Hi Everyone,
I'm a longtime lurker who regularly reads threads but rarely replies. I've started a thread on here a few years back for my old Capri which unfortunately got stolen and burned out and have another Capri now. I figure if this can become the main thread I update I'll be a lot more interactive on this forum as spend many an hour a week reading everyones threads. So this is the beauty I picked and thought I'd start a thread for it.
Its a 1989 Mk4 Escort XR3i with the EFi engine.
The story of how I ended up with this car started with a drive up to manchester with my mate Phil to spend the weekend with some old friends. We needed some to stop to grab some beers and drink so we didn't arrive empty handed. This resulted in us pulling into a tescos just outiside Stockport and there in the dimly lit car park was an XR3i sitting there with its engine ticking over and lights on. I can't in recent memory ever remember looking at a standard escort and thinking that they looks awesome. Looking at it now I think my favorite bit is the rear 3/4 of the car as it just looked really cool. . There is something about the little boot lid and angular styling that I really like. After this sighting I then went out in Manchester had a few beers then went back home.
Going back a few more years to the early 90's when I would of been 6/7 my Gran used to a mk4 red XR3i, I remember her giving me and brother lifts around taking us on trips places in it. It was really cool I vividly remember the way her hair used to get sucked out of the sunroof when travelling round the M25, the dog hair on the back seat from Bates her dog, the jelly sweets she used to have in the centre console, I loved that car and remember it being fast!
I've also been reading the threads on here with the old mk3/4 escorts that have subconsciously got in my head and then there is the cossie powered one that sadly went into the wall at santa pod last year.
All of the above triggered by the sighting in manchester sent me to ebay to have a look for one. In a nutshell it had to be red a mk 4 and this one turned up which is pretty much the identical spec to my Grans old one, I put down a deposit mid week last week and ended up in Basildon (home of the XR3i) Saturday morning. After a quick look round everything was as described and I ended cruising the car home. As soon as I got in it the smell reminded me of my Grans old car and I had a beaming smile, its amazing how the cockpit brings back the memorie of her XR and my dads mk2 fiesta, so cheap and nasty but absolutely brilliant in the same light.
So the reason for getting this car. My Capri was rear ended back in September and is currently not really progressing to be fixed (can be seen in the back of the pic). I've got no means of transport apart from my push bike and public transport so firstly I need a car to get to and from work and secondly I need a car to take me back to my parents where the Capri is parked to work work on it, ferry parts etc... So essentially my man math has decided to buy a 27 year old escort with tinted windows, a ridiculous spoiler on the back, massive exhaust and 6x9s in the boot to ferry me and any capri parts
It needs a bit of work, on replacing some broken interior trim and will need a respray at some point but importantly hasn't got any major rust and is mechanically sound so will have some fun sourcing and fitting out some bits and for a change making it more original and get rid of some of the awful add ons. Its got loads of history (including the £550 receipt for the exhaust!), all its MOTs from the past (verifying its 77k mileage) the original parcel shelf and some trim bits that have not been fitted back properly.
Anyway some more pics
The first fill pic...
Rear End and Massive Exhaust
Engine bay
Close up of parking dent and "ouch" sticker
Headlight has water inside... already have a new one on order!
Sill needs a lick of paint and the trim refitting
Boot Strur support needs a bit of weld and Seat Release button broken and other side doesn't click in
Dashboard!
Needs some attention to Arches
Rear Seats - great fabric
Aftermarket rear brakelight
Stonerash on front end
Anyway thought I'd share as would be of interest to you guys, the next steps on it will be to drive it all week then next weekend give it a once over - swap out broken rear light for spare that came with car, remove "ouch" sticker, ignition leads, spark plugs, air filter cambelt, water pump etc... If I get a chance switch out the clutch quadrant thingy as its got a click. I want to replace the exhaust as it is knackered, loads of dents in the pipe and rubs if you try and drive it with enthusiasm, with a standard one or a slightly less obvious stainless one.
Cheers
Josh
I'm a longtime lurker who regularly reads threads but rarely replies. I've started a thread on here a few years back for my old Capri which unfortunately got stolen and burned out and have another Capri now. I figure if this can become the main thread I update I'll be a lot more interactive on this forum as spend many an hour a week reading everyones threads. So this is the beauty I picked and thought I'd start a thread for it.
Its a 1989 Mk4 Escort XR3i with the EFi engine.
The story of how I ended up with this car started with a drive up to manchester with my mate Phil to spend the weekend with some old friends. We needed some to stop to grab some beers and drink so we didn't arrive empty handed. This resulted in us pulling into a tescos just outiside Stockport and there in the dimly lit car park was an XR3i sitting there with its engine ticking over and lights on. I can't in recent memory ever remember looking at a standard escort and thinking that they looks awesome. Looking at it now I think my favorite bit is the rear 3/4 of the car as it just looked really cool. . There is something about the little boot lid and angular styling that I really like. After this sighting I then went out in Manchester had a few beers then went back home.
Going back a few more years to the early 90's when I would of been 6/7 my Gran used to a mk4 red XR3i, I remember her giving me and brother lifts around taking us on trips places in it. It was really cool I vividly remember the way her hair used to get sucked out of the sunroof when travelling round the M25, the dog hair on the back seat from Bates her dog, the jelly sweets she used to have in the centre console, I loved that car and remember it being fast!
I've also been reading the threads on here with the old mk3/4 escorts that have subconsciously got in my head and then there is the cossie powered one that sadly went into the wall at santa pod last year.
All of the above triggered by the sighting in manchester sent me to ebay to have a look for one. In a nutshell it had to be red a mk 4 and this one turned up which is pretty much the identical spec to my Grans old one, I put down a deposit mid week last week and ended up in Basildon (home of the XR3i) Saturday morning. After a quick look round everything was as described and I ended cruising the car home. As soon as I got in it the smell reminded me of my Grans old car and I had a beaming smile, its amazing how the cockpit brings back the memorie of her XR and my dads mk2 fiesta, so cheap and nasty but absolutely brilliant in the same light.
So the reason for getting this car. My Capri was rear ended back in September and is currently not really progressing to be fixed (can be seen in the back of the pic). I've got no means of transport apart from my push bike and public transport so firstly I need a car to get to and from work and secondly I need a car to take me back to my parents where the Capri is parked to work work on it, ferry parts etc... So essentially my man math has decided to buy a 27 year old escort with tinted windows, a ridiculous spoiler on the back, massive exhaust and 6x9s in the boot to ferry me and any capri parts
It needs a bit of work, on replacing some broken interior trim and will need a respray at some point but importantly hasn't got any major rust and is mechanically sound so will have some fun sourcing and fitting out some bits and for a change making it more original and get rid of some of the awful add ons. Its got loads of history (including the £550 receipt for the exhaust!), all its MOTs from the past (verifying its 77k mileage) the original parcel shelf and some trim bits that have not been fitted back properly.
Anyway some more pics
The first fill pic...
Rear End and Massive Exhaust
Engine bay
Close up of parking dent and "ouch" sticker
Headlight has water inside... already have a new one on order!
Sill needs a lick of paint and the trim refitting
Boot Strur support needs a bit of weld and Seat Release button broken and other side doesn't click in
Dashboard!
Needs some attention to Arches
Rear Seats - great fabric
Aftermarket rear brakelight
Stonerash on front end
Anyway thought I'd share as would be of interest to you guys, the next steps on it will be to drive it all week then next weekend give it a once over - swap out broken rear light for spare that came with car, remove "ouch" sticker, ignition leads, spark plugs, air filter cambelt, water pump etc... If I get a chance switch out the clutch quadrant thingy as its got a click. I want to replace the exhaust as it is knackered, loads of dents in the pipe and rubs if you try and drive it with enthusiasm, with a standard one or a slightly less obvious stainless one.
Cheers
Josh
good luck with the build
