Another EARLY BASE MODEL joins the fleet: new car reveal!

[@mikes747]

That's just miserable! Love it!

[@eddtemperley2421]

I'm going to make myself a bowl of gruel to celebrate your purchase of this glorious poverty spec car. Oh the devoidness...

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Is gruel perhaps too decadent 🤣🤣

[@edgarbeat2851]

​@MorselsAndMotors that's breakfast for us Scots 😊

[@edgarbeat2851]

You'd love the 1958 Studebaker Scotsman. Look it up. American poverty spec 50s. Or the 1980s Chrysler Miser. I adore ultra poverty cars. Also check out the base model VW beetles with black trim plastics, plainer seat materials less headlining. No chrome depending flat paint colours , cable brakes and crash gearbox. Offered right into the late 60s. For me the holy grail is a 1976 Audi 100 LS with the 1.6 short bumpers corners, less side trim wheels with the little plastic centre caps. I own the UKs oldest Audi 100 GLS

[@iDayno]

That looks very clean, nice find! I would be surprised if those are still the original tyres after 61k miles.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Only one of them is original, the rest are newer, one is dated 2002

[@soundseeker63]

Wow thats a real museum piece and in exceptional condition for 33 years old. What a credit to its former owner! Most of these cars, base models especially, were driven by people who had no interest in them whatsoever (many fleet cars etc) and got run into the ground pretty quickly. And yes the build quality on these early cars also left something to be desired - Later models (post 95) seemed to be MUCH better in the paint and bodywork + fit & finish department. So to find an early base Mk5A in this condition is truly exceptional! Ford knew they missed the mark with this model which is why they started revising it almost immediately after it launched! The stark contrast between those early base cars and end of line cars with Zetec engines, PAS and 5-speed boxes is eye opening and shows just how much Ford were playing catch up in those days. Which made the arrival of the Mk1 Focus all the more incredible. They shocked everyone with how good it was!

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Yes, I agree with all you say. I remember being fascinated by all the Escort facelifts. It was always easy to tell if a car had been repaired after an accident as the body shop didn’t always get it right!!

[@soundseeker63]

@@MorselsAndMotors And thats to say nothing of the many, many technical updates and spec improvements that happened over the life cycle. If you got a facelift Zetec engine car with PAS you had a car that looked, sounded and drove VERY differently to those early cars, plus the spec was constantly being improved too, so a late model LX would feel plush compared to an early LX.

[@adamlee3772]

I’m always happy to see unexceptional cars saved but the MK5 Escort was, rightly, panned by the motoring press at launch. They did improve the Escort thankfully but Ford were stung by the scathing criticism. Also the HCS motor was launched in the MK4 in Sept 88, just before the Fiesta got it in the MK3.

[@nicholaskennedy1748]

People always berated these, but I thought the mk4/mk5/mk6 Escort was a good looking car. Yes they had their faults, but they were certainly better looking than the MK3 Astra.

[@adamlee3772]

I didn’t really care for the early Mk5 Escort. For the first time in my then young life, I preferred the Astra to the Escort. At that time I preferred the Rover 200 hatchback to all of them. The Escort facelift did improve it greatly though.

[@davidbowie2046]

I made these in Halewood. Worst Escort ever,. New model, new shape. Seams would be misaligned, doors wouldn't shut properly. Even the XR3 couldn't save it. Only saving grace were the radio/cassettes which were great. Still sold by the bucket load though.

[@bigvinny333]

I had a UK made 93 Encore 1.3 Escort it was truly appalling. The door gaps were huge on the passenger side and non existent on the drivers side. The tailgate was twisted and hit one side. The bottoms of the Bahama blue doors were rusty and unpainted. The steering wheel clamp shim didn't grip and it moved in and out. The pushrod engine was totally gutless and the phosphor bronze crank Bush screamed on startup. The window winders were rusted solid. The front tracking went toe out all the time and scrubbed tyres every 7000 miles. Flashing on plastic moudings. I'm going to stop now I could go on. Worst car I've ever owned sold it for a Rover 214S luxury in comparison.

[@bigvinny333]

91 J plate not a 93

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Wow that’s quite a list of faults. I didn’t realise they were that badly made. I think I’ve got lucky with mine being a very early build car, it seems to have been well screwed together

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Oh wow, you made them! What part of production were you involved in?

[@nickmoore2301]

That's in amazing condition, my MK3 Fiesta guess was wrong, I did get the Ford bit right though 😂 This was indeed the unloved Ford Escort, even the XR3i version looked dull, be interesting how you go about doing the seats, but at least the headlining looks good, unlike the headlining Rover used 😊

[@David_H-73]

Absolutely wonderful. The fabric upper door cards, steel wheels and ginger indicators were all gone by September 91. The four speed option lasted a little longer into 92. Nerdy fact, rear window glass on early cars ( like yours) didn't have an exterior rubber seal around it but this was quickly revised after water ingress problems, probably as soon as January 91 when the first round of many revisions took place.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Oh now I did not know that about the rear windows: do you mean the tailgate?

[@David_H-73]

​@@MorselsAndMotorsyes the tailgate. Its a very special car that was generally so unloved back in the day. I'm sure they never actually put the Popular badge on the mk5.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

No, the popular badge wasn’t ever put on it.

[@soundseeker63]

Has anyone ever counted how many revisions this shape escort received over its life? It must hold a record (or be pretty damn close) for most revised car in its class because Ford were constantly tinkering with it and improving it bit by bit so that by '95 it was (provided you got the right spec) a decent, if unremarkable car.

[@David_H-73]

​@soundseeker63 taking the LX as an example September 90 mk5 LX launched January 91 new wheel trims red bumper side moulding inserts, rev counter, electric windows, better stereo september 91 new seat trim new wheel trims, rear spoiler, grey lower doors paint. September 92 new front and rear styling , colour coded door handles. September 93 new wheel trims and seat trim, driver airbag, lower doors now body colour. February 95 new rounded body styling and interior, new wheel trims, door handles and mirrors now black. April 97 new wheel trims, sports front bumper with fog lights. Door mirrors now body colour, rear spoiler deleted. September 98 LX dropped and range reduced. This list is not exhaustive and does not include any mechanical changes.

[@nigelbryanmee]

ICongratulations! Is that a Michelin MX I spy!? Must be an original. Don't recall red HT leads as factory fit. Rubber mats was meant for a different Ford as it overlaps the sides.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Yup, the OSR and spade are both Michelin MX

[@macdapimp83]

Used to have an M plate 5 door in white. Ex police colour coded bumpers. Seats slightly different but other than that same engine and everything. Didn't come with the blues or twos but did have the little control box for it still connected. Granted your dashboard is in much better condition. Mine had holes where the police had attached equipment.

[@rob_lightbody]

Are there rear speakers? Suspect not. Back in the day, i despised these, despite being previously a Ford fan. The R8 Rover at the same time was superior in every way. However it's fabulous that it's survived and brilliant that you've got it!

[@MorselsAndMotors]

No, just the grilles on the rear trim which would house speakers for posher models. I agree, I despised them too, but the fact it’s survived in this amazing condition makes it something rather special now

[@daveyrayner]

Had a J reg 3 door 1.3 “Fresco” model from new which was basically a base model with stickers. Yes it was boring but it did the job of getting from A to B well enough and don’t you love the simplicity of that uncluttered engine bay

[@davidwebb8877]

Great car,very straight clean car,you should get some TV work,set dressing with that,good luck nice buy.

[@beagsx3]

Had myself a 1.7 diesel escort that looked exactly like this even down to the radio and trim levels. It was so slow to get to 60mph, but I swear, it got around 900 miles to the gallon 😀. Was awful, but all I could afford at the time

[@derekcrombie602]

Hi Sion I drive the soul MOT'd MK7 1.8 1999 SI petrol escort 61k miles and it a estate.

[@maxeluy]

I had 3 competitors, Fiat Tipo, Escort MK6 and Renault 19 Chamade, the Tipo is by far the best, then the 19 and far away the Escort, but there's something about the Escort that I love, is the one I miss the most. Friends of mine have MK5's and Verona's (The Orion in South America) and they are quite happy with them, here the MK5's used 3 engines, 1.6 CHT (Renault 12 engine with a different head) 1.8 and 2.0 AP (Basically a VW EA827 engine) and the Endura Diesel, all 5 speed, and they're fine, very pleasant to drive, the engines have a lot of torque so they are tractable and responsive, they are ok IMO.

[@jimmyk9523]

Think this engine derives from the Valencia, not the Kent Crossflow. Three bearing crank rather than five? Those mats look like MK2 Fiesta ones, they certainly don't fit that well enough to be Escort ones

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Yes you’re right: I mis-spoke in the video. Though the Valencia was of course a heavily modified Kent to fit in the mk1 Fiesta

[@badbooks476]

Great find & in incredible condition. Our neighbour had a Burgundy N reg base Escort, so I remember the sound of the engine very well

[@soundseeker63]

Me too, those old Kent engines would start to rattle like a diesel after a certain milage if the valve clearences were not adjusted on time, and were rough sounding even when new. Truly antique-level engineering by the 1990s. Incredibly Ford still sold this exact engine right up until 2002 in the Ka!!

[@ricardoroberto7054]

I remember this model being launched and it was absolutely hammered by the press. It was horrible in every way. For the same money you could buy a mitsubishi based proton persona with 4 electric windows, all round disc brakes and a DOHC 16v engine. Ford knew they had made a lemon and made the Focus getting rid of the escort name.

[@westernmonitor]

I had a 1.4LX on the H reg an early build car. It was my first company car and the worst car I ever had. In the garage 8 times in the first 12 months.

[@laz820]

I have a very early Zetec Mk3 Orion on a J plate bought accident damaged that doesn’t bother me.

[@mattw8332]

These early mark 5s were very underwhelming when compared to the fantastic Rover 214s and 216s that had been out for at a year at the time of the Escort`s and Orion`s launch. The post facelifted ones with the oval grille were a huge improvement in my opinion. I actually owned a white 1994 Escort saloon 1.8 L diesel (base spec as far as the saloons go) for 6 months in 2010. For £250 it was a brilliant car. Very slow but it exceeded my expectations with it`s comfortable seats, excellent fuel economicy and comically quick steering. It was an ex Essex constabulary panda car so it had the optional power steering and ABS.

[@chrism2964]

I agree I had a few of the rovers, from a 214Si to a 420 GSI turbo. The Escort was rubbish my comparison, but they were cheaper.

[@soundseeker63]

Most of the competition was better to be fair. But certainly the engines in the Rover made the Mk5 escort seem about as refined and advanced as a lump of coal. Rover were priced higher (chasing private buyers who wanted a "premuim" small car) wheras Ford were still No.1 with fleet managers back then, so could turn out pretty much any old crap and so long as it was cheap to buy and easy to service, it would sell, which it did. Thankfully motoring culture in the UK and at Ford moved on quite rapidly and by the end of the 90's it was an entirely different landscape, as exemplified by the Mk1 Focus.

[@lucythemoggy1970]

I owned a mk5 escort..... worst car i ever had, nothing but trouble with it. not their finest hour....

[@paulillingworth1242]

I remember these cars so well, they were heavily criticised, I really like the style of these Escorts, driven many, never owned one, a different world from my 3rd Generation Mondeo.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Congratulations on your purchase! My uncle owned an early Mk5 Escort back in the day, but compared to your one it was positively plush: it even had fake wood inserts on the dash!

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Ford loved plastic wood on their cars in the 90s!

[@soundseeker63]

ooh that must have been one of the "posh" Ghia, or possibly Ghia X models, which were actually not bad. Power steering, ABS and the 16v engines were standard on those so they were a much more modern and refined driving experience.

[@mikedavies3361]

Ford had some crap engines I remember the 1.1 fiesta the 1.3 sierra the diesels that were from Peugeot when they had developed better engines. The engines made by Alfa and lancia were decades ahead.

[@admiralalcatraz6080]

Love the escort! If you ever got stranded in winter, you could sleep on top of the gearbox to keep warm!

[@chucky2316]

You had that at 17 in 2002 I had a MK3 xr3i at that time it was a much better car even looked better than the MK4 junk

[@lesklower7281]

We in Australia never got these we got th Mazda based Fords and we did own a Ford Festiva built by Hyundai but with a Mazda engine

[@CortinasAndClassics]

Hi, I just found your channel via All things Alex. If you like poverty spec you might just like my Ford Cortina Mark 3 Estate base model. Complete with rubber floor mats no clock and manual foot operated windscreen washer. That is certainly a nice Escort, don't see them anymore at all and im loving the Fiesta as I had one as my first car. Subscribed - Simone

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Hello, and welcome! I most certainly would love your Cortina I'm sure. I've a soft spot for a mk3, as my grandparents had a gold 2000 E model.

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Having just purchased a 1994 Ford Escort LX Turbodiesel with only 17700 miles on the clock (been off the road since 1997) this video takes me back as my dad had a J Plate Escort Popular. I remember the day he picked it up as for some reason the brochure had the car pictured with full wheel trims and when he pulled up on the drive it had the steel wheels with the inserts. His was a 3 door, so your video takes me back to his one with the stereo, the 4 speed box, the choke oh the delights. Even in my Escort and in my dads later 1.3 fuel injected Escort you can still see where the choke is because it's a blanking plate! Great video and have given you a sub!

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Oh that's so lovely to hear about your memories. I think the Popular gained wheel trims really quickly on, so the car the dealership supplied must have hung around a little while

[@Richard-Bullock]

They are a truly horrendous pile of absolute garbage. Which is probably why I like them so much! The worse a car is, the more I like them. 4 speed manual? I genuinely thought ALL mk5's had either a 5 speed manual or a CTX automatic.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Same!! I had forgotten they were 4-speed too, I think that was only deleted when the facelift came for the 1993 model year in September 92

[@chrishart8548]

I had a mk4 1.4 lx 1987 I bought a mk5 1.4 lx and it didn't even have a rev counter. , amazing this car has a 4 speed box and not even a tape player or 12v socket. Being 1990.

[@Richard-Bullock]

@@MorselsAndMotors My knowledge of the mk5 is mostly concerned with the final facelift from 1995 onwards.

[@oliverreynolds7938]

I prefer the mk5 better than the mk6. I like the RS Cosworth! 🙂👍

[@pauletchells4127]

did not like ford escort mk5, rover 214 a lot better, vw golf mk 3 as well

[@owensteele1645]

Time seems to do this to a lot of us. Back in the '90s, I used to hate VW Polos, but I drive a Polo today, and I adore it (a base 1.2 S no less). Was your first car the Encore? If so, then it would be the 1995 to 1997 equivalent to this 1990 Pop. I used to valet for Evans Halshaw Ford of Exeter in the late-'90s, and most of the cars I valeted were ex-motability Escort Encores and run-out mk3 Fiesta Classics that had reached the end of their 3 year contract with the dealership. Most were Diamond White, Ontario Blue, Radiant Red and that dark brown Ford simply called 'Maroon'. The 'motability' Escort Encores were all 'base' except they were 1.4 or 1.6 Automatics, and had power steering. Congratulations on your new purchase by the way. I'll be following this project with great interest. What a find! It's surprising how much it has, under the skin, in common with both your Fiestas.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Yes my first car was indeed an Encore, I think it was a 1996 car. I don’t know much about it before I bought it when it was 6 years old

[@jaggass]

Has the same wheels as a mk5/6 Escort van.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Yes! The base lost these and got wheel covers by April 1991

[@interceptor-ss8kb]

Mk5 Escort Terrible car even back when it was new, but let's be honest it's nice to see a survivor

[@noexpensespentstudios]

That's an astonishing find, these were practically disposable and didn't have a good reputation at all. That someone put miles on it and still kept it in such excellent condition is a credit to them, it must have led a very charmed life.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

I know. I’m very lucky to have found one that’s been pampered by its original owner so much

[@86SVA]

It's mental to see the condition of it. You really were lucky to get more than 10 years out of one.

[@soundseeker63]

It is absolutely a credit to its former owner and clearly did not do many miles over the winter seasons and was obviously garaged too. It is exceptionally well preserved, especially for a UK reg car!

[@stevejones1972]

The old tyre is most likely the original spare that probably sat in the boot unused most of its life. I think even the poverty spec cars still came with a full size spare wheel back in the day, unlike modern cars which either have tyre inflators and a can of sealer or a compact spare. Back in the mid 90s I had a company issued phase 1 (pre-facelift K reg) escort van with the pedestrian 1.8 Diesel non turbo engine in it also in white - these had even more poverty spec interiors with black vinyl seats which were dreadful in cold and hot weather. Ran ok though and I ran it up to 135K miles before the gearbox gave up. Slow. Painfully slow, crude and unrefined, and it also had the same wheels as yours has. I think the engine in that car was the one they used in the subsequent Ford KA mk1 from 1996 - 2002, and by then, being essentially the same Kent engine, with a bit of tweaking here and there, used in the Ford Anglia, they were pretty dated. I think they were known for the spark plugs getting seized into the head, maybe wrong, but hope you dont have issues getting your plugs out.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Funnily enough, a friend has recently had to extract snapped spark plugs from his KA!

[@davesdaze]

Hi. Yes I remember those cars. Great video. Very informative. Love the bare legs. Stay kool. Best wishes David

[@MorselsAndMotors]

The legs may have to be covered now it's autumn...

[@tygrysisko]

1990: what a shitty car with nothing in it. 2023: What a lovely base model, it's brilliant:)

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Basically exactly how my life has panned out!

[@sebastianohalloran9093]

Wonderful find Siôn! I’m glad the elephant in the room was mentioned. Will be fascinating to see how they compare. I’m glad to say that I won the competition between my partner and I regarding which car it was likely to be - I suggested the MK5/6 Escort - he suggested the Scorpio. I thought that a bit too posh. Sad to say we did both guess the spec of radio only and 4 speed ‘box!

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Oh my goodness, I’m flattered to be the subject of a familial guessing game!

[@joncarey2518]

i sold a 1.3 base model last year 24.000 miles on it, im working on a mk6 2dr base with 36000 on it i wont sell that though even in a year they've increased the interest factor. a pleasure to work on. nice looking cars mate keep up the faith.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

That’s good to know that interest is starting to increase in this generation. Thanks for the comment!

[@charliecoco2115]

The bulbs behind the heater dials always fail on those, real pain to fix.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

I think mine still seem to work 😀

[@kieranwhite6647]

I'm so glad this has gone to a good home!! I kept looking at it on Auto Trader and having to talk myself out of the idea!

[@MorselsAndMotors]

I saw it shared to a few Facebook groups and I just felt it calling to me to have it join my early mk3 Fiesta base

[@DJHayes100]

I am in awe of all your cars. But the fords are my favourite, think it’s time for a fleet update? Keep up the good work I really enjoy your videos 😊

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Yes I probably should do one!

[@limyrob1383]

I was in the engineering Dept at Fords in the late 70's. There was always a "Base" model listed and priced to get the price point lower than the competition. Some were barely driveable and no one in their right mind would order one. I recall the "Base" Cortina had no heater and a single sun visor for the driver! Ford's margins went up with every trim level so the Base was sold at cost or even a slight loss, whereas the Ghia was very profitable. Because the bodies were all the same there was a whole industry getting the higher spec parts and bolting on your lower spec model. Fords were masters of the blanked off switch holes in the dash. We had a Ford pool car, a base Granada and 80% of the dash was black plastic blanks.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Absolutely right. For some reason this marketing situation really appeals to me: the class system put out in a brochure almost!! It was very clever in a way, pushing people up the trim range whilst still being able to boast a cheap starting price for the model.

[@neilmustow368]

Base model Mk5 Escort H Reg great condition lovely addition to your base fleet 👍

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Thank you!

[@ianfrost3529]

My dads old salesman when he worked at a Vauxhall commercial main agent back in the early to mid 90s was tasked to do a base model limit addition I think it was called the epic. He was told by the factory that it was more expensive to have vinyl seats and rubber mats. So it was cheaper to have cloth seats carpets and door cards.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Oh that’s interesting

[@MannyAntipov]

I've seen this car advertised on Autotrader recently, and thought it was a nice tidy motor. Glad it went to a respectable owner like you! 😊

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Thank you!

[@edgarbeat2851]

That and the Mk3 Fiesta I love. Yes they are rattle boxes but I love them . You will love my 1973 412 South African built. All panel pressings differ to German, USA and UKThe only in in UK with out wheel arch trim and side trim. Only 50 built in SA in 1973. I found tow others one still running the other needing work. All type 4 VWs were fuel injected LE and lower spec L. You can get a minus side trim VW412 L but its still fuel injected. My 412 is carburettors, no side trim or wheel arch trim. Dash has not even got a clock pod. Has a radio but still has its blanking plate that i was wayyy to excited about. The rear badge is larger VW 412 with variant below. Badge unique to SA market. As USA German and UK smaller badge with L or LE added. When ready, I'd like you to see inperson one day

[@nickpaddock6137]

I remember the company I worked for at the time swapped their fleet car of choice from Peugeot 305 gr estates to ford escort diesel popular estates, god was there uproar

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Eek I can imagine!!

[@rhendry5832]

How on earth can you have a ford of that age with hardly any rust?? It’s in fabulous condition.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

It's a ridiculously good survivor

[@owensteele1645]

I can see Ford's decadent torch key in the ignition barrel. Does its little light still come on when you press the button?

[@MorselsAndMotors]

No, sadly it seems to have died. Had a brief look and it’s suggested that the torch unit are sealed for life, and can’t change the battery. I’m not easily defeated though, so I will see if there’s anything I can do

[@dreammaker730]

Now then decent purchase, much netter than the mk5.5 which they made a mess of with bulbous rear lights . I remeber my mk5 1.8 d glx. Such a good solid car h519fdh. I bet there are no mk5 diesels left , do you know of any ?. I think ypu diesel went on till 2006 well past how long it should have lasted.

[@J500ANT]

Gloriously mediocre ❤

[@MorselsAndMotors]

That’s what I love!

[@thenotanclan]

Better hope Ian from hubnut doesn’t see this one or he might snaffle it away from you

[@MorselsAndMotors]

He better not!

[@akaDavidWebb]

Have you considered contacting Ford Heritage to see if they are interested in buying or loaning it off you?

[@MorselsAndMotors]

I haven’t: I wonder if they would actually be interested in seeing it?

[@ciaranburke3243]

Base models rule😂

[@BillyNoMates1974]

good find. I had one of these on a H reg. GLX trim. the worst car ive ever had. lol Had it four years and the central locking played up in winter, head lights stopped working and I had to rewire it. Heater fan packed up and what killed it was the CVH 1.6L engine developed big end knocking (kind of just adds to all the other noises coming from the CVH engine). got shot of it after that. never had another Ford since.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Yeah, the CVH had a pretty bad reputation. Brands should learn that mistakes cost customers

[@BillyNoMates1974]

@@MorselsAndMotors true. I had some friends that had no problems with their Fords. Maybe I got the Friday afternoon assembled car. lol

[@kells77]

Not origial plates we had a brand new mk5 escort in 1991 on a J plate from Perry’s it had the red Perry logo on both plates

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Thank you very much for that confirmation 😊

[@kells77]

@@MorselsAndMotors the mk5 is my fave shape the early mk5 Not the one that came later with the different grill and rear lights Ours was on a J plate but had the clear front indicators It managed to get to 300k miles I used it for my car to go to my dj gigs ( I run house and techno club nights ) Kept my golf GTI from been left outside sone dodgy areas The escort was broke into many times Mk5 escorts are special to me had sone good times with that car Sadly it rusted away around 2004 it was scrapped J872XWC I think the reg was

[@gs3298]

Oh you must must must introduce miss hubnut to this popular!! 😊

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Yes, I am hoping to someday!

[@michaelkeen5010]

What a wonderful poverty spec Escort. You certainly find them.👍

[@SA-zoom1]

A beautiful example of an utterly miserable car.

[@chucky2316]

That is reserved for new cars

[@zebedep]

Wow! What a find 👍

[@alecbrown66]

If you think that is a poor base model, you should look at the "special spec" Ford did for their mot ability cars. And Ford was not alone in really stripping out as much as possible for mot ability cars

[@chrism2964]

I remember one car magazine testing the mk5 and the headline was ' New Escort tested against every rival, and loses'. It was $5B mess for Ford and it was hard to see where the money went, in many ways it was a worse car than the already not great mk4. Sales were without doubt boosted by the existence of the Cosworth, even though that had northing at all in common with any other model since it was a Sierra made to look like an Escort.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

I’ve actually just bought a copy of that magazine. It’s rather damning, but part of me thinks it’s a little unfair, like the journalists had already made their minds up about the car. The main complaint was the harshness of the CVH engine which was the 1.4 and 1.6

[@chrism2964]

@@MorselsAndMotors For me it was just such a boring and half hearted effort. The 200/400 was far better, the 306 was a great looking and handling car, the ZX was interesting at least. The Astra was typically rubbish as well, but it still seemed more interesting than the Escort, which just existed. The Focus of course was a revelation.

[@JamesEvans-uh7nu]

61k wow

[@garymc8978]

Please let me know if you ever consider selling the Volvo estate. Great collection of vehicles by the way.

[@ianlee487]

An escort with the worst engine in history ever to be built a cvh.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

This one is a HCS, so a development of the Kent/Valencia unit

[@robertngreen6]

You have got a good 'un again there, I think! I look forward to watching your progress with the Escort and seeing how you get on with it, once it's back on the road.

[@marklori7906]

I see you don't know much about ford's. It's great condition but the mk5 escort was a shit heap with loads of problems

[@lukecrowley571]

I think you'll find that he really does know quite a bit about Fords (no apostrophe for a plural 😛).

[@marklori7906]

@lukecrowley571 Ah right the ford zeta engine 😂

[@lukecrowley571]

@@marklori7906 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Zeta_engine?wprov=sfla1 What about it?

[@snoopy10411]

Great video, my first car was a H Reg MK5 Escort 1.4LX 3 door in white. I still remember the reg: H290EDB. My dad had a base 1.8D 3 door J148UAW

[@MorselsAndMotors]

I always remember registration numbers too!

[@scrapyardwarriorvlogging]

Ah memories - my first car was a 1991 Escort LX in that lovely shade of light blue. A November ‘90 build so it had keep fit windows and no rev counter. I drove the nuts off it for two years and sold it for double I paid for it! Yours looks like an absolute honey ❤

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Result!! And thank you

[@waynemartin4881]

There is a red 2 door escort like this in a car sales lot near me in Newhaven East Sussex, it has black bumpers, I assume it’s a base model.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Oooh that’s exciting. Wonder if they have a website, I’d love to see it

[@waynemartin4881]

@@MorselsAndMotors when I’m next round that way I’ll see if they have, it was in mint condition until some Eejit parked it under a tree now it’s covered in bird poo.

[@waynemartin4881]

@@MorselsAndMotors I’ve seen the car again and the reg is P596PAR it’s in a rather shabby lot, I can’t figure out who owns it, it’s looks as if it’s rust free too.

[@DarksideoftheSteve]

I thought it would be a Ford Orion, but they were more 80s than 90s weren't they?

[@MorselsAndMotors]

The Orion name carried on for the saloon of this generation until the mid 90s (can’t currently remember exactly when it was dropped!)

[@clivet3252]

@@MorselsAndMotors I think it was sometime between the oval grille facelift and the final big facelift of 95. I would guess 94.

[@clivet3252]

@@MorselsAndMotors I just looked it up and it was September 93

[@Andy-eo3mq]

That's got to be your concourse entry for next year's FOTU!! 🙂 An excellent find, it must be said. Given how your fleet includes Volvo 340s; a mk1 fiesta; and a Metro, I reckon you'll like that Escort a lot more than you liked the 1 you had 20 years ago. 🤔

[@MorselsAndMotors]

I have a suspicion you might be right...

[@philippeterson4711]

Ah, I was right about it being an Escort but it's a hatchback and I thought it was an estate😂 Nice one mate 🙂

[@terryatkinson899]

I had a relatively new 1995 escort 1.4lx and it broke my heart. Lots of problems with it and lost half my money when I traded it in a year later. Never had another Ford. Plenty of fiat's and Toyotas 😊 My Ford radio used to fall out of the dashboard and a brake pipe split and nearly killed me. A real Friday car...

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Yes I remember my Escort let me down a couple of times too: mainly alternator problems

[@bigjohno242]

Great buy Sion ! Love this glorious 4 speed base model empire you are building ! (I still miss by base model 1987 Astra 1.3 merit - that thing flew down the motorway)

[@MorselsAndMotors]

I like that: 4 speed base model empire!!!

[@kubbythebusman]

I saw that on auto trader!?? I very nearly went down for that!!!

[@justinlambert1324]

Wow what a survivor! Love it 👍

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Thank you!

[@CreRay]

Congrats on the new purchase! One of my school teachers (he was a math teacher....) had one of these when this model was still very fresh. His was even more base as it was a red 3-door. I remember being disappointed by the old-fashioned sounding engine in such a new car, even though I didn't understand much about engines at that age. It was a 1.3CL, over here in the Netherlands the 1.3 was only available for 1 year, in 1991, and as a 3-door only, although it did have fuel injection. Curiously the 1.3 was not available at introduction of the new model, did Ford add it later on because of disappointing sales? I don't think we ever got a 4-speed Escort '91 over here, up until this video I did not know it existed.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Oh that’s really interesting to know that the specs were so different by country.

[@graemehunter5403]

I always hated the escort but loved the orion

[@fhwolthuis]

Hahaha nice car, Siôn! I remember talking to an executive of the Ford importer over here, he told me these first ones were so bad, they got warranty claims about body structures that were tearing and falling apart. I believe they also de-rated the towing capacity at some point 😅

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Oh dear 😅

[@thefloorkiller]

An absolute gem, so rare today, it's in such lovely condition, a few jobs and hit the shows next year, alot of early Escorts suffered faults due to a hasty introduction and were revised in 1992 hence their rarity especially base models, estates and the Orion version

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Thank you!

[@jonathonbrett-qn1ic]

Great car love the originality perfectly simple Love your passion which I have for this generation of cars. Looking forward to the next episode Thank you

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Much appreciated!

[@oliveroneill1388]

Had one . Once raining . No start. Keys were a nightmare

[@RobReynolds]

You asked on Twitter for this on rebranding. Were you testing "based model junkie" as a name in this reveal?

[@MorselsAndMotors]

It was actually the other way round: I said that when recording this a few days ago, and it kinda resonated with me to consider what to do with the name

[@tomwilliams7391]

It looks almost like a new car, amazing for 33 years...the tyres look ok, but would they be safe after 33 years if they are original

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Don’t worry, they will be replaced

[@Stephenb033]

This is absolutely excellent.

[@danielrussell446]

Hi Sion a great video as ever and what a great find that escort is a real time warp and credit to the previous owner for looking after it so well I was one version out on the teaser I forgot these were mk5 I had mk4 in my head! It’s been many years since I’ve seen one now the two I knew both LX were in a mid blue colour with red inserts in the bumpers! Look forward to seeing what happens with this one it’s a good base to work with all the best Daniel

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Thank you Daniel. Yes, I wondered why you'd thought mk4 on the teaser!!

[@edgarbeat2851]

The noise takes me back. I love the mk5

[@bigsquatchsasfoot1964]

I had a new one of these it was the same colour but think it was a 3 door I really liked it as there was nothing to wrong with it being the poverty version ! that cars in super condition still very straight indeed looks like the bonnet may have been painted maybe the light or some over t cutting but it’s very very tidy what a great find 👍 I laughed at the tartan blanket think they were standard 🤣🤣

[@MorselsAndMotors]

The white you see is some kind of grease on the bonnet hinges, it’s still moist now when you touch it, even though it does look like paint overspray!

[@hbhmhbhm]

Great car! You might find the code for the radio on a sticker stuck to the bottom of the ashtray as my dad's sierra had one. It was a proper ford sticker not just someone hiding the code!

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Thank you for that: I will have a look. However thankfully a friend of mine with the correct software has found the code 😀

[@tomfoster9924]

Love 😍 your new Purchase Sion! Another base model saved!! Looks great in White too. Fingers crossed you can MOT it soon and take it for a drive. I had a 'J' reg orion around 2003 for a while in burgundy, paid £350 for it from an old neighbour, it didnt last long! They used the same front from the mk5 escort. Happy base modelling! 😊

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Thank you! I can’t wait to get it out on the road, base-ing it up!

[@tomfoster9924]

@@MorselsAndMotors base-ing it up! Like it 🤣

[@everythingandanything6405]

Had one of these as a company car temporarily, from memory it was the faux sporty si 3 door model, enjoyed driving it and the sporty touches like white dials and alloys. Wanted to keep it but they forced a Mondeo on me that I did not like at all. Nice car you spotted, jealous!

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Wow that’s interesting you preferred an Escort to a Mondeo!

[@everythingandanything6405]

@@MorselsAndMotors in an earlier life I had an xr3 with the x pack (sunroof,headlight washers, electric windows) then an xr3i, that's probably why I connected with the escort, my misspent youth!

[@aslandama]

What a really mint find!

[@DarrenKC53]

Our neighbours back in the 90s had a red H Reg Popular, also from Perrys. If I remember right the numberplate had their logo on the bottom middle, written as Go Perrys

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Thanks, that's really helpful

[@DarrenKC53]

I could be wrong but think there was a Perrys in Bury St Edmunds, which is where theirs would have come from