "Rabbits" in the US. 

[Carmine A 1300]

1 hour ago, yogi-bear said:

Cheers

That reminds me of the first car 1:1 I ever bought, a delight piece of crap, but I was too young and naive at the time to know. It had 2 cylinders, so I thought it would be economical, nope. And those slow Escorts would probably soundly beat me, it had a top speed of about 80 k/hr and uphill about 40 k/hr. It was also very unreliable, and to top it off I bought it on hire purchase, which ended up being at an insane interest rate.

Ya gotta love it when the change the names for the location. I was a VW Golf fan for a while and I did like that they were called "Rabbits" in the US. 

The Rabbit!! Almost forgot about that one. It was cute... But we would have been fine with the Name "Golf". Proof of that was, after 1990 it was the Golf here as well. To prove everyone wrong - Sales went UP and stayed that way!! 😜

In 2009, they tried the RABBIT again. (this time, it was your Polo). Sales were dismal. 

..... I am glad that the 240Z we got, didn't keep the Name "Fairlady Z"!!  And the Cressida could have been the "Cedric" here! 😳 

I'm glad for the American mindset in SOME ways.... My First Car was a 6.6 litre Monte Carlo SS!! She was anything BUT slow!! 😎😁 

You didn't have a 2CV - DID YOU!!??? 😂😧😞

As an Auto Mechanic, I learned that there was too big (I NEVER found it!!!) AND too small. Most people never got the concept of Efficiency... An Engine that's too small - if getting around means you always have to put the Pedal to the FLOOR just to get anywhere - you will NOT get good Fuel Economy!!! 😖

An example: a Friend of mine had a 77 Ford Pinto (!!! But after the EXPLODING years!). That little Bug had a 2.3 litre Engine - and could easily get over 33mpg - AND be able to RIP some Rubber off of the Rear Tires!!! 😲😁😎

The SAME Engine was also the Base Engine for the Ford Fairmont... (Comparable in size and weight to your Mondeo)  Couldn't get out of its own way - and barely mustered 21mpg!!     The optional 3.3 liter 6 got 27mpg!!  😲 

Ignorant People blindly assumed, in the 1970's OPEC Oil Embargo years - that with engine choices, Smaller was ALWAYS better!    Absolute WORST case scenario.... In 1974-79... The Chevy SUBURBAN (a 6600lb BEHEMOTH SUV) - JUST to cheat and have that House on Wheels meet Federal Fuel Economy Standards, was actually offered as its Base Engine... A 95hp, 4.1 litre STRAIGHT 6!!! 😳😳😳

What's worse, a few Idiots, whose Lobotomy FAILED, actually BOUGHT some of them!!!  Your TWO CYLINDER probably could've BEATEN one.  NOBODY got the advertised "25mpg"!  SO SLOW, after the first Model Year, they were OUTLAWED on Public Highways!!  They could not GET to the 45mph (72kph) MINIMUM Speed Limit!! Next to the Chevy VEGA, the most pathetic Vehicle sold in the U.S.!!! 

HOWEVER.... A couple of enterprising individuals hatched a plan.  Since by 1976, Chevy was nearly GIVING these turds away - and here, Engine Size was a factor in Insurance Rates - they bought these Duds, yanked the 4.1 OUT of them, and fitted either 6.6L or 7.4L V8s (PROPER Engines for these!), and SOLD them for huge profits!!!  As far as the Insurance Companies knew (LIFE before Internet!), these had 6cyl Engines!!!

[yogi-bear 1697]

6 hours ago, Carmine A said:

...

I'm glad for the American mindset in SOME ways.... My First Car was a 6.6 litre Monte Carlo SS!! She was anything BUT slow!! 😎😁 

in Australia, a Monte Carlo is a biscuit 

6 hours ago, Carmine A said:

You didn't have a 2CV - DID YOU!!??? 😂😧😞

no that I recalled, although I think I have seen one around at some point. I suspect we have missed out on many cars being a small market.

6 hours ago, Carmine A said:

...

 

[svenb 1712]

Sierra! 

Rear wheel drive in all but XR4x4, 2.8i 4x4 ghia estate and sapphire Cosworth 4x4.

[Carmine A 1300]

4 hours ago, yogi-bear said:

in Australia, a Monte Carlo is a biscuit 

no that I recalled, although I think I have seen one around at some point. I suspect we have missed out on many cars being a small market.

A BISCUIT!!!?? 😳  Not so here. Of course I had two of the only 3 years that the Monte Carlo WASN'T a FAT, slow PIG!!!🐖  I had 3, 1971s, and 5, 72s! 😁   From 1973-on, I'll agree... THEY were Biscuits!! 😖 

I'm embarrassed!!! 😳 You're AUSSIE!! All this time I'm thinking you were British!  Sorry Mate. 😜😊👍👍 

And I no longer feel bad for you, missing out on on some Cars...  You're Australian - YOU'VE got the bleeding BARRA!!! 😁😲😲  And those COOL AF UTES!! And Falcons!   AND, you can Import a 180SX... Us Yanks can't even LOOK at them! 

And we only get quick looks at R32, R33 and R34s.... BRIEF - before they're IMPOUNDED and either deported or DESTROYED!! 😭😭😭

So then, I've got no idea what 2cyl Car you used to have. 😉😖  I hope you know that I wasn't trying to insult you with the BUTTUGLY little French Car... I just don't know of too much about 2cyl Cars.

[Carmine A 1300]

59 minutes ago, svenb said:

Sierra! 

Rear wheel drive in all but XR4x4, 2.8i 4x4 ghia estate and sapphire Cosworth 4x4.

I corrected myself! 😜 

I was an Auto Technician at that time, at a Lincoln/Mercury Dealership. I actually remember when the ...... Merkur first arrived. Ford always gave Seminars when brand new Models arrived. 

That wasn't our First REBRANDED Model from across the Atlantic. Buick imported Opels since 1971. Chrysler Imported some HORRIBLE little Renault - called it "Le Car"!!!😖👎 They also Imported some tiny Mitsubishi Hatchbacks, called it the Plymouth Champ. Not a bad Car at all.  Chevy Imported the Isuzu Pickup - calling it the "LUV". (OK, that one wasn't BAD!) 

Ford had a little subcompact, sold here as the Fiesta... Ironically enough, NO Name change!! We only got the Mk1 and Mk2... We only got the 1.6L "Kent" Engine. It SEEMED like another Marketing ploy, only importing them with the largest Engines in the class... BUT, once ALL the Federal Emissions Control Junk was fitted, and it was rejetted to comply with the late 70's "Lean Burn" standards... It was bogged down to a mere 71.3bhp!! (Your 1.6L produced more than TWENTY more Horsepower!! 😊) The poor thing was SO choked, that your 1.3 would have chopped it in a Drag Race!! 😧😖  I believe that even the 1.2L had MORE BHP than our 1.6!!! Then add the ATROCIOUS CVT Automatic Gearbox, and it about killed. What performance it HAD. Happily though, with the 4 or 5-Speed Manual - it was truly our very first "Hot Hatch"!!! 😎😁 My Sister had one... FUN little Car!

It did develop quite a following, and reputation. Despite attempts at "Americanisation", our little Fiestas stayed lean and mean!! 😊 XR2 and Ghia added touches, a few options, and some WELL NEEDED Gauges! The Aftermarket AND even Ford Motorsport, started developing and selling High Performance bits for the little Fiesta!! HP Suspensions, Exhaust, Radiators, EVEN special, beefed up Cylinder Blocks and Heads - with a variety of optional Camshafts and a FORGED, Balanced Moly Steel Crankshafts!! Forged Wiseco Pistons,  Weber Carburetors, Mallory Ignition, and a host of other cool bits.... AND some of these hopped up Pocket Rockets were BEATING V8s at the Track!! 😲👌💯😊 These cute little Guys had more than DOUBLED its Output - to 120-160bhp!!! 

We completely SKIPPED the Mk3, 4 and 5, and didn't see another until AFTER you got the Mk6 in 2007!!  APPARENTLY, when we started getting CHEATED starting in 1980, with the aforementioned PIG SNOT version of your Brilliant Escort - with FRONT Wheel Drive, a DISMAL 42.7bhp 1.4L Kent, mated to a brand new 3-Speed, ATX Auto Gearbox, BIGGER and HEAVIER... AND cheaply built. After about 50,000 miles - these would consume nearly more OIL than FUEL!!! 😳😖 In its first 3 Model Years - FIESTA was outselling Escorts better than 3 to 1!!! 😲😧  So NATURALLY Ford had to CANCEL the Fiesta! 😞 

(They HAD to have had something significant invested in our DUD Escorts). FIRST, cancelling a better Car, then the TONS of Advertising they laid on it

After 2007, it was a Mainstay in the U.S. Fleet, and are quite popular, STILL with a passionate Aftermarket Performance Market.

Soooooo...... Can you sense my bitter hatred for the U.S. spec Escort??