I Saved A 1993 Mk1 Ford Mondeo From The Scrapyard

I admit I'm not an avid Ford enthusiast having been raised on Vauxhalls and old VW's. But that's not to say I don't appreciate the place they hold in many peoples lives and the their place in car history.
For me, like so many, its the late 80's to mid 90's Fords that bring the most interest. I certainly wouldn't say no to any Cosworth or Mk2 Escort.
However, when I saw this very standard 1993 Mk1 Mondeo at the local salavage auctions I just knew I had to win it!! If not, for sure it was destined for the crusher as to the industry there is no value in processing such a vehicle.
Although, if it was a high miler and rough around the edges then I'd have most definately passed on this opportunity and it would have sadly gone that way.
The fact that it was in such good condition, very low mileage and had minimal damage meant that 'Peter' was most definately a scrappage scheme survivor and simply had to be saved.
This is an introduction and walkaround video of Peter prior to its light restoration.
I hope you all enjoy.

[@AB-ku4my]

Peter Perfect. Appropriate.

[@Luton-Mick]

I had the mighty 1.8 td LX estate, while agonizingly slow it was ultra reliable, economical and it was perfectly geared to sit at 80 mph on a motorway cruise. Still miss it to this day.

[@DipstickUK]

I'm hoping to feel the 'power' sometime next week all going well with the final checks.

[@zoidberg444]

My dad had a 1.8 GLX estate 1.8 petrol. Had a fair bit of grunt for a 2 ton car. Only issue I think it had was the clutch might have been a bit under spec for the job. God what I would give to get that car back.

[@Roger.Coleman1949]

Great find of a now scarce survivor , appalling to think Peter was destined for scrap after obviously being cared for , well worth all the effort you put in , potentially a car that will always attract attention.

[@DipstickUK]

Thanks. I hopefully do it justice without too much awkwardness behind the camera.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

Wouldn't take much to make this a genuine concourse car. I can imagine the attention she will get at car shows.

[@DipstickUK]

I'll get it as good as I can but will still be a daily driver and no trailer queen.

[@nicodenhaak3961]

Saved it from the derby guys! Great survivor, worth while restoring.

[@DipstickUK]

The real restoration will commence in May. Its currently ungoing a make over for a charity rally i'm entering in it.

[@jackwarren3080]

As a car fan that’s ever so slightly older than the Mondy, I love seeing this old crap. Well I don’t think it’s crap but ya know.

[@DipstickUK]

Hahaha I know what you mean. Love seeing survivors being saved, restored and used.....can't stand most of the current stuff.

[@charliecoco2115]

Really looking forward to this series!

[@DipstickUK]

Thanks!! I've been buying up bits to make it look mint. Hopefully it will go for its first drive this week.....weather depending and then they'll be a new video 😃

[@MaxJames597yompfitness]

i remember back in my army days cruising to camp in one of these, it very cozy on a winters night drive

[@tonyc2837]

I had a 1.6 aspen , I traded it in for a 1.8 lx facelift model. The 1.8 was streets ahead in terms of performance and economy, amazing what a couple of hundred cc’s made to that car.

[@DipstickUK]

I know what you mean!!!! I did a charity car rally in it literally yesterday (video coming v soon). It was pretty painful on any hill!!! 2nd and 3rd most of the time although never missed a beat in 12hrs driving around Cornwall covering over 150miles. Plus, my lower back is killing me today....seats are comfortable at first but not from a day of understeer, a million gear changes and aging clutch judder!!! But was all worth it for charity. 😄

[@Retrovintage90]

Great Save. I have a 1994 Mondeo Mk1 Aspen/Base model. Mk1 Mondeo’s seem to be becoming very thin on the ground, like when was the last time you ever seen one.

[@DipstickUK]

Thanks. Can't wait to find a dry weekend to start fixing it ready for the show season. Indeed they are rare now. The only ones i've seen on the road are the mk2's. Not seen a mk1 in at least 10yrs down in deepest darkest Cornwall.

[@carmanbazza]

You can take out the yellow lens and clean it , I did this many years ago to mine, deffo my favourite Ford from the 90s,

[@DipstickUK]

I was going to do just that but managed to find a brand new set with headlight glass and rubbers for a very good price so opted for that in the end.

[@user-sf7kl9uh7k]

I bet it's had a clutch, Ford fitted the first batches of mk1's with paper thin clutch discs. It's still on it's original starter motor, that won't last long I'm afraid.

[@benday1218]

great save. the sills are amazing.

[@DipstickUK]

Yeah don't think I've seen ones so clean on any Ford I've owned.

[@dspencer8827]

Front end can be sorted 👍

[@DipstickUK]

and it has been in the 2nd video 😉😉

[@vevos_]

Wow. "Unreal" is a good word for it. The sills always seem to go on these and it doesn't matter if it's a mk1 or mk2 in my experience. But the mk2s, especially the later ones, were much more prone to rust in the rear. This is probably because Ford were desperate to save money in the last couple of years before end of production. An interesting fact you might not know since you are not "an avid Ford enthusiast..." is that you can easily spot a (very) early Mondeo by looking at the cam cover; "Peter" has "DOHC 16v" written on his. This was because Ford internally called the engine range "Zeta" which was a Lancia trademark. They then re-named it to "Zetec" and the cam covers got "16v Zetec" written on them.

[@DipstickUK]

Thanks for the reply. Great bit of information there about spotting an early one. I was also informed on an owners forum that another indicator is the half painted bumpers. These didn't last in production very long either. Again, Fords cost cutting as it was easier, cheaper and quicker to just spray the entire bumper(s).

[@benday1218]

mine has the passenger footwell leak, might be lots of things - pollen filter, door seal or blocked drain.

[@DipstickUK]

All things to check...thanks for the info😉

[@benday1218]

from the slight damp in the boot, the rear lights might be leaking, can be resealed easily enough though.

[@DipstickUK]

Will check those for sure. Also have no idea how long its been standing so could be condensation from being idle. If the lights appear aged (yet to really check) i'll buy some new items to freshen it all up. Already got a complete badge set for it.

[@benday1218]

@@DipstickUK don't want to teach grandma how to suck eggs, but the headlights - you can just replace the yellow inner lens if you can find some, and replace them with the headlights in situ.

[@DipstickUK]

@@benday1218 yes i've seen. Also, how to refurb the plastic lens...we'll have a go at that as the glass and units are perfect. Cheers Sam

[@sniffergoal]

Budget and Hertz gave me loads of these as hire cars in the mid ‘90’s, I did thousands of miles beating up the M5 & M6. Really great cars, so much better than the old Sierras & Cavaliers they’d used to give me. I usually got an LX but occasionally a GLX although they were always 1.8 or 2.0 versions, the latter felt really quick for the time. You got used to spotting the differences between the trim levels - the GLX got different wheel trims, rear headrest, slightly softer better upholstery, few more electrics. Bumper may be tricky, the few I see these days always seem to have ones cracked and taped up

[@DipstickUK]

This 1.6 will struggle to to keep up on the M5/M6 nowadays I feel.....certainly no rocket but will do the task for many a driver. Your correct on the bumper...found a white one but had a massive crack. Luckily, found a NOS one for £150 so snapped that up. Plus a bonus as the damaged bumper was in the car upon delivery...complete with grills and rubber splitter!!!! No foglights though but they are easily sourced.

[@user-sf7kl9uh7k]

The 2.0 was undergeared, the 1.8 was nearly as quick but coarse.

[@DipstickUK]

@@user-sf7kl9uh7k Can't wait to experience the 1.6 power then ;)

[@user-sf7kl9uh7k]

@@DipstickUK Smooth if nothing else, and 5 mpg more than the 1.8

[@dspencer8827]

I love those wheels si wheels. Sadly they are just trims 😢

[@matthewdove3520]

My uncle had one of these in 4 different shades of red 🤣

[@leonardgoldberg2879]

That car has been in a heated garage it's entire life. It looks like a dry Country import.

[@DipstickUK]

Looking at its condition then I'd say you are spot on. Most definately been garaged its entire life and by all 3 previous owners I'd say.

[@mrc7478]

GLX: very comfy

[@DipstickUK]

Yes it is surprisingly comfortable still after 30 odd years. Although, I need to sort the height adjust as it goes up and not down...so sitting to high for ultimate comfort.

[@kristoph7606]

Really is an amazing find, was looking forward to this one, cant believe how tidy it is, whats the score, one previois lady owner, or parked up and forgot about, either way awesome fi My dad had one of these as a company car, i loved it, so much so, that when he was due for another car a few years later, he asked me what i would like, i said i liked the old mondeo, so he went and got the later model zetec s, memory lane. Rip to your mum too bud.

[@DipstickUK]

2 Owners, must have been garaged its entire life. Definately got that odour of a more mature female driver and I'm not talking about pee...more a flowery/lavender perfume lol ;)

[@kristoph7606]

​@@DipstickUKthe donkey call while checking the central locking was perfect, had me for a moment too lol

[@DipstickUK]

@@kristoph7606 Yeah, couldn't plan that one. I actually thought a motor was going bezerk!!!!😁

[@deerawselecta7709]

Be nice to find an original wing in colour.if not,I would repair the wing U have.

[@DipstickUK]

I've found an original but in green. Becoming increasingly hard to find genuine parts and not cheap pattern ones.