Classic Ford Hot Hatch left in the garden to rot for 25 years. Will it run? Cardening not Barn Find!

[@GeorgeMurrayMuirhead]

Johnny you are not going to believe this , when you were blowing up the tyres I was just thinking to myself I wonder if there has ever been a time when any of them have exploded when blowing them up and not even a minute later it just happened, HOW BLOODY STRANGE IS THAT , that absolutely freaked me out when that happened lol

[@Decrepit_biker]

I thought exactly the same thing.... I'm not sure I'd be having my face too close to that tyre Johnny .... 😂😂😂

[@dankrafted]

i think that literally every time hes blowing up any of the barn find tyres, often wincing in anticipations :D

[@MrThegenral1]

🧢

[@throwback19841]

yeah I always try to stand a distance away from any tire when I'm inflating lol

[@danielgraves4107]

I’ve been in that car… 😂

[@darkmatter5071]

Johnny, you defo need to do follow ups on all these great finds. It would be great to see restorations or onward journeys of these cars.

[@davidfleming2468]

Yeah definitely, follow ups please 🙏

[@Chris-pv2ht]

Yes I agree with that

[@philtucker1224]

Great to see all the plastic parts haven’t rusted away! Just the rest of the car.

[@marktaylor9678]

how can plastic rust

[@GaryFry-k6l]

​@@marktaylor9678✈️🤦

[@philtucker1224]

@@marktaylor9678 derrr, Mark, hello? is there anyone at home? 😂🤣😂🤣

[@victorbox6289]

@@marktaylor9678 Irony Mark!!!

[@scalewarmachines]

It deserves to LIVE! Little old rust bucket put on a fine show for us. Somebody should save that little fella.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Totally agree. Hope so!

[@more.power.]

Thanks Jonny and to Paul for letting us into your mums garden . Great to see these older cars coming back into our lives.

[@afisherpga]

Had a 1985 C reg back in the late 90s when I was at university. Best car ever. Wish I could bring one over to the states where I live now. One day for sure

[@gymbruh1824]

The underneath of that car is toastttt

[@mikebull1972]

At first I just despaired at the poor thing rotting on the grass, but the more evident it became that it had hung on, the better things got! Bless it's heart for surviving and wanting to live; I hope it goes to a really good home. Great content Jonny 👏👏👏

[@phillkirby]

Whoever buys this is gonna need alot of patience,deep pockets and have a whole lot of love ❤

[@dcallan812]

sadly its a total rot box. Just hope its worth it someone to fix.

[@GuyNamedKy]

I'd say it's a parts car for someone who just wants a driver and doesn't care about matching numbers. Swap everything over to a 1.1 bonus and you'd have a cheap "XR2" ish.

[@dazzx10r]

@@dcallan812 i've fixed worse than this, you should have seen my mk2 escort

[@richpolecat6527]

Needs scrapping.

[@Gameovermam]

@@GuyNamedKyI dropped a XR2 into my flight. Lowered on 7 spoke RS 13 inch alloys. Painted pacfica blue with yellow strip. Loved that car.

[@TimHede]

Johnny.. I really like you channel... I am a farm boy ...grew up in America... tap the bowls.. floats are sticking... while it's running spray carb cleaner and fill the bowl. ..I am surprised all the different makes of ford's I've never seen here... I had a 1967 mustang k code high performance 289.. it made 225 horsepower.. I put a shift kit in..high flow exhaust. . Electronic ignition... after market heads... made close to 300 horsepower.. light car.. destroyed big Block chevys..Dodges. imports..

[@craighynd5815]

A bit of light recommissioning and new bodyshell and that XR2 will be ready for the road ;)

[@BILLZ62]

😂

[@mazjap]

Wishful thinking 😂

[@glurak888]

My painter is currently doing one. Lots of welding, new rockers

[@kramer26]

I wouldn't call a re-shell "light recommissioning"... 😂

[@MrMaster72]

Triggers broom…😁

[@kawonnowak]

XR2: immediate memory... It's 1989, during the ambulance driver's strike (which proved significant). I was in the fast lane on the M25 around South Mimms. It was the middle of the night and absolutely tipping it down. My Mk1 XR2 decided to start aquaplaning and having spun through 180° crossed the motorway, hit the side of the carriageway and rolled and somersaulted down an embankment. I'm still here but the car is very definitely not going to be found anywhere in a barn.

[@DaDa-David]

Fookin hell !

[@phillkirby]

@kawonnowak legend has it your still waiting for an ambulance 🚑 😂😂😂😂

[@kawonnowak]

​@@phillkirbybrilliant mate 😅

[@kawonnowak]

@@phillkirby OK so a van driver saw me go off and he stopped and was standing at the top of the embankment when I finished crawling up it (covered in blood). I passed out after that. Police told me that he then started jumping out in front of oncoming vehicles trying to get people to stop and help. One vehicle he did that to was a police car. They ferried me to hospital.

[@kawonnowak]

​@simoncullen7960 I'd have been seriously impressed if he'd been able to climb out of the van driver's door...😅

[@99AmethystZJ]

That was a miracle she ran Jonny! nice one, hope it finds a new home soon 👍

[@alechall7082]

​@erorufurakku6378 hahah, good one.

[@UnmuffledRyan]

As a child of the 80's, my mum had a black XR2 with pepperpots just like this, must have been the late 80's. Used to get driven to my cub group, to school, and then the weekends my dad would take me and my brother out in it for "a tune up" as mum apparently didn't drive it properly and he needed to make sure it all worked, he'd redline it mercilessly down country roads with me and my brother squealing in our booster seats! I think it had a bit of a bad boy exhaust on too and sounded fabulous. Video's just given me a HARD hit of nostalgia, not quite reduced to tears, but close! Mum then sold it and got a black mk1 golf GTI with a BBS bodykit and wheels which was even more fun! She sold that to an Australian guy who turned up bare foot in the depths of winter with a wad of cash, so the story goes. Don't make 'em like they used to! Keep it up, love seeing these relics.

[@kramer26]

Your mum sounds like a proper catch!

[@CraigMedia-xh1cy]

Lack of preservation is an understatement here. Good luck to whoever buys this rot box. If hed kept it dry stored hed be sitting on a small fortune.

[@Lamster66]

He still is, It's not like you can just go and pick one up! Even dry stored you be spending money! The people that would want this would be doing a nut and bolt rebuild anyway. The extra £10- £15K to restore the shell isn't going to bother them

[@butchmeister80]

@@Lamster66ain’t worth a fortune in that state

[@Lamster66]

@@butchmeister80 It's worth what someone will pay. And with sort after classic cars it depends on what a restored one is worth. And If you can get one. Even in that state it's worth a lot more than it was when he parked it there. I never actually liked the XR2 so for me it's kinda so what. Same for the XR3i I had 2 of those back in the day. Wouldn't want another one. So what ever they are worth they aren't to me

[@CraigMedia-xh1cy]

@Lamster66 😂

[@CraigMedia-xh1cy]

@Lamster66 it would bother me

[@riccapucho]

Ha! Had an identical black XR2 back in the day. Torque steer horror, but lots of fun. Quick for its time.

[@iainrutherford184]

Brings back memories of my time in BFG. My mate purchased a tax free XR2 in the late 80s. The only other hot hatch (that i can remember) was the 1300 MG Metro. Awesome days!

[@parleekingy]

Oct 1985 bought a red XR2 new as a german import for £5850, UK dealer wanted £7150....ran it for 20 months and 20k miles and sold for £100 profit.....bought a Opal Manta GTE hatch in white, which started a series of German cars. I did have an 200 quid tidemeover Mk1 (brown) fiesta 1.1 for 7 weeks as temp when a truck took out a mint Golf GTI Mk2 . looking back the XR2 was a cracking car, very practical and was driven really really hard. with 96BHP you could use most of it most of the time and speeds were not insane. I hope it gets back on the road,

[@dcallan812]

I can let you off, gardens are just as good. I had a white XR2 for 4 years, it was very nice apart from not having power steering. Shame to see this one not used. Great video 2x👍

[@stew4760]

I had 3 in the early 2000's. Loved them all, Red, White, Blue. that little extra under your right foot that opened up the carb just a touch. what fun !!! keep fit steering and keep fit windows.... good memories. Great too see. Love the Chanel brings a smile that's for sure..

[@CableWrestler]

Are you on the XRTWO forum?

[@Galahadfairlight]

I borrowed an XR2 of this vintage from a female friend as my own Fiesta wasn't capable of getting me to a job interview. On the way back, a Renault 5 GT Turbo was sat behind Mr at a junction near Old Sarum on the outskirts of Salisbury. I thought I'd have a race with him, which was a great thought but completely ridiculous as I pulled out left onto the road, he nailed it, went around me on the opposite side of the road and pissed off so far ahead of me, the XR2 might as well have been parked up in a lay by with the engine off, to say it stood no chance against the R5 really downplays just how it annihilated the XR2.

[@badgersalesman5595]

That gnomes a proper stroker

[@mrmunchcorp]

He looked like a complete sleeve. Doing that sort of thing on camera.

[@micheltebraake7915]

I have a Fiesta 1.1L MK2 from 1986, so this will be right up my alley. Greetings from the Netherlands.

[@markarnold8160]

Tinkering with Twin Webers - takes me back thirty five years to when I had a 1.3 Ghia

[@01FozzyS]

That poor XR. Hope it gets another life!

[@hoonaticbloggs5402]

As ore maybe

[@Nozes..]

I dreamed of the XR2 when I had my Mk2 1.6D,still to this day wouldn't mind to live that teenage dream!

[@seanday6403]

Nice 1 ! I had an E reg red one £60 in 2001 😂 non faded lady owner loads of history 80 odd k loved that car even with tracking out!

[@si_h44]

i love these videos when they get a old car running, even if that car is beyond restoring as there is a tonne of rust, there is so many good parts on it still worth a load of money

[@robertcollins106]

Loved my red one. Had the obligatory Moss alarm.

[@Ispharel]

My mum used to race a red fiesta xr2 in the hot hatch circuit in the 90s. I have an unending love for these cars and it’s a car I would love to own one day. It’s so sad to see it in this condition but I hope it gets the love and attention it needs ❤️

[@dnf1903]

Brilliant video thanks Jonny. Love the old Fords.

[@bnrynlds]

I used to get rides to raves from a lad called Tech Ron. Clearly he's done well for himself.

[@martyjones1413]

7:31 love the neighbour hanging out the upstairs window.

[@mattyrab3477]

I’m 51 now, i had a grey XR2 as my second car at 18 loved it

[@breg72]

A lot of memories for me I had a very similar one D325 RND on steels if I had the money I always wanted to swap for pepper pots. Was a great car and that interior so many memories…thanks Jonny

[@butterfliesandtape]

Man, these just keep coming and coming and coming. Thanks Jonny and all at TLB for another STUPENDOUS episode!! Love me a Fast (ahem) Ford... Never realised the pepperpots were an option. Thanks again, great viewing, great cardening!

[@wafty6435]

ahhhh the memories.... my first car back in 1997 when I was 17 was a C reg XR2, looked just like this one!, cost me £900 to buy and £1000 to insure! One thing I remember was it would do 90 in third.....on a private road of course ;)

[@orbytl2799]

same, my first car in 97, mine was B reg, cost £1000 to insure and can also oddly remember it doing 90 in third lol

[@Tom-lf8hx]

Smith and sniff is 100% the best "talkin bobbins" and cars podcast ever ❤❤😂😂

[@thomasvaughan294]

Seriously thought it was under the bush just before the reveal!

[@gordyl9247]

I actually liked the steel wheels with the plastic trims over the alloy pepper pots 😊

[@R-Tap]

Be cool to see it restored with an OEM+ look and of course, a set of those white OZ Racing wheels that look cool on fast Ford's.

[@gordyl9247]

@R-Tap yeah it would, maybe thats what I like about the oe steels and trims. Before their time Oz looks. 😎👍

[@chriscomparescars4416]

Oooooooo thr nostalgia being released from eatching this 👌👍

[@TheJmebe]

Yeah! Love it. Pepper pot alloys looked great back in the day, and look even better now. Great looking, and great to drive. 🎉

[@georgesarapa3651]

This was excellent. Thank you for this. My first car with a stick was a '78 Ford Fiesta followed closely by an '80..the "S" variant no less (red..with a sunroof!!! ). I loved those cars and wish that they were still available here in the States. I remember jumping into the '78 without ever having driven a manual and tearing down the street, no license plates, no registration just the sense of pure joy that can only be experienced by a 17- year old rowing his own gears for the first time!

[@BobsYirUncle]

That’s a massive undertaking good luck to whoever takes it on

[@delboyfly1139]

Got my one and only ever speeding ticket in my MK1 XR2 in late 80s. Then owned three Mk2 XR2s in the 90s. Great vid as always love the content.

[@beckyhskns]

I loved my fiesta’s. Mk1 blue 1.1 then Mk2 1.1 black with the XR2 steel/plastic cover wheels.Then finally the blue XR2 with the pepper pots, posing around Worcester in the late 80s early 90s ❤️

[@stevecarter5084]

Another great video Jonny,nice to hear the story behind the car as well as seeing the efforts to get it going again. Thanks 🎉

[@adrianvanner5757]

Another great video, I had a Red Mk2 XR2 D963WBB for years back in the day. Loved it, went all over the UK in it chasing the RAC Rally etc.

[@madalex26]

I love those old 80s 90s car brings me back!

[@malph9216]

I was fortunate enough to have owned 2 XR2s back in the day, a black MK1 followed by a red MK2, both on pepperpot wheels. If I'd know then what I know now how these little nuggets of cars are so sought after, I would still have both.........Hindsight is a wonderful thing, as were the XR2s.

[@stevecurd9113]

Great vid I had a Supersort then a XR2 back in the great days of cars,certainly wish I'd kept them

[@karlmills1364]

Great episode.. more memories of old cars ! I bought my mk2 xr2 for 180 quid when I was 20 in 2002 !! Love it and felt so fast after the mk1 popular I used for a year previously as my first car... ( i paid 50 quid for that 😳) Used it for a couple years and ended up racing at a banger track …. I know I know ! Great find jonny

[@gary7014]

I had a silver e plate one back in the day still my favourite car of all time had it colour coded and r/s seven spoke wheels lol If I had spare money I would buy this any day Great video and find as always Jonny

[@robinhadley]

I bought my white F reg for £3200 in 93. Loved that wee thing.

[@mikefpe]

Had so much fun in these little cars over the years. Wish they were still £500 pand bargains to be had out there. Good to see this one firing up again after so many years.

[@davidrix804]

Great content Johnny boy,more of these please👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧🍺🍺🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@nickdeal1941]

I had a D reg XR2 in black that was 3 years old when I got it, then a few years later a divorce cost me my baby Ford D520STA, LOVED IT!

[@alistairfairweather1201]

I love XR2’s. Used to get them as a hire car occasionally as a free upgrade then had a track day XR2 for years. Great memories.

[@shaunwafer6907]

Love the Slick 50 sticker and the moss security alarm👍🏻

[@kevinquinton9838]

Johnny tow the trailer tent with the all agro😂

[@mark_terrinda]

Had a couple of these back in the day. Lots of fun. The Tasman Blue one was a beauty. Used to put the seats down and get my surfboard inside the car for trips down the 303. The little digital clock up on the 'roof' was so cool.

[@andypalin3287]

Criminal keeping this gem outside! 😵

[@BluejuiceT4]

Agree....and left the handbrake on 😮

[@cafe405]

As they said, when it was parked it wasn't worth a ton and there as no sign it would become something valuable.

[@andypalin3287]

@@BluejuiceT4 the owner is supposed to be a mechanic FFS! 😂

[@stevesas632]

@@andypalin3287 life got in the way remember 😂

[@kylem324]

It wasn’t worth anything then, and the idea that storing it indoors would easily have eclipsed its value today. I’m sure that when he parked it, he wouldn’t have imagined at the time that he would have left it for as long as he did. But that’s life. You get busy and you don’t have the time deal with it. If it hadn’t sat as long as it has, it probably would have been recycled already.

[@pauldupre2269]

Yay. I had a mk2 XR2 for a few months, before I put it on it's roof 🤕 Great car though, absolutely loved rallying it round the back lanes back in the 90's 😂 #classicvehiclesdevon

[@andyjamieson9576]

I had an 1989 XR2 that I gave away (nobody would pay for it) in 2004. Miss it to this day. Brilliant little car!

[@harrow33lee]

Jonny thank you for this video, this was the last vehicle I had before I left Britain to move to the states, I have so many memories of driving mine around Wales, if only I still had mine. I have been hoping one of these days you would do a video one The XR2. Every video is worth the wait.

[@Johnbetty46]

Had two of these back in the 90’s , darker of the metallic blues(favourite) and a white one with coloured coded bumpers which I cammed and had a full Ashley exhaust manifold back , loud and quick enough to embarrass my friends mk2 golf gti, best days and memories of proper 80’s hot hatch heaven

[@WanderlistAdventures]

I do love watching your barn find episodes. Is there any chance you can maybe do more of these. It’s not only the uncovering the car, but the stories behind it is a great watch.

[@darrenotter7947]

i was an apprentice tec at ford dealer from 84 to 90 these cars bring so many memories of doing PDI etc never thought they would be worth this sort of cash

[@TomleyRC]

I had a Mk2 XR2 as my 2nd or 3rd car in '98. Mint, rock solid Radiant Red F Reg. And then over the years had a number of Mk1's & 2's. I got banned from a forum once for breaking to many of them for parts... it was a bit of an obsession. Between 2001 & 2006 I probably had about 30 or 40 pass through my hands, some as daily's, but most to break for spares as a side hustle. £200 was the going rate for a rough one back then. I'm only a minute in.. but you could watch them rot in real time, so I expect this one hasn't got much structure left underneath 😅 Great Memories!

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Spookily solid where it matters. Tailgate was tissue paper, but the front end good and floor ok

[@TomleyRC]

@ wow.. impressive. Maybe the lack of dirt and salt off the roads for the last couple of decades has helped it out 👌

[@geoffchaplin2123]

I had one of these must be 1988, lived it one of my favourites!!

[@NeilCoatsworth-z7v]

Hi Mitch another excellent video really enjoyed it how you worked out what the problem was well done can't wait for next one

[@skrivtillpeter]

Wasn't expecting the tyre exploding. Was definitely worth waiting for this episode of the late brake show

[@arkhsm]

Fired straight up....fantastic !!

[@bendoyle5023]

Really hope you do some after restoration revisits on these barn finds johnny! 😊

[@urbanstrencan]

Johnny, your videos really got me into starting resto car project ❤❤. Keep up with great work

[@Jay-B1750]

My dad had a Ford dealer when i was a kid, remember him taking me to school in an XR2 thinking how good it sounded 😁

[@timtam6442]

Just glorious. I look forward to seeing it on a forthcoming series of Bangers and Cash! Fingers crossed for a complete parcel shelf !

[@MultiOli1986]

The famous (stolen) Scania trousers in full action 😂 great episode again! Lovely story. CMTMB 😘

[@AndrewHarcombe]

Great video really enjoyed

[@stevenmanning6884]

I had 3 festas threw the years all had rust issue due to road muck traps. Some serious welding was required but 1 then tin sump rotted out and dumped its guts on the road. Still loved them, but the KA took the crown of rot box. Even for me the KA rot was to much. Great video shame he left it to rot but the plucky Festa refuses to die. Excellent Johnny as always.

[@preonmodel9906]

The engine note of an xr2 got me into fords!

[@christee5772]

Absolutely loved my XR2 i had about 20+ years ago, such a fun car to drive, had to scrap it dues to rust, actually shed a tear leaving it in the scrap yard. Replaced it with an XR2i but it wasn't the same. Be very surprised that this one has not got severe rust under the plastic arch/sill extensions like mine had.

[@kieranwhite6647]

All those garden gnomes just make me think of Jonny's driving instructor *deflating sigh*

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Ha! You remembered?!

[@kieranwhite6647]

@TheLateBrakeShow Yes 😂 it's one of the episodes I revisit the most because it always cracks me up 😂😂

[@larryjimbob]

@@TheLateBrakeShow That gnome comment 🤣

[@jonbrookes77]

That photo of the VW camper and trailer tent reminds me of the covers on vintage OS maps 😎

[@RustyBonnet]

I still miss my old 83 Mk1 XR2. It had a good chunk of the Burton Race catalogue thrown at it, twin 40's etc etc. Great fun. Sadly it was insured off the road at the time that Hot Hatches become uninsurable in the early 90's. Bought an 85 Volvo 340DL to replace it. Purchase, insurance and a year tax cost less than the cheapest quote on the XR.

[@davidjowett8195]

This goes to prove the old saying "Old Fords never die, they just go faster"

[@chris-townson]

My mum had 3 fiestas when I was a nipper. The last one was an E reg white XR2. Great car. But I remember the first one more fondly. Poverty spec mk1 with a foot pump to operate the windscreen wash. Furious Driving will probably have the Rover!

[@grumpyto5]

Great video as always. Amazed it started.

[@TheGhiaDriver]

That Rover 75 looks like it could be lovely with a bit of TLC. It looks like it's a pre project drive model, well worth saving!

[@mikenco]

I took an '87 XR2i round Castle Combe in the early 90s. Was an amazing car back in the day.

[@derekjust5764]

I absolutely loved these back in the day had a metallic blue C reg a silver F reg and a B reg 1.1 bronze full peco and fake Xr2 kit seats wheels etc. all of them 500 or less. Even bought full turbo engine for the c plate for £100 😂 2 stolen and other crashed non fault!

[@GT380man]

15min.love the ultra wide temp gauge indicator as NORM. It could run too cool or too hot, but that’s ok, so long as it didn’t boil over. At least it was honest. Temp gauges today are artificially locked to “correct” warmed up temp, because today, drivers cannot cope with it getting warmer up long hills in summer traffic, or cooling down on motorway runs in winter, and would complain about the non faulty cooling system.

[@gavinmillington1094]

I had a white one. This brings back good memories

[@StephyonYoutube]

That’s mad to watch a tire blow up and then start bunny hopping it on the remaining 3 😆

[@fastEdCanuck]

What a neat little car, we didn’t get the Fiesta after 1980 in North America until the modern ones came out. Hopefully this gets rehomed with someone who can / will return it to its former glory.

[@flat4-]

Awesome to see revive the old fiesta... those were real funcars back then....

[@dankrafted]

when i was at primary school my best mates older brother had one of these, exactly like this. must have been late 80s early 90s, and i remember him bragging that it had 100bhp, not sure that it did, but it did go like stink. ive a mk1 escort (in bits) which is more the period of old fords i like, but always had a soft spot for a black xr2i with pepperpots

[@271chrissy]

My first car ...1995 white xr2. £750 . Great car....great to see those dash clocks again.

[@simonpriestley6912]

I hope you blagged the gnome, great smith n sniff prize giveaway. Great vid

[@keefr22]

I bought a brand new E reg XR2 in white back in 1987, it had pepperpot alloys fitted and I didn't pay any extra for them as an option, never knew some came on steels! I'd run over a dozen well prepared , much more powerful Mk1 & 2 Escorts in rallies and on the road in years previous, but that little bog standard Fiesta was the most fun car I've ever owned! Still miss it.....