The Lord of Ford! 57 mk1 Escorts & counting // Jonny Smith

The Lord of Ford Part 2. If you haven't watched the previous CarPervert video, where I meet serial Escort obsessive Russell Lord (who makes Escorts out of solid silver, gold, diamonds and other precious things) then you should have a look at that first.
In this episode London jeweller Russell Lord invites me to his house to see his full size classic Ford Escorts. He is in the middle of building his 57th mk1/mk2 Escort, which is a wide arched Atlas axle mk1 with a 2.4 Duratec injected twin cam. Russell also owns an early 1968 mk1 Escort Lotus twin cam (complete with solid gold bonnet badge!) and a beautiful unrestored 1300 GT 2-door. He is also deep in the build of a mk2 rally car, which has a Vauxhall red top engine.
For Russell Fords are a religion. He makes objet d'art ornaments of them, then he goes home to the workshop and renovates, fettles and perfects his full size Fords. Here are the tech specs of all three cars:
Green Escort #57
Based on a 1974 1300 base model
6 links 'Watts linkage' suspension
Narrowed Atlas axle with LSD
Bilstein adjustable coilovers
Mazda MX-5 5-speed, shortened propshaft
Dry sumped 2.4 Duratec, 320bhp approx
Motec ECU and wiring
Jenvey fuel injected throttle bodies
8 x 13 gold Minilites
AP racing CP4567 front calipers, vented discs
Sierra Cosworth rear discs
2.4 turn 'quick' steering rack, stock steering column
AP master cylinders, Rix pedalbox
Heater box/matrix modified to clear Duratec engine.
Bought and started in August 2019.
INTERIOR
Momo steering wheel
Bespoke homemade full length centre console.
Home made rear seats and parcel shelf in a period style.
Period heated front seats are homemade and recovered by Aldridge Trimmers.
Home made door trim panels.
Boot area being trimmed to cover fuel tank etc
Raceline gauges
BODYWORK
Steel bodywork, including arches and panels
N.O.S bonnet, doors and bootlid (to be fitted)
Going to be painted Ford Sebring Orange
********
1972 mk1 Escort 1300 GT
Venetian Red
Never restored. Some light repairs over the years
Only modification is an electric washer switch rather than the floor foot button
Owned since 2016
The slowest car, but Russell's favourite car
********
1968 mk1 Escort 'twin cam'
Ermine white
1558cc Lotus DOHC
Rebuilt to produce approx 185bhp
Lotus 881A coded steel wheels
Owned since 2016
Russell is having a mk2 Group 4 Escort rally car being made with a Vauxhall red top 2.0-litre. Ready before summer. There will be another episode of CarPervert with the Lord of Ford when this rally car and #57 are finished. I've been promised a drive.
Huge thanks to Russell Lord (and family) of Lord of London
lordoflondon.com/
/ russelllordsford
/ russell.lord
Thanks to the Avenger Sunbeam Owners Club - asoc.co.uk/ - for permission to use the Colin McRae rally Avenger photo.
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Thank you for watching. If you haven't already, click the bell icon to alert you when the next CarPervert video lands.
Filmed and edited: Mark Taylor-Hankins / inksharkman
Thumbnail design: Martin Jones martipants.co.uk/

[@boralaser]

What a really lovely bloke. I love how he talks about his wife. A real gent. Great vid

[@jordanbuckingham9630]

I don't think his wife is happy that he spends all his money on escorts.

[@ClaudeSac]

@@jordanbuckingham9630 ‘his’ is a keyword though...

[@ACCORDriver_NL]

UN-FREAKING-BELIEVABLE. What a brilliant guy. WOW. I'm not a Ford guy at all. I'm a Honda guy, all the way. But this.... is just freakingly brilliant! What a guy! Awesome.

[@michaelmassart2349]

Same here, I am a fellow Honda enthusiast and initially thought, hmmm am I gonna watch a guy ramble on for nearly half an hour about old Fords... It was worth every second though, what an absolute Legend 👍

[@ShannonSouthAfrica]

Agreed

[@petercox2897]

Ford Sierra fabulous car. Ibought mine. A brand new# is the morning

[@SmallBlogV8]

It's always a bit dangerous trying to define what a "proper car enthusiast" is, but surely this guy qualifies on every level no matter what. Brilliant couple of videos.

[@petercox2897]

.

[@ckryses3962]

This guy..............this guy is just ......... ultimately 🤘🏻awesome🤘🏻...i am 30 years old guy who just adores old classics..(my bad, they ain't old, they are old for ignorants)..in those times peeps used to built with heart and soul that why they are still very very special than today's blings... Always a biggest fan of you and your work...cheers matey..

[@rodneymounsey4168]

I think they are the “best” most interesting, enjoyable KZbin vids I have ever watched, bar none! What an amazing man, such a love and absolute passion for everything in his life and others. What a pleasure that was.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Thank you Rodney, really glad you enjoyed them.

[@piccalillipit9211]

The humbleness and share decency of the man. In a world where "influencer" is a real profession and the "Kardashians" are a thing not a cartoon - this man is pure joy...

[@geezerj5288]

This is just a pleasure to watch. With the madness outside, retreating to enjoy this has been a real treat. I can't get enough. Good work Jonny and team. This should get a commission.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Thank you Geezer. Going to keep trying to deliver a variety of car content.

[@tmac3975]

Another good video, as a Ford fan myself I absolutely love the mk1 escort. Lovely man really takes serious pride in his work.

[@Tractorman-xj4gt]

I used to own a MK I with a 1.3L when I lived in Germany back in the mid to late 70's - blew the engine coming out of Munich one day but a bunch of us replaced the engine, throw-out bearing and clutch while we had it apart... fun little car - drove it to Switzerland and France - miss that vehicle !! Thanks for posting this video - brought back some good memories !!

[@ynothump2566]

Talk about attention to detail. This guy simply rocks. ‘I just done it for me and Fanny Ann’ I just love it 👍

[@peterolley7159]

This man is a perfectionist and it’s brilliant

[@rpjwhite]

What a man. Such a perfectionist.

[@grahamlillis6184]

I loved this, this guy can make anything obviously! Liked the red and white ones at the end particularly.

[@46danz]

What a lovely man.The Ford lotus is special.

[@johnnyrich1]

What a character! Great video!. I started my life with a similar car history , parents first car was an Austin 1100 and my mum moved on to an Avenger which was a 2dr red Chrysler S reg from 1998 I got that car when I left home. Always had to put heater on to stop it from overheating, it rusted like crazy, it was heavy, noisy and i loved it. Swapped it for an undercoat blue Fiat Uno 55. Watching the video made me reminisce!!!

[@nicwilson89]

2:43 That 2.4 duratech in that car at that weight is gonna make for a hell of a drivers car along with that box :D

[@martinking4476]

What a down to earth guy with amazing talent I really enjoyed watching how he made the mk2 escort out of gold platinum diamonds etc and it wasn't to make money it was for pure enjoyment.

[@drewdavis4614]

You Jonny are a Treasure, Such a Super kick ass Bloke!!!

[@michaelj7069]

This is absolutely brilliant. Loved every second of this. And that white twin cam was a beauty.

[@RichardLyleEsq]

That would just lovely. Joyous. Thank you both.

[@ynot5105]

What a lovely workshop! I'm jealous...

[@daniel_watkin]

This guy is a legend. What a collection. I've been an Escort fan since I was a kid. I was lucky enough last year to finally buy a MK1 Escort 1300gt. When I first let my dad into it he said exactly the same thing about the smell, his exact words as he stepped into the car were "It smells like Ford Escort" lol. I treasure that thing like my life depends on it! Looks like I've got a got a few weeks off work now so pretty much that whole time will be spent perfecting it. These cars are intoxicating and addicting as hell! My car does not have flared arches. As far as I'm aware those were limited to the Mexico, Twin-cam, RS2000, E cars, and the Sport. I didn't think the GT came with them, though I'm happy to be corrected.

[@leegoddard2618]

The trip through the still photos was fun. 👍

[@hdylogistics]

What a collection.. what a skilled guy! And clearly loves his wife to bits. Great vid!! 👍👍

[@themightyM013]

I just love that FSO (Fabryka Samochodów Osobowych - a Polish car company) sticker on the blue Escort in the picture :)

[@ashleys6322]

I wish I owned an old Escort like those, so so good looking.

[@chrisroberts9860]

Best video I’ve watched in a long time, well done Jonny!

[@paulbaker9064]

100% Mad, and we Love it! Most Excellent , a real pleasure to watch this, Cheers.

[@michaelmatthews8171]

have a mk1 myself. what a guy, and what a collection.

[@davidfrackleton77]

OMG 😯 Absolute Class *Car Pervert* Respect 4 this 1 good video 👍🏼👌🏼

[@muttleysb5830]

This guy is a legend! Loved watching this :)

[@jimgramke893]

I could watch these two talk cars all day

[@markmilligan6616]

Anyone can see Jonny you are in awe 👍

[@alastairwatson3201]

Johnny, I love your work! What a charming video, featuring such brilliant cars and their owner. Keep it up, please!

[@BRED510]

Absolutely fantastic. This guys passion and knowledge is amazing. Great video, in all the craziness at the moment, this is superb.

[@grahamsalmons2027]

Jonny I need to introduce you to a friend of mine who is to Lotus Esprit what this chap is to Escorts...

[@colinsharland-brown6257]

Is it Mick White ex Bell & Colvill

[@grahamsalmons2027]

@@colinsharland-brown6257 No! His name is Fabiene Steele. He has built a precise bond white replica esprit and is now working on the red one

[@davewheeler7679]

Brilliant piece Jonny. That man is a star. I wish I had his skills.

[@pod9538]

Good man. Really nice fella.

[@ZesPak]

My jaw literally dropped when he mentioned the power number. I thought "around 200 in a road car like that would be bonkers". Holy sh*t!

[@wightangel]

I love the Hillman Avenger & I owned about three. The Tiger was a real sought after car. I also loved the Lotus Talbot . I never really took to the Escort after the mk1.

[@jackjames567]

What a cool guy

[@craigorford9932]

Wow what a garage.

[@malcolmpritchard4882]

What a great vlog thanks so much l had a mk 1 Mexico as my first car what memories nice one 👍👍👍

[@junderwoituk]

Wow, what a legend...

[@martybelfastsri]

what a genuine nice fella his own passion makes the video! great work

[@davidbutler4363]

Brilliant guys thanks 😁👍

[@oliverselle2861]

Being 50 I have to say, I love seeing these old escorts. Fantastic. Takes me back to the days when my old man was in the army and life was good. Days gone never to return. England was so different. My kids just roll their eyes back when I start going on about it 😂

[@Sennaxm71]

Mate, it was so different back in the 70's though, it was great times for a lot of things, not so much for fashion, but cars were much more fun than they are now. And the 80's Escorts were changing hands for peanuts, i had loads, RS2000's, Mexico's, Sport's, Rally cars, they were all brilliant fun to own.

[@pissedupgamer3802]

He needs his own youtube his passion is infectious top watch ladz

[@alastairrichrich6058]

This is a cracking shout bud

[@jacekjagosz]

He probably already doesn't have any time left to sleep, with KZbin his workday would be 25h/day

[@mbirth]

@@jacekjagosz The Jonny could start a recurring series ... "What's the Lord doing this week?"

[@kinglouis6974]

My dads got a mate like him but John is knocking on 80 , his garage is full of escorts and yam rd’s Even his air cold rd’s look the part , He’s got stuff that hasn’t been on the rd ,

[@SmallBlogV8]

He's on Facebook and Instagram already, if that's of interest.

[@stirlingmotors]

Great video love Russells passion.

[@skidcar2]

Hi I wasn’t aware of your love for avengers! I drove one in ‘77 in Spa on the 24hours and we finished the race. Still on the old circuit of 13.7 kilometers, we did it on a speed average of 146 km/h !! Refueling and changing brake pads and drivers included. It was a works car, three of them in fact. I wonder if they still exist. Have still a few pictures if you’re interested. The team manager was Jean Marie Jacquemin, a former Alpine official rally driver in France and Belgium. He was also the organizer of the Simca Racing Team races in Belgium. I think he is still in the racing parts business in England and France. Good old times and memories ;)

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Freddy, what a cool story. Please get in touch via email if you can. [e-mail]

[@bobuncle8704]

You are so Ford-tunate mate. What a collection

[@johncamplin3557]

What a collection of awesome cars past and present. Did you know the JT Racing sticker is a BMX bike brand from the 80’s?

[@kinenebosco7060]

Wow my uncle had a ford escort in 1980s !!

[@stephenclay6852]

Brilliant video what a nice bloke.

[@obsidian....]

I love the "grams" slip up. Only a jeweler would do that ❤️

[@bilbobaggins4366]

Wasn't jewellery 😂

[@sahhull]

Thats awesome... How to stop a Ford engine leaking oil... Remove the oil Lovely place tho, truely is a labour of love.

[@SabreLilly.]

I wish I had an Escort, but more-so I wish I had a garage like that!

[@lawrencegatt4515]

Love 💕 you’re Video mate from Australia 🇦🇺💕💓🏁

[@neildavies2276]

What a humble man Russell Lord is. Very talented and perhaps doesn't realise quite how good he is. Reminds me very much of Bernard Newbury, the VW coach trimmer. Nice seeing the old Granada again too Jonny!

[@Algorithm347]

God I’m jealous . Can’t beat the old escorts .

[@TheRonaldbaxter]

Clever stuff!

[@LboroWick]

Oh... putting the “pride” into pride & joy.

[@mcjjordan]

Spiyda do an interface to match fuel gauges to senders ... they work perfect!!!

[@mattb8734]

Awsome car

[@marty3469]

That guy is a legend with those cars he owns, lovely mk1 Escorts ..I also bowed at the unveiling of the 68 Twink, real or not it's gorgeous none the less. I own 11 Escorts mk1/2s but none as good as those , including a mk2 my 2nd car bought for $250 in 1995 !!

[@madpadi]

Absolutely awesome guy Hope you guys do a finished road test video Hope to meet 1 day!

[@andrewshore262]

When you see and hear the passion, and knowledge this guy has for the humble Ford Escort it’s somehow reassuring, he’s like the antidote to a modern homogenised Ford or any new car come to that.

[@buddhamack1491]

Honestly it's a beautiful thing when someone can pass on the passion they have just by showing and talking about it.

[@stephen300o6]

This was once one of those modern rubbish cars. Just put the marker in time where you started.

[@pdtech4524]

The stuff of dreams!! Wish I had picked up all the cheap MK1s back in the day because by the time the mk3 came out, the mk1s were cheap and plentiful! I grew up with them, had several in my family, my dad liked the estate version, there was a brand new Mexico next door in that copper bronze colour, sounded beautiful. 👍😎😯

[@vapsa56]

This man is amazing. Also, it us true that you will always have a soft spot for your first car that you ever own. The one that you bought with your own money. Mine was a total crapbox, but I loved it. A 1988 Hyundai Excel GS. Bright Red, two tone grey and red sports interior, 1.5 litre, 5 speed manual. Had every option. Cost me 8,250 dollars. Bought new. Put 200,000 miles on that car. Only caught fire once. (Electrical) Transmission gear shift fell through the floor twice. (Gear linkage slider failed) After 8 years the paint was a dull orange. The sport bucket seats developed holes from wear and tear. (Foam padding collapsed) Drivers side window broke when rolling it up and it crashed inside the door and shattered. 68 whopping horsepower. 13" "Mag wheels ". But to this day, I loved it, because it was mine.

[@williamwhitecloud9020]

My mate has an Escort RS 2000 he was carrying on with this girl one night he took her up a parking place for a bit of a play about while in the passingers seat the hand brake slipped and they went down a dip into the river hahahahaha

[@benjaminford9932]

No particular fan of Ford (despite it being my family name) or ICE cars but, this and the previous episode with Russell were brilliant. Such a talented man. The geekery between you two was top level. Deep joy! 👏👏👏😁

[@MaddRIP1]

Such an amiable chap, who has a wealth of knowledge about all his cars. well done Jonny, bet he's a friend for life! Utterly gorgeous cars. So very envious

[@waltonsmountain]

i always thought that you dont get into a mark 1 escort you pull it on like a glove ,you actually wear it , the only car i have felt like that ,and im that old i did my apprenticeship in 1972,, so i have driven a lot of different cars,,

[@_-000-_]

What a chap!

[@derekfromtauranga6012]

Wow this brings back great memories of my Escort Mexico 1600 I rallied, raced and hill climbed in NZ in the mid 1970’s I think the Mk 1 shape is timeless and still looks good.

[@michaelrobson3460]

What a star! Beatiful cars cared for by a proper fella. Thank you for sharing.

[@rustypart8676]

I used to look at my brothers custom car magazines and was distracted by the girls with there knockers out in the centre pages I can still smell them now 🤦🏻

[@tonycox5625]

Custom Car! Used to buy it every month, and the cars were quite good as well. 😂😂

[@gpstenholm23]

you could smell their knockers?

[@Tmuk2]

Haha same, my mum didn't mind me spending my pocket money on Max Power!

[@mrcorcelstar]

Nothing worse than smelly knockers...

[@amnril]

My dad had a Mk1 RS1600, bought new in 1972. What a car that was, I loved it, the noise and the speed.

[@salvofarnia8046]

Wow, jammy

[@colinthompson5881]

What an amazing bloke, utter genius and truest ever enthusiast. I’d love his talent, or just the car 😂

[@gstavrou]

Takes me back to my old man's Escort MK1 loading us up every summer weekend in the 70s at 4am to miss the traffic and gets us to Southend from Shepherd's Bush.

[@OooListerooO]

My most favourite car EVER! 💖

[@Neil-Aspinall]

"He's holding mine and I'm holding his"

[@MattyEngland]

Pervert 😂

[@mohammedsayfulahmed8651]

A man with passion totally remarkable hobbies, he puts top gear presenters to shame and rest of car show geeks

[@johnmontague69]

I had a Mk1 Mexico when I was 16... Oh boy this brings back memories. Super little cars and super escort enthusiast keeping them alive. ☺

[@icecube1963]

OMG This is the best video. Remind me my young age when I wanted to be a rally race driver with those Escort and the 131 Arbarth .... and then came the Audi Quattro who change the rally world

[@pedroramos8758]

amazing just on a different level comgrats....just wondering has he seen ken blocks escort and what's he think of it

[@RussellLord]

i have seen it and love it

[@Xarulu]

Please put me in touch with this man, I have an immaculate mk1 Escort from 1969 in original factory paint almost throughout. It has 48k original miles on it.

[@G4RY1159]

Had to watch this video about 4 times as my eyes were everywhere looking at the pictures on the wall Amazing stuff

[@ClassicTrialsChannel]

MK1 Escort is my all time fav car. glad i got to own one back in 1981 , an F reg 1100 in sky blue.

[@PyrateAsylumParanormalAgency]

This has been an absolute pleasure to watch, currently in 12 week quarantine with covid-19 ....... given me an escape from reality. Thank you

[@dazuk1969]

Jonny, i used to think you were the mk1 guru....after seeing his bejeweled miniature mk1..and now this !.....the King is Dead !....Long live the King ! 😉

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

I wish the pre 1980s Escorts were available in the US. They were such nice little cars

[@thejamifan-os4oh]

Wow! I regret the day I walked away from a Twin Cam, but I did have a Maize Yellow 13gt which I uprated to a 1660 but kept the engine bay standard with rejected carb, I later had a Mexico in electric monza blue.... great episode what a craftsman ! loved it 👍🏻😎 (thanks for a trip down memory lane)

[@fbeale3537]

Watching this brings back memories of a young childhood,, my father owned one of the MK1 prototype V8 Escorts in half rally spec that he purchased after the project was abandoned, as a child i remember spending many hour sitting in it whilst it sat in our garage,, unfortunately when the recession hit hard he was forced to sell it without even getting to drive it once,, in my late teen i was an Escort fanatic and over the years i owned many models from basic 13 all the way through to the RS 1600 and later on through the MK2 range as well, i lost interest when the MK3 came out but when i think back i always recall the V8 my father had owned and hell i wish i owned that very rare car now.. Great collection of escorts and good to see an escort fanatic just how i was many many years ago.

[@20gibbon]

Praise the Lord! This guy is super talented. 🙏🏽

[@PaulB58]

I could listen to Russell talk about cars all day he's so humble an absolute gentleman thanks Jonny for the great video

[@jamesrobert4106]

I think I am back for the third time. What a brilliant chap.

[@johncooper2707]

I recommend that you don’t change the wings on the GT they are correct. I knew a lot about these cars in 1971/72. I wanted a GT but couldn’t afford the insurance of £400pa which was nearly half the cost of the car. I bought the 1300 XL which had the same body and square headlights but had opening rear windows but no 6 dial dash, no disc brakes but same un-flared frond wings. I did have the 4.5 inch wider wheels, the same as the GT. it was the arrival of the Escort Sport which had “Mexico like” 5 inch wheels which had the flared arches like the Mexico. Hope this helps. Great video.

[@thechumpsbeendumped.7797]

21 mins in and I realised I had a big dumb grin on my face. It’s great to see the passion, knowledge and enjoyment that he has. Thanks so much for doing a follow up to the objets d’art episode.

[@clooperman3745]

WOW, the green Escort was good, the red 1300 GT was better then POW, that white Twin Cam, had a 1971 Mexico in 1984, that was Ermine White with a thin red triple pin stripe, RS alloys, rally seats the same as the ones for the green Escort, a centre console and map reading light and a blueprinted engine, boy was it quick, seeing that lovely Twin Cam brought it all back, what a great video, nice to see Mk 1 Escorts still being rebuilt and ENJOYED.

[@PeteCswampy]

I know what he means by keeping the momentum up to keep the project going. Heated seats CHECK same here on my Mk3 Cortinas