IDRIVEACLASSIC reviews: 60s MK1 Ford Escort Estate (A rare Ford!)

[@WrenchingWench]

What a beauty she is! A proper sleeper too, because at a first glance I thought it was standard. Very tastefully modded. 😍

[@discerningmind]

Good Lord! That first launch was remarkable and really showing the go power this car has. Throughout the drive the power was clearly apparent. And Aggie is so well handling too. What a great joy Simon has in this car. Thanks very much for bringing this Steph.

[@MGBetts1]

The Mk1 Escort is definitely my favourite. My father had four of these as estates back in the day. Nearly all surviving Mk1s have been modified or customised, you'll have a real job finding one with a full width front bumper!

[@idriveaclassic]

I think there’s a magic in modifications where the car is still as beautiful as the original designer intended

[@MrGodsking]

@@idriveaclassic love the dress and the hair xx

[@clooperman3745]

@@idriveaclassic A very nice subtlety modified Mk1, they were fun to drive, l owned a 1971 Mexico many years ago and wish l still did!

[@alansimpson835]

What an absolute peach of a car. To see her in a car park I'd have totally thought she was a standard, very well restored machine but I love all the secret mods. Absolute sleeper. Great review and hope your licence remained intact

[@dmmcharrie2698]

Escort MK2 was the first car I ever drove! Mk1 very similar! Aggie seems to be a Q car as from outside the width of those rims hint at it! Inside is very subtle mods! If owned her, I wouldn’t sell her either! Wonderful history! Thanks for having it on the channel Steph!

[@idriveaclassic]

Thank you for watching!!!

[@chrispenn715]

In my youth, my best mate had a new one of these as a company car (TV repair man). Their main weakness was rust, but otherwise they were very strong - it was amazing how quickly an 1100 engined one could go, even with a back full of TVs - most were thrashed to death, so its nice to see a survivor

[@josephmifsud8261]

A very tastefully modified car. Love the colour and the mods are in keeping with the era. I can see why it will never be sold and why you've videoed it. A genuine sleeper car.

[@gedtaylor4773]

How come you haven't got more subscribers Steph your reviews are very informative and you have a genuine passion for motor cars keep churning your videos out and stay safe x

[@Ricketik65]

Great car and very well done modifications. Credits to Simon!

[@leopoldonotarianni8663]

Steph you had me in stitches when you said "Dagenham dust bin". Very funny lol

[@shaunw9270]

That's a really nice car , hats off to the owner ! My favourite car that Dad owned in the 70's was his MkI '72 Escort 2-door 1100L saloon ..EHU 207K where are you ? 😉👍

[@andygreen1a]

Beautiful car a credit to the owner Simon. Great modifications that add to the car. So often they can detract, but not in this case . You’ve done it again Steph, another fascinating review. You really have a likeable presenting style. Always look forward to your videos each week and the diverse range of cars you review. Take care and keep up the good work. Great to see more and more people subscribing to your channel.

[@wanderinggentile]

It's modified, but the performance modifications are platform and manufacturer appropriate. Miss Agatha is effectively the Mexico Estate that Ford never knew they needed. Love it.

[@MrFixit581]

Ford did actually build 4 Mexico estates(one of which was later converted to Rs2000 spec by Ford)

[@nigelcarty8084]

As a car enthusiast, I absolutely adore your videos Steph!! Thank you 😊

[@brianfearn4246]

Absolutely fabulous a real Halewood gem.. I remember having a mk1 escort back in 82 it was an ex police panda car from 1970 . The doors had been crudely painted over the original white doors it also had a half white roof.

[@seancooke4127]

Oh goodness, Aggie sounds awesome. Really enjoyed the car and all the modes that you described. Not as much as you enjoyed driving her Steph. Lovely, thank you so much.

[@garrywitcomb2334]

Brilliant,Mark one Estate's are as cool as hell,they handle well and wish still had the few I've owned in the past. Great footage

[@lifelong5425]

My first ever "reps" car.....it was awesome....simple but very able...drove it from London to highlands on all the territories I worked...never failed...

[@MrJerry1902]

My dad had one of these after he lost a beautiful Ford cortina 1600 super he had only 7 days when it was stolen.he paid 650 pounds then for a 2 year old car which was the best and nicest car we ever owned. The insurance only offered 525 and that's what the escort estate cost.i tried to teach my mother to drive in it at our local cemetery when she went on to drive it over a couple of grave stones and ending up stuck in the embankment. "Memories" well presented by this lady.

[@williemwangi4959]

Well,this was a nice suprise!I anticipated for the Morris minor video you promised,however enjoyed this much.

[@melciveng]

Great video Steph, could listen to you talking about old cars all day 😎

[@ianmackenzie2232]

Great review, Steph! My great aunt and uncle got a brand new mk1 estate in the early seventies, UGK214M. Brought back lots of happy memories, even if theirs was only an 1100L!

[@michaeltutty1540]

Great review of a fantastic Q Ship! Stunning car with the modifications done just right. Spot on on every way.

[@neiltaylor5588]

My very first car after passing my teast in 1977 was a 1970 Escort 1.1 super with rectangular headlights in silver fox metallic and very 70s vinyl roof, i can even remember her reg number FWE 125J. Happy days.

[@terryroberts505]

I was about 8 years old when my farther brought home a brand new G reg escort Estate company car I can even remember the colour at the time metallic green and going for a ride sitting in the front long time ago

[@idriveaclassic]

They make an impact don’t they!

[@chrishart8548]

I went in a brand new dark blue Orion 1.6l H reg think I was 11 years old at the time it was a taxi think it had about 12 miles on the clock he had just picked it up.

[@MGBetts1]

I can tell an almost identical story. I would have been about 6 and the car was midnight blue, I went along with him to pick it up brand new!

[@MrRossKendall]

i had a mk1 escort in jade green metallic, a lovely colour

[@tankboyful]

nothing wrong with mods that are respectful to the car, and not out of left field. another good review hun, and a rare version too!

[@Pfirtzer]

My uncle had an Ami8 had this color, still stuck in my mind, made a journey in 1973 took us all day to a new place to live. We didn't spent much there only 3 months, but the journey had a profound impact because of the car, it broke down because some gashandle cable got lose??Typical engine sound, when I see one I have fond memories of it.

[@bobbyread]

It's such a clean design.Mk 1 Escorts are few and far between in the US, so it's cool to see a thorough review of one.

[@calumbaxter9946]

I remember my parents in 1972 buying a brand new 1.3 estate in cherry red from the Ford garage in Dursley. I recall seeing it being polished by the staff before my mum picked it up. She reminded me it cost about £980.00 which was a lot of money. A month later she drove it into the gatepost after driving me to the hospital in an emergency when I smashed my teeth 🤣. Had BDG 367K for 10 years and it took a family of six on various holidays on the continent. Of course you couldn’t put 4 kids in the back of a car without seat belts these days, but back then you never thought about that kind of thing. We replaced her with a Granada.

[@robertbaxter4021]

I love the old fords. I've had 3 Mk2s and a Mk1

[@skippmclovan1135]

Back to the early to mid 70's i had two Escorts. The first one was a well used purple/black interior 1.1 Mk 1 two door, which was 'smooth' (5 bearing crank) much smoother than the Mk 1Cortina 1200, but pretty much it was power-free. No noticeable torque at all, but a delicious buttery snicky gearbox. The second one was a brand new '74 Mk 1 Escort Sport 1.3. This had the same super nice gearbox and the engine was pleasant to drive, albeit NOT anything like a Lotus Seven Twin Cam 1558cc to drive . . ! THAT was something else!! POWER! QUICK! FUN!!!

[@RoyCousins]

My first car was a 1976 Ford Escort Mk.2 1300L Estate. All the panels from the windscreen back are the same as the Mk.1 estate. I've had many Fords since.

[@idriveaclassic]

Ahh reallt!

[@robsterbob580]

Me too! Had a 1980 Mk2 estate in 2 tone brown and beige with a brown vinyl roof. I had plans to fit wide wheels and bubble mk1 arches, but it never happened. Had it for 3 years. Went on to Capris, Sierras and Kas.

[@shaunw9270]

In 1990 , I owned a '78 MkII, 4-door Escort 1.6 Ghia Automatic saloon . Metallic red with brown vinyl roof . 👍

[@robsterbob580]

@@shaunw9270 Back when they were cheap as chips to buy! I also had a beige 1.6L Mk2 4 door saloon and a green Ghia 4 door which was my spares car. Used the seats out of it in the other car. Strange that any Mk1 or Mk2 Escort nowadays is worth serious money. Back in the 90s they were one of the cheapest cars to buy. Most of them rusted away, mine certainly did! 😀

[@shaunw9270]

@@robsterbob580 Lol I know . That MkII of mine was a Flintstones car - virtually no floor left 😳

[@robertmann7492]

Wow, brings back memories. My first car was a G Reg Escort 2 door in this same colour and was also an ex police Panda. Had a zip opening in the roof liner, probably for the blue light. Had major rust issues though. You never forget your first!

[@jeremytravis360]

I do think it is sometimes better to modify a car if the car has specific weaknesses with can be changed for the better. One example is ignition systems. I did replace the ignition on one of my cars with and electronic ignition and it helped immensely with be performance starting and fuel consumption. I often improve lights if it comes to changing they type of bulb. Brakes are another exception because all want a car that can stop. I think seatbelts are another choice that many would choose unless its a really old car that wont go very fast anyway. But you are right I would always try and keep a classic a classic Steph. Thanks for another great video.

[@idriveaclassic]

Thanks for watching Jeremy! X

[@dj_efk]

I've owned both a completely standard 1974 1300XL and a modified 1971 estate just like this one in terms of the mechanical modifications - i.e. a hot 1600 with a higher final drive and no doubt upgraded brakes. I can confirm that they drove pretty much the same other than the noise (because of the free flow exhaust on the estate) and the urge. The Mk 1 Escort was an absolute belter to drive right out of the box and felt very sorted / grown-up in terms of road manners. The 1300 was comically fun on wet roundabouts in particular, you could powerslide it everywhere if you so chose, all at very low speed!

[@Bates.N1]

lovely car, and another brilliant video Steph!

[@roymcneil6026]

Love this car Steph! Great choice 😊😊

[@alancollins9790]

Remember my Dad had a yellow Mk 1 Escort Estate, still remember the rego to this date MY0 104L. Loved it as a kid travelling in the boot, wouldn’t be allowed these days of course!

[@urshochstrasser8859]

With that ride “bucking bronco“ comes to mind ☺️ but I agree, the mods have been tastefully made. Lovely video!

[@middleagedman6290]

Great job Steph, a really interesting classic and very informative video 👍🙂

[@idriveaclassic]

Thank youuuu

[@thebiker4966]

A lovely car in the 90s they was loads of theses on the road A great following the Ford escort as and one I would hope to own one day as a project Great video steph

[@pit_stop77]

Lovely review and Lovely car

[@RichieRouge206]

You are very right about the prices of old Fords going through the roof. But they are very cool and the Mk1 Escort is fab, especially love the mod but the attention to detail as it all looks stock, and that’s the difference with Aggy! Great video Steph

[@Bates.N1]

I have seen mk4 escorts with 3 doors the mods look lovely and engine is fab I've always loved classic Fords!

[@cambridgemart2075]

Yes, the XR3i & RS Turbo were both 3 door, but I think Steph was talking about estates with 3 doors.

[@teleroylichtenstein]

Beautiful Ford.. In Italy the Estate version is very very rare, but yesterday I found an estate MK2 for sale at 1500 euros in a town in the countryside. The Estate version MK2 is a MK1 with the MK2 frontal.

[@stuart121972]

I vaguely remember my Dad having a Mk 1 company van but I must have been very young at the time. If memory serves me right the Mk2 estate and van were identical (outside) to the Mk1 from the A pillar back, they just fitted the Mk2 front end to the car.

[@michaeltreadwell777]

YAY Steph - I'm first ! Great video as always, and what a lovely car too. Take special care X X

[@idriveaclassic]

You too!!!!

[@mendhamsmusicmoviesmovemen8075]

Lovely! You don't see many estate Escorts these days!

[@richardhoulton4016]

Mk1 Escort. Awesome car. It’s the essence of car. Love this one’s sleeper look

[@Renwick19]

This mk 1 Ford Escort Estate always reminds me of the one my dad had he bought it for £30 and on the way back home he filled it with fuel but he put diesel in instead of petrol and ruined the engine I remember him having it towed back home and having to have a new engine put in. Fords have always been my favourite type of car and tomorrow am picking up my new fiesta

[@mikeclarke6796]

Mk1 Escorts were one of the cars of my childhood - ubiquitous and almost unnoticed there were so many of them about. Numerous friends, relatives and other people I knew had one at one time or another including my great uncle (brown saloon), a older couple at our church (blue estate like this) and my chemistry teacher what would now be called year 9 - this was a bit late in the day and his blue estate, also like this, was a source of trouble to him and derision to us boys in his class. “Can you not afford a new motor, sir?” Horrible boys. I loved the wishbone grille and sculpted rear door on the estate.

[@rosskelly4200]

First! The best thing is how original it looks. Maybe it's more of a 1970 car, than "60s", as the MK1 sold well into the early 1970s. Technically, you are correct with this 69 example:) My old aunty had a 1.3 *2-speed T-bar auto* sedan. Talk about gentle acceleration! Maybe that was an Australia-only transmission? A lovely little car in the day.

[@idriveaclassic]

Honestly it was unreal

[@peterriggall8409]

Had a friend in Sydney who had a series 1 with the 3 speed BW auto. Yes, progress was leisurely. It was a plum colour.

[@rosskelly4200]

@@peterriggall8409 Hmm. I wonder if it was 3-spd? If it was a Borg Warner 35 slushbox, that would certainly be a drag on a 1300; after all, the BW35 was designed and ruggedised for 4.3 litre Chrysler sixes! I was car mad as a teenager, and I remember it was a subject of amazement - and we were riding in it occasionally - that it was 2-speed according to the actual markings on the T-bar indicator! But I could be wrong. The obvious difficult question is, "what transmission could that possibly have been?". I think the Powerglide was well and truly retired in 71 or 72 - and in any event was a GM product. I will do some further research to see if I can substantiate a belief I have had no reason to doubt for nearly 50 years. Good God! It is truly shocking to realise how time has flown.

[@steved3702]

Don't recall the wagon ever being available in Australia, just the sedan and the panel van. I think all Australian market car had the rectangular headlights rather than the round ones, regards of the trim level. Thanks, Steph!

[@peterriggall8409]

@@rosskelly4200 I could be wrong Ross but yes, it was a T bar shift and I was pretty sure it was a 3 speed Borg Warner box.

[@morrismckinnon6047]

I had one of these in the late 90's but it was the mk2 automatic. I remember the number plate, MOY 820V. I gave it away to a guy in Bridgend who I think crashed into a river and left it there. I know this because I never filled in the log book and the cops came to my house a few days later asking why my car was dumped in a river! I still have the log book but the car is long gone. Gutted, that car would be worth some coin now!

[@Deano14397]

Looks great and nice calming music

[@jody024]

Been fun hearing you on OJ tonight!

[@idriveaclassic]

Thanks so much ❤️

[@johndrake2729]

Lovely bluish color on a lovely classic.

[@davidjames2910]

That is such a good sleeper car - looks stock but way better.

[@steven-vn9ui]

You have discovered a lot of things that make early Escorts great.

[@DadE.O.Records]

That is a cute little car. Would love to see you roadtrip over here to the states & test drive some of our classics. I think you would really enjoy yourself.

[@idriveaclassic]

Once this virus does one, I plan to come over

[@brooksy9244]

Great vid of a lovely Mk1 Escort Estate.

[@edwardgwatterson1618]

thats a real clinker Steph great vid

[@evo5dave]

Grew up with a Mk1 Escort. Even remember the reg: PGH 928L.

[@SofaSpud_]

Me too. FMU 504J. It was the first car my parents bought when they got married.

[@eadonone]

The wagon was a available In mk1 and 2 in New Zealand but not in Australia the escort was an icon in NZ

[@michaelhalsall5684]

The Escort Mk1 is a sort after collectible car here in Australia nowadays. Australia only got the Mk 1 & Mk 2. The van was amazingly popular but the wagon (estate) was never sold in Australia.

[@davidjewood]

Good performance on OJ last night - great questions!

[@ciartdsfa4899]

Stunning car😍😍😍 just sits perfect, MK1 escorts were such a beautiful design especially when you look from back lights down the side, the flow of the lines of the cars so so cool. Dream car of mine would be a MK1 rs2000 or rs1600!

[@stevetraynor482]

My first car was a 1968 Ford Escort saloon, bought in 1975 for the grand sum of £225.00 ( it was a lot for me then). I was 19. Happy days.

[@johnfaulkner6776]

My firm had a bright red mk1 1300 escort as a pool car. We fought for it!

[@paulillingworth1242]

Always liked the mk1 escort a good looking car of its time.

[@michaelhalsall5684]

The Mark 1 was nicknamed the "Dogbone" Escort due to the shape of the grille! The Escort Mark 1, and its close cousin, the early Ford Capri, are gloriously simple to work on and easy to drive.

[@darrensmith6999]

Nice one Steph (: My first car was a 1971 Ford Escort 1.3 Delux . Holes held together by rust haha but i loved it :)

[@Mr_CMH]

I had a mark 1 escorts, one of the best cars I've had. So easy to work on.

[@tobeycat2007]

Another great review fab car,, was going to suggest an anglia review but see you did one last year, must be before I started watching them, parents had an anglia in early 70s from a very vague memory it was a similar colour to the escort.

[@idriveaclassic]

Ahhh that’s my first review. It’s bloody terrible x

[@tbeau6663]

Indentical in colour, model and year to the one my dad had back in the day....without the modifications of course.

[@AlanCooney]

Wow!!! Great to see Steph!....My dad had IDENTICAL....Reg. BTB944L - which we sold to a bloke in Yorkshire when he died, and the chap rented these out for filming the TV series HEARTBEAT. Does anybody know where BTB944L is now?????.....suspect it may be driving around Yorkshire somewhere?.....BTB944L....???

[@markiesmith4537]

Anther great video Steph! Keep it up!

[@gord307]

Anorak moment: Skoda UK manufactured many parts to adapt their cars to the British market, the centre console being one of them. Originally it would have had an 80s digital clock where the oval clock now sits. Loving the Escort - my son, age 10, wants a Mexico! :-)

[@adrianmoore4160]

You ought to have a word with my brother about Betty his MK1 estate. 2.0 litre with a 4 speed auto box (she was originally auto). He can normally be seen on The Derbyshire Car Spotters page in his MK1 or MK3 Granada.

[@OZ6JO]

nearly 20 years ago - a lady in a nearby town here i Denmark - drove one just like this - BUT across the back window was written - "Mor Kør Escort" - Danish for "Mommy drives Escort" -

[@voicezful]

I wish I'd been thinking properly back in the early 1980s, there were loads of these classic cars being scrapped in my area at a couple of pounds a time. Even one saved motor could have been an investment or a happy hobby.

[@johndrake2729]

Three door estates were very popular in the States also (e.g., Ford Pinto, Chevy Vega, etc.).

[@martinlintzgy1361]

my first car was one of these, same colour, but bog standard 1100cc. it served me well, but it was gutless, and the fuel consumption was poor, ~23mpg. Moved house down to cornwall in, and, being an estate, has a few romantic experiences in the back.

[@MaddRIP1]

not heard scatter cam mentioned for years!

[@gsamanyika75]

We have loads of them in Zimbabwe maybe not in that condition but still going strong and no cancer (rust)

[@FNUKSTER1366]

Great video steph 👍 👏 👌

[@siennamayh]

I worked with a lad in the late 90’s at a bingo hall who had a mk1 escort in a similar colour. Fully road worthy - £50. Mind you in had a roadworthy mk1 golf a year or 2 later that cost £70

[@happyhermit2022]

Great video thank you an absolutely fantastic vehicle even in standard form. If you can get your hands on a Riley Elf they are great too 👍

[@idriveaclassic]

It’s in the plan ❤️

[@waltertaljaard1488]

My dad had a white one of this type. Escort estate 1970. Probably made on a monday morning, after a heavy sunday soccer match, with afterparty. Sorry to say so.

[@eugenegilleno9344]

Yes, those 51/2” J’s give it away. 😜

[@healey100austin]

The rug pre spin used to use escorts in Northern Ireland.

[@Maddpunx]

Great video, and a really nice car, got to love a well modified Ford.

[@idriveaclassic]

Thanks

[@williamspaul1805]

Wow! That's a fresh motor.

[@idriveaclassic]

She’s gorgeous isn’t she!

[@williamspaul1805]

@@idriveaclassicI'd be afraid to take it anywhere.

[@grayfool]

There are probably very few unmodified Escorts left. In the seventies and eighties they were a throw-way car worth nothing. Most just rotted away in scrapyards. I was given a 1300E which was a fairly rare model. It was quite rotten but the mechanical bits were OK. I used it for a couple of weeks befor being offered £200.00 for it. The new owner stripped out the parts he needed for his other car and threw the bodyshell away. That's what we did back then. A good 1300E now, is worth many thousands of pounds! Oh, if only we knew then what we know now. C'est la vie.

[@DarrenLong-eb6vs]

I love watching you on KZbin. It would be nice if you could find out what they sold for when they came out new . On your Channel

[@eggy1962]

I had one of these my first car same year too i bought it in 1980, it was special edition flintstone version （yes not much floor left) a 10mph bump broke bulkhead and that was end of it. The engine however was a gem and i sold that on）

[@jamesgibson5606]

I'm thinking this was possibly the original colour the doors would have been white to contrast the blue. It is an amazing preservation.

[@billyhill101]

The car is awesome and so are you love the Channel

[@coenvandenberg863]

Nice! Any change of you driving a Princess18/22 soon? lovely car and completely extinct in the Netherlands now....

[@bobblebarry8857]

Personally have a 1973 mk1 escort 1300xl 4 door with a 1600 xflow and I’m 16, she’ll be my first car and have similar mods to this one

[@MrRubberduck83]

Lovely looking car. Just waiting for someone to give you a jenson interceptor to review

[@jesussrizla709]

Wow I had one as my first car . Cool thank you

[@glenjarnold]

I had a 1973 saloon the same colour as this beauty!