'Barnfind' classic Mk1 Ford Escort with 900 miles from new! - Jonny Smith

[@jarthurs]

Quite literally brought a tear to my eye, my Dad worked at Ford in Dagenham around the time this car rolled off the production line. He passed away five years ago but I can imagine his reaction at seeing a video like this and how pleased he would be this car survived.

[@thomasmagee7140]

Jason Arthurs

[@singaporelan]

Well pleased for you from a Vauxhall family of 3 generations..

[@TimothyArcher]

I'll bet that would have made him extremely happy. I just watched a documentary about the Dagenham plant, a week ago, or so, that consisted, primarily, of content that was produced back in the mid- to late- 1970s. It covered a period of 25-30 years of the plant's history, and featured interviews with employees and management. It was a good view, I enjoyed seeing it. I can't recall the title, but I'm sure you will be able to find it on KZbin, if you go searching for it.

[@paulmeester5401]

@@TimothyArcher fords dagenham dream

[@OfficiallySanctionedKATG]

My grandad used to work at fords with my uncles etc in the 60s/70s/80s. Happy days. I had an orange one of these in the early 90s, cost me about 200 pounds at the time. It would pay off a good whack of my mortgage if i still had it now!

[@MrCROBosanceros]

I'm almost 54 years old. I can't help but tears are running down my face.It takes me back to 1970's when I was still in elementary school.This was very common car in my home town,Zagreb Croatia.Not as sexy as Ford Capri but definitely simple and beautiful car with character. Back in those days almost every boy knew almost every car and every car manufacturer had it's own character. Original owner of this car was real car guy.He loved and respected this car.Thank god for his family because they took care of it and preserve it. There are too many people who don't respect fine and quality machines.If you take care of them,they will take care of you. I love the color!

[@alasdairvincent6248]

This takes me back . I passed my Driving test in a Mk 1 Ford Escort. I later owned five of them, including a van. They were great cars to drive, with a very slick gear change. This car is a beauty and worth a lot of money to a classic car enthusiast.It needs to be restored with the love it deserves. A great video.

[@garfieldbuchannan3549]

This is such a beautiful car. My dad had a blue MK1 four door. I fondly remember all the road trips we did as a family in it. Growing up it was our pride and joy.

[@rickydoolous5356]

Wow this lovely Escort was registered just a few weeks before my 17th birthday and i've now just turned 61, and she seems in a better state of preservation.

[@cruxc4459]

This is what dreams are made of. I don't know how you stopped yourself from crying. You are the envy of so many people right now. Absolutely beautiful thanks for sharing.

[@MedievalRichard]

I've watched this footage about 3 times in the last few days after discovering it. Amazing! My Dad's first car was a 2 door, 1300XL, MK 1 Ford Escort and he loved it. I showed him this video and he was shocked and amazed like myself. What a gem and to stay mint for all them years is wonderful!

[@derek-press]

I mean..it was already amazing but then you went and lifted the cover to show the condition of the front seat and my jaw dropped,what a beauty

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Thank you everyone for all your encouraging comments. It seems that we all get really excited with a rare find like this Escort. Will try and find more garage relics like this, as well as other broad Carpervert appreciation.

[@johnbrett8788]

CARPERVERT keep this one away from Mike Brewer lol

[@gavingraham6549]

CARPERVERT where is the escort engine sound dude

[@philoshaughnessy906]

I think I'm going to cry. Forget it: pass the Kleenex.

[@ronknight8140]

CARPERVERT 5

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

B edwards The orange one? A RAB Neutrino endurance puffa

[@MexicoAdventurer]

I've had litetally dozens of these golden discoveries. The list of vehicles I've owned is more than 40.

[@paulguy2545]

My Dad (God Rest his Soul) used to Spray-Paint these, as they rolled through the Production Line at the Halewood Plant! He even owned a Mk1 4-door with an 1100 Engine, and colored in Miami Blue! Many happy days together with him in that car as a child!

[@miawallace2785]

Met a arl fella in legends on Mathew st of all places , he heard me talking about escorts and said he worked there , said he loved working in hale wood

[@keithmaddern]

Your father & ford workers would not have been happy I am sure with the throwaway comment made by Johnny that these cars were just thrown together without a lot of care was unacceptable and the only bad part of this video.

[@kellypaws]

You're a genuine car person Jonny, the real deal. I like you more and more for it. I'd love to meet you one day as you are everything most other car journalists are not.

[@TaketotheRoad]

That was real automotive archaeology! What a dream scenario. For once a genuine garage/barn find with a fascinating story. Even though this Escort is worth a lot, its the story for me that is the real value. Fascinating really!

[@MrMaxeemum]

I hope it continues to be looked after in a way it deserves. It really does need to be in a museum but it also needs to be used. Beautiful.

[@mattheweastel129]

Stunning find, one of my favourite car designs. Elegant in its simplicity

[@briandavey7187]

My wife had exactly the same car, the model, the colour and N reg. After her previous Morris Minor she thought it was luxury with a working heater and "modern" performance. It had been well looked after and was reliable, drove well, everything worked and it didn't even leak in the rain. Back in the 80's I had 4 MK1's before my wife got hers in 1989. Never had any reliability problems that weren't caused by careless owners or simple limitations of engineering at the time, short life batteries, fast wear points ignition systems, quick rust exhausts etc. I did all my own maintenance and repairs, everything was easily available, in Bristol a place called Panel-On even had every single body part available, you could build a new body if you wanted. This video is a real trip down memory lane and certainly raised a smile.

[@englishmaninengland1451]

I’m a ford man, always had a ford motor car, this find is amazing. I would love to own a mark 1 ford Escort or a Sierra Cosworth as they were the cars from my era.

[@tucker9162]

Jonny, I have to say your work on KZbin is just sublime. You are not having to pander to TV producers and can be yourself. It's fantastic that you are so enthusiastic and yet so calm and thoughtful. Your Fully Charged videos are some of the best out there. Please don't ever go on Top Gear!

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Tucker Thank you for the message Tucker, really kind of you. I have decided to take my Carperv YT channel more seriously in 2018 so am pushing to make all the content the TV never thought was interesting enough. Stay tuned. Cheers!

[@infadeldog13]

This is what us car guys live for. Amazing auto archeology!

[@christopherjensen5007]

Thank you so much for posting this remarkable find. Back in '83' I owned a 1970 Mark 1 1100 cc (dark blue). I was 17 years old and this was my first ever car.

[@warlock242]

I'm not a Ford fan but I think any car enthusiast can appreciate the coolness of such a find, especially with all those boxed spare parts.

[@musicauthority7828]

Not me I could give a shit.

[@riazhassan6570]

I am. I had a second-hand 1958 Anglia in the mid sixties. It gave near flawless service throughout a three-year stay in Britain

[@ady-uk7150]

My favourite car of all time is the Escort Mk1 Mexico. But after passing my test 1st time in 1981, I could afford a Mexico (£995), but not the insuranc. So I ended up with a 2 door Escort XL which you have a 4 door example of here. This video is fantastic, with many others and you, I'm taken back in time. Thank you so much, what an amazing Ford Escort. I'm so pleased that the Ford Heritige have taken it under it's wing.

[@andrewdalziel4006]

Great video. The fact it is NOT a Mexico or RS2000, but a more humble model makes it all the more interesting. It brought back memories as my first car was an Escort 1300E I bought from my Dad.

[@enforcer9381]

Wow thanks for making this Video!..I had a H Reg Mk1 back in 83..It was Sunburst Orange with a Vinylroof..Originally a 1300E..But had been converted to 1600...I had to sell her after about two years as we were having a baby....Biggest regret of my life!...Thanks again for sharing this video...

[@warp65]

That"a pretty amazing. Thanks for documenting the day you saw it so thoroughly.

[@_dave4460]

in the late 70s my dad found a 73 mercury capri for my younger brother. they did an incredible 2 year body off restore with balanced/blueprinted engine, mod exhaust, gearbox/rear end; (re)painted canary yellow. interior done by a parachute repairman that was beautiful and rugged. it was a tremendous vehicle, so is yours! have fun with your find...

[@hibbs79]

This is honestly one of my favourite ever KZbin videos. 👍👍👍

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

james hibbert Thanks Jamie - although I don’t believe you!

[@chris425amp7]

CARPERVERT No he's saying it how it is. Wish more ppl did this the old boy knew what he was doing. He ran out of years

[@MrCROBosanceros]

Who would dislike this video?

[@sephirothff7ps164]

i deffo agree such a joy to watch.

[@smitbar11]

I just love this!! I learned to drive in an 1100cc Mk1 escort van!I'm 55 going 56 now, I learned pretty much to drive in a Royal blue 1100cc Mk1 escort van with 40.000 + on the clock, petrol cross-flow over head cam engine, never let me down! 2 weeks under snow and the engine started, I drove all over the UK in her, never a worry.... Eventually the bullkhead rotted away and a local garage wanted silly money to MOT her, I was gutted and scrapped her, I just love this video, I hope this car is well cared for :)

[@bultacotrial290]

Thank you for that amazing story!! Really took me back to the early 80’s and our 1971 Ford Capri 1300. Greetings from Guatemala, Central America.

[@MichaelWilliams-mo1vv]

This is without doubt the most amazing vintage family car video l have ever seen. Truly remarkable. When l passed my driving test back in 1984 these cars were already fading away as the escort mk3 was coming in but there were still a few examples around and l considered one as my first car.

[@Bueij]

This is incredible. I’m speechless, what a beautiful car! 😱

[@ivanbeavon792]

Fascinating ! Well done Johnny you have said what most of us would say and think if it was us who found it ! But the car found you son ""the car found you " !!!!!

[@julianbingham3999]

My dad had one of these, that was 17 minutes of being a child again, thank you.

[@diegomartinmartindiego7829]

I m cooking ( pretending I know ) and I have the tablet listening to you . You have that type of voice , soothing , interesting , realistic . No pun intended , like James may , Tiff . You talk about it without a script and talking about a box and the thing inside and here I m paying attention Eggs are burnt , great !

[@knowledgebyte]

Yeah, barn finds. I was walking with my girlfriend many moons back when through the cracks of the planks of an old barn I spotted a MkIIA long wheel base land-rover. The engine was out and it looked in need of some TLC. So I tracked down the owner and bought it. The engine had, had a re-bore and needed reassembling. I befriended the old gent who was a right card and we set about restoring the engine. After that I spent countless fun hours modifying it with a fairy overdrive, webber economy carb and bits of home made electronics for the windscreen wipers - timed wash-wipe etc. I rebuilt the front UJ's and oil-bath front hub housings in my landlady bathtub (ha-ha) and lugged the gearbox out single-handed (I was Hulk strong back in those day) using the front seat belts and hauled it into the back and took it apart to replace the reverse gear idler and lay-shaft. I added side windows and generally spruced her up. I also added a second battery and a second ignition key - that's another story. I had loads of fun learning all about land-rovers. The fun of driving that thing and whining down the road on the old town and country tyres and switching over to overdrive was a laugh. Once we where driving back from Swannage on a sunny day back from the coast, when a bunch of similar age kids wound down their window and did a moon alongside of us. It made us both laugh out loud. Fun days and fun memories.

[@adrianryan1975]

Have had an escort van mk1 I've been driving for 9 years n love it dearly. But this car is head n shoulders above anything I've ever seen. Thank you to the owner n you. Amazing

[@thomaskidd1400]

I know it's not the same! But I've just bought a 2004 Ford Ka ,with 190 miles on it . Still has all the stickers on and still smells like new!!!!¡

[@99AmethystZJ]

Wow, where?,how?what's the story?!! Are you going to use it though? Always a thing to ponder with mega low mileage, I've got a 20 year old Honda bike with 3 miles on it! 👍

[@thomaskidd1400]

Deceased collectors car! Apparently 1 of nine vehicles! Came across this by accident! Checked history and was hooked! Might use it on sunny day or Ford modern classic shows in UK! It will appreciate!!!

[@99AmethystZJ]

@@thomaskidd1400 great find, yep, hang onto it, enjoy..pop a vid on you tube! (Jonny style of course!)

[@thomaskidd1400]

It's on utube. KGF Classic cars 2004 Ford Ka

[@windycoder8753]

My first car, a red 1972 1100L MK1 escort, ex rep's car with 70,000 on the clock in 1978. Drove it for 5 years before upgrading to a purple 1972 1300E MK1 for the next 5 years ;-). I learnt all about car maintenance on that first car, from replacing a wing, to spraying it so looked like a real rough job under sodium lights - lol. I remember using some thin steel held in place with plastic padding so when they MOT'ed it and tried to stick a screwdriver through the sills it looked like it had been welded in place - eventually had to get it 'properly welded' though. You are one lucky chappy, I'm now going to have to watch your video again!

[@iansutcliffe9178]

Just checked. Its on the road some where as its taxed until next year

[@chilman6461]

Thanks for that

[@DrWhosmate]

Registered 3rd January 1975, MOT expired 27 September 2018 so it is probably back in storage or being trailer transported to shows. Last MOT shows 1124 miles on the clock so it had a few trips over the 2010 to 2018 period. Last changed hands or V5C renewed: 22 April 2016 Still insured and taxed to April 2021. Lovely to see a pristine original MK1 again.

[@NB_NB_NB]

@@DrWhosmate mot exempt?

[@DrWhosmate]

@@NB_NB_NB Yes of course, you are correct, I had forgotten about the MOT exempt changes back in 2018 that no longer requires cars to undergo an MOT past 40 years old. Thanks for the comment, N B!

[@freddieparrydrums]

@@DrWhosmate My grandad had an RS1600 only 1000 made

[@beakittelscherz5419]

I m crying....over an old new car...I m not ashamed! thanks 4 sharing.

[@grahamcuddy2215]

that should be put in a museum

[@michaelmassart2349]

Amazing find. I've bought a new Civic Type R in 2017 (the current FK8 model). Initially, this would have been my daily driver, but shortly after placing the order at the dealership, I was given a company car. As the Type R was my first new car I ever bought (present to myself for my 40th birthday), I didn't want to part with it. She is now in storage with less than 500 miles on the clock after 2,5 years of ownership... Most people declare me crazy or foolish, but I truly enjoy owning cars without feeling the need to drive them often (I also own a 2004 Honda S2000 with less than 29K miles, which has been in my possession for around 12 years now, and I am currently in the process of restoring a 1967 Honda S800 Coupé) Glad to discover that there must be more kindred spirits out there...

[@trickydickydoudlebug]

Absolutely AMAZING. I mean what else can you say? Just staggering!

[@theretrogeek2281]

I just bought a BMW E30 from an old chap,with 20K miles on the clock never out in the rain,no rot or rust to be seen,still has its original tyres Michelin says w.germany on it from 1987...Truly magnificent!

[@blatantlyjohn6234]

Such an amazing find, I’m so glad you documented this

[@michealroberson2651]

Plated afew in one of them

[@garyandrewranford]

7th January... lol... that's my birthday... Aside, this is an amazing video of a classic car. Dam fine work Jonny Smith I was the proud owner of a Ford Escort Mk1 1300e in Purple in 1983/84. Sadly, I put cheap tyres on it and wrote it off, I sure did love that car...

[@rustyfox81]

Great video, it was like Howard Carter entering the tomb of Tutankhamen !

[@jameshunter6762]

Aaaah this brings back memories I had a ford escort 1300 L (TTN 465M) in Modena green bought it when it was only 2 years old had it for 9 years in total travelled all over with it, best car I can honestly say that I ever had so simple to work on that's when fords were fords and it never let me down, a big thumbs up from me for sharing this video

[@msix1836]

Thank you so much for posting this video, brings back lots of old memories ! Also much surprised that a young guy like you are into these sorts of old branded cars which I dare to say 95% of the young generation car puffs don't recognize at all. I had a Cortina 1600E, a Lotus Cortina and my favorite one was a German Capri 2.8 V6. Never owned an Escort but a guy that I hanged out with did drive an Escort GT and I rode in that car many times, liked it a lot, nimble and peppy, I think it was a 1500cc. Ford in the early years built a lot of nice cars in Britian, Germany, even Australia. Somewhat odd that I had driven but never an owner of any American Fords though 😅 Thank you once again and good luck.

[@alunhoskins4513]

My first car, in 1975, was a 1970 Escort Super - later Super being replaced and badged as XL. Reg’ # was KDY 598H. Bought from Hollingsworth Ford dealership in Hastings, Sussex in 1976. It was newly painted in Silver Fox having been completely re sprayed in the dealer’s new paint shop. It was probably damaged or something as it had been blue. It was a completely ‘stripped back to bare shell’ respray, not a hint anywhere of the old colour. Log book colour details changed as well. I loved it, thought I was Roger Clarke.😂 I got away with many a near ‘scrape’ in that wonderful, forgiving Escort. Loved this video. (I’m 66 now….somehow)

[@timothyhall7606]

This is incredible, I would love to see this vehicle in person!... Thank you for the video!

[@aarongraham8939]

my heart was a bit of a flutter watching that, an utterly beautiful example of such an iconic car for millions of us of that cars heritage. i am truely envious of its owner.

[@alanmaughan7968]

It was a privilege to watch that film, I had to close my gawping mouth a few times!

[@Bevoin1970]

What an exceptional find!! Absolutely amazing! I left school aged 16 when that car was born, they were ten-a-penny back then. You wouldn't have looked at a Ford Escort like this twice, unless it was the Mexico. This truly is a nugget of Gold and therefore needs the utmost respect and love showered upon it. Like you say it is a "Time Capsule" and therefore needs donating to a motor museum so it can be loved and cherished for ever, so that kids who haven't been born yet can one day feast their eyes upon this little Gem. - Thanks so much for sharing. 5*****

[@doddy2010]

My first car was one of these. EMH 384J. Wish I'd hung on to it! Great video.

[@xkitejunkie]

Fabulous Jonny! Thank you so much for sharing something so special with the world! So amazing to see and experience. I love everyday humdrum cars preserved. I own a 1974 Vauxhall Viva HC with only 16K miles and I thought that was original but man this is a whole different level. It's inspired me to wheel her out again and get her back on the road.

[@KarlHamilton]

Where's the follow up video then? :/

[@lintongrant2978]

Ford escorts was one of Jamaica best cars back in the days

[@chrisrichmond403]

Wowsers what a find. In the late 1980’s until 1992 as a family we owned a red Mk1 Ford Escort 3dr with the Registration Number GFL 610N so it is a Near Reg sister of this one . Our old Escort was sold to become a Rally Car .. Not sure if it survives or not.

[@semiacoustic2017]

Thanks for the vid, this exact model was my first car, bought second hand back in 1981 for £275, I loved it, very reliable and easy to work on, brought back some great memories.

[@ImplyDods]

It's quite possible that those seat covers where sewn by the ladies at Dagenham who ended up striking for and getting equal pay for women.This caused legislation in this country and subsiquently arround the world. History you have touched. Amazing find.

[@jeffheineken6709]

Andrew Wilkinson and is why they had orders delayed over months and months and punters went to other manufacturers as in some comments above. Girl power!

[@tomsvenkesen2476]

Andrew Wilkinson old Ford newer die

[@drg111yt]

Thank you, what a beautiful little upper spec Escort in a stunning color - similar color blue to my 1999 Toyota Corolla. I prefer an honest car like this to expensive exotica. Rest In Peace the original owner, and long live their Mk 1 Escort.

[@brendanbradyfan02]

This is that bloke from fifth gear , no idea he had a KZbin channel. Interesting that he can make videos that are better to watch than fifth gear episodes

I especially enjoy VBH's segments also, mostly because I'd like to drill the fuck right out of her.

[@GediSpock]

Superb.

[@bobbythompson3544]

This little guy is a top class presenter,, I loved this video, I also loved the test he did for the Dacia Duster in the mountains in South America, excellent no nonsense presenter, I think it was Fifth Gear they were all good on it, crap talk!

[@marksmith8685]

John Fisher yeah you wish... probly still a virgin.

[@kevinsong712]

No wonder he looks familiar...

[@Dan-up6do]

That Jonny is a beautiful little thing, opening up a garage to something like that is every car guys dream.

[@gspiggity]

Nice to see, I had a mark one as my second car here in NZ in the late 80s early 90's, certainly wasn't in that condition lol

[@johnburns4017]

This needs to be in a museum and driven once or twice a year, keeping all standard.

[@mk1kieran]

This is bloody awesome! Glad to hear it's still in the same hands and those bundle of NOS Ford Parts are literally a gold mine 😱. Nice work Jonny I enjoyed that! Looking forward to the road drive video.

[@Dandadadan83]

Vultures at the ready :)

[@StefanoZannoni]

Your channel is wonderfully plenty of gems like this. My grandfather used to drove me school every morning in this exact model exact color, but with light brown leather interior and natural gas propulsion installed after market here in Italy. I have so many great memories and I miss him so much.

[@TheGreatest1974]

Seeing this escort makes me glad in my heart. There is a god!

[@keithmaddern]

The owner of this car shows how meticulous he was about looking after one's pride & joy, something people of his age and era had & that people today rarely posses now. This cost him a large amount of money & he wanted to take great care of it to protect his investment. Oiling all the chrome, paintwork & underside of the car was an immense amount of thought and care and can only have my full admiration of his pride and commitment. What a truly remarkable owner and barn find and undoubtedly the only one that will ever be found preserved so beautifully & conscientiously preserved along with such low milage & all the spares. This is the find of the century for all car lovers. Wow!

[@normanrhone2791]

It is absolutely mind boggling to see nutcases giving thumbs down to such good videos. These nutcases are everywhere.

[@hoppinonabronzeleg9477]

They are not carpervy enough!

[@lukecoughlan701]

With a name like Norman I’d be very quiet

[@TimothyArcher]

Yes, it's amazing how few of the 4K+ viewers took the time to give it a "thumbs up", while so many took the time to give it a "thumbs down". Rather pathetic, really, especially for such a great video.

[@WoolyBuggerPicker]

TBH he doesn't come across as very endearing in the first minute and a half of the video, maybe that's why.

[@keithmaddern]

That's the trouble with the world today critics with no knowledge of what they speak & like to go against the grain as windup merchants their views are unimportant, unintelligible & the incoherent babblings of morons who have no credence in any form.

[@jaytv777]

you think there can't be , but I love that these cars are STILL out there - excellent - thanks for showing it

[@GRPLiningServices]

With a video like this showing so much respect for the car and the owner you must be worth subbing to. Brilliant video and story well told.

[@chrismorris5608]

GRPLiningServices what a load of shit

[@TimothyArcher]

@GRPLiningServices , I agree with you. I happened to see this video in my suggested views, this morning, and thought it looked to be worth a watch. It was less than five minutes in, by the time I subscribed. Good stuff!

[@jimcook3448]

Passed my test (aged 18) in 1983 and my first car was a 74 1100L Escort. Great cars.

[@503redbull]

Wow!!! Thats an amazing car well kept! I wish the U.S had that kind of Ford Escort.

[@musicauthority7828]

it should be junked like every Ford

[@watershed44]

@CARPERVERT *SHERYL, THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING THIS PRISTINE EXAMPLE OF AN ICON* It's like going back in a time machine and seeing the car driving out of the showroom for the first time....incredible!

[@gotham61]

Was there ever a follow up to this? I'd love to see how it looked once Ford Heritage went through it.

[@Gandalf606]

My first car was a MK1 Escort 1.3L. Drove it for a year and then bought a MK2 Escort 1.6 Ghia in White with Black Vinyl roof. I used to pretend I was Bodie driving around with Doyle, on a mission for CI5. Great times. Did all my own servicing and work on the car. So this is so moving. What an amazing find. Beautiful car - what a lucky owner - whoever that is!

[@pharmer45]

Great video Jonny. It's so good to see something that's not an RS or a Mexico and still unmolested. Looking forward to seeing your video of the road test. I have a 1972 2 door 1300XL in the same colour. It was my first car when I bought it for £500 in 1987 and I still have it 31 years later! Do you have any idea what happened to the spare seat covers? I'm about to treat mine to a large dose of TLC and my front passenger seat has a split in it.

[@larryjimbob]

A good upholsterer would be able to make you new covers using the original as a template with no problem.

[@gee3883]

Wow cracking find. I had the good fortune to find a 1972 emerald green 4 door MK1 with 2600 miles on the clock. It blew my mind, it had never had a service, MOT, no one had ever sat in the back or used the jack and it was still on its original tyres and oil. The more I looked at it the more I was amazed.The fact that it could be just sat like this one for all those years.

[@DasArab]

WoW!!!! Id rather watch this kind of content than anything Shmee150 or MrJJW could produce!!!!

[@RetroGamerVX]

I find shmee to be a shallow, materialistic idiot

[@diegocalcagno5102]

@@RetroGamerVX I watched 2 videos I think, then I blocked him, " a shallow, materialistic idiot " the correct definition of shmee

[@yourfather5324]

Dash Cam Das good for you

[@isaachunt5799]

cant stand that smarmy smee150..the mans a fekin tosser

[@1SaG]

This is amazing. Especially since that Escort is the first of the cars my parents had during my early childhood that I still remember in detail. My mom used to drive a piss-yellow Mk I back in the 70s and even though I'm not a huge Ford-fan, I've always had a soft spot for this model.

[@LesBrecknell]

I would loved to have known more about who Mr Mk1 Owner was and what motivated him to want to preserve this everyday runabout for the future. Its almost like he was preparing for his own automotive Valhalla, one which would require a really 'tidy motor' and a bloody good stock of spares to keep it going for all eternity.

[@CubeCyclone]

It's a unicorn car! Incredible to see such an amazing iconic vehicle. Glad this video was made.

[@hedgehog1995]

wow, wish i had kept mine it was my first car and i loved it and still love the design now.

[@boblow2451]

My first car was a K reg 1972 1300 XL 4 door Escort in Tawny jay (a metallic Gold/Brown) Watching this video i admit brought back some great memories (and a tear or two to my eyes) It is true the saying about your first car being like your first true love. Flat out it would touch 78 MPH at the time it felt like time travel now a days A Mondeo Diesel will pass that easily with three gear changes left to spare. Yes in the 3 years i owned it there was a few breakdowns but you could lift the bonnet and understand what parts were and did and could normally fix them at home. Also the traction in damp conditions left lots to be desired by today's standard Drifting the car was easy Keeping it on the road at speed in winter was a optional feature but the fun was intense. By the end of the 3rd year it had mutated first through a 1600 engine then into a monster 1800 engine twin 40 carbs upgraded suspension Cortina rear axle and gearbox (if i remember correctly) mexico wheel arches wider wheels and upgraded brakes. All coming together to make the car capable of just shy of a 110 mph car great on straight smooth dry roads. Scary as hell if there was any moisture and corners. Those were the days when it was easy to shuffle car parts around and if it wouldn't fit just use a bigger hammer (AKA the universal multi purpose tool kit.) Back when the MOT break test was a box with a pendulum in it sitting on floor beside the examiner. Exhaust emissions test was basically hum yes cars make exhaust emissions that is normal. And the windscreen washer pump was basically a rubber ball fitted with pipes you stamped on to squirt the window. Safety the word was new to every one and thinking about it did not happen often. BUT driving was more fun back then and not so much of a necessity heck there was even big red things called Buses you could use to commute to work back then. Back when petrol was 49.6 p a gallon (thats @ 11 p a ltr) Cigarettes were classed as good for you and cost 31 p for 20 players number 6. meaning a tank of fuel and a weeks supply of smokes for around £7.00 and a pint of beer was 20 p oh and milk 5 p... Gawd i getting old me thinks .... But great video great car brilliant find Thank you sir

[@lestaylor7767]

Great video, Would love to see it after it was brought back to life with a full valet. tried looking for the follow up. Jonny did you ever make that 2nd video?

[@davidmulligan42]

That's a fantastic find! I remember the first time I saw a MK1 Escort as a little kid in Ireland. It was the light green color, and I remember being blown away by how futuristic it looked, compared to all the gray or black Morris Minors that lined our street.

[@MajorKlanga]

Great for a bit of nostalgia but it was a good example of why the Japanese car manufacturers made such inroads at that time. January 1975 was when the Mk 11 came out I believe and that wasn't much more modern. The quality of construction was appalling and the equipment levels were parsimonious. My dad had ordered an Escort 1300XL in 1974 but the delivery time kept being delayed to over 9 months in the end so he cancelled it and went to a Datsun dealer and bought a 120Y which was delivered straight away in January 1975. It cost less than the Escort but was more modern looking and came with reclining seats, head restraints, heated rear window, radio, cigar lighter and tinted glass as standard. And the doors didn't make that awful tinny clang when they closed. Apart from cold start issues, it was completely reliable but like most cars of that era, rust got the better of it.

[@JamesMinchew]

I had a 1977 Mk2 Popular 1.1 in 1996. It had retrofitted fog lights and heated rear screen. We added a radio. That was about it for equipment. The seat belts were static lines, the paint was falling off and power was completely nonexistent. The back seat was really comfortable, though and it handled reasonably well. The shell was recently sold by a later owner for thousands.

[@craiggreen4388]

Us brits held so-called British brand cars in such high regard for too long. Fords, Vauxhalls, Rovers, Jaguars. None of it was as smooth as the Japanese produced stuff. It is a shame our motor industry dried up, but good to see that Hondas, Nissans & even Hyundai are not frowned upon now. Everyone can travel in reliable transport.

[@sportshatch]

No car has ever rusted faster than a Datsun 120Y. They would have holes through the body in three years. The Fords of that era were bad but normally made five years before the wings fell off.

[@aussiebloke609]

Don't forget the clay brown - that's another nasty Datsun colour. Still...I miss the 120Y. A mate of mine used to have one with a modded 180B SSS engine (and about 160 hp @ 8000 rpm - which was stunning for the time.) Great days... :-)

[@garydunn3037]

Yes I remember that Shit Brown colour, but other colours were available. lol

[@joebloggs1444]

My first car when I was 18 back in 1981 was a blue 4 door mkI Escort just like that!! Never seen another like it till now...amazing. needs to be driven!! 😎🚐

[@CrashValleyCustoms]

Amazing video Johnny! 👍

[@waynecrothers9441]

My grandfather bought a mk2 2door escorts for £700,drove it 7 years and gave it to me as I had just passed my test, he would have loved this video, he was a real Ford man, his sister bought her cars new and totally babied them, ie wouldn't take them out In wet weather etc, stored under blankets in dry garage,unfortunately she loved allegros but after the allegro she bought a mk2 fiesta which my grandfather inherited years later, was a yellow colour, he drove that for years everyday, he swore by Ford's, God rest him....

[@soulbrother61]

Did they ever sell it

[@brynstarkiller7419]

That is beautiful .Those old motors were real works of art.Put together by hand .

[@darrencraig8654]

Did u go back for a test drive it's passed every mot since 2010 amazing find would love an update

[@billyculbert8167]

My first ever car was one one of these but the copper one at the start of this film. I loved that car and I used to get up in the middle of the night to just look at it out of the bedroom window and when I got up in the mornings the first thing I wanted to see was it. Thanks for sharing this, it brought back a lot of memories for me.

[@touretz]

Should stay at ford heritage and be kept like it is now

[@pkuudsk9927]

|No cars are meant to be driven,shown and love by all not stored away hidden for only a few to see. Better to see it driven lightly and shown after it years of sleep. If someone wanted to they could make another one ,taking all the clues from this one and put it in the heritage showroom just for people to look at. That man had a dream to keep that car and drive it many years later sadly he passed away before he could do that.

[@paulfitzgerald7513]

Totally agree with you. If it was a higher mileage car then go for it, drive it all day long. But that car is in a time warp condition and should be kept that way. It’s irreplaceable.

[@Wahian1]

the car is still very little used by whoever owns it now. by Sept 2017 it had covered 1124 miles with some earlier years of 4 to 5 miles per year-ish. My own MK 1 1970 Escort however, had travelled anywhere from Lands End to John O'Groats. Paid £700 for it used, and sold in 1976 for £400. Never let me down.

[@nickturner2813]

Why? It doesn't belong to Ford, does it?

[@DecibelAlex]

It would just rot away if a private person stored it. Better preserved at Ford

[@alanduffell6820]

I had a 1300E as my first car in 1986. Same colour. Loved it. Great to see a lovely as new car. Worth a few quid, however not as much as it would have been if it were a 3 door. Crazy, but its the 3 door escorts that are worth so much more.

[@alynicholls3230]

thats better than the one in the motor museum

[@Electrolab28Ag]

I am building a MK2 and I wish I had this car. Would pay handsomely for it. But its not in my country. This is an epic find. I watch this video very often and I can't believe how emasculate and well preserve this car is.