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1984 Orion 1.6i Ghia (first car)

biffy1984 Part of things Posts: 181	1984 Orion 1.6i Ghia (first car)biffy1984 @biffy1984
	Nov 8, 2019 23:50:51 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	So here’s the story.... my boy is 14 (15 in February) and has been saving all his summer time grass cutting money for his first car and has bought this old Orion as a project to fix up over the next couple of years so it’s ready for him turning 17. Plan was to wait till we are down on the mainland at Retrorides Garthering 2020 and take a car home for him then but it just so happened he saw this for sale recently in Orkney on a Facebook group so we decided to go for it to save a fortune on transport costs from the mainland. Needless to say it’s a fair bit worse than we first thought but nothing better than an old Ford to learn to weld on as there are plenty of holes to fill 😂 and all the repair panels are available 👌🏻 This certainly won’t be a concours resto or anything like that, just a good solid useable retro that’ll be so much cooler than the guff the young lads are cruising about in these days 😎 So for some pics, first few are from the original advert off fb This was the day we collected her off the ferry 4 weeks ago
	Last Edit: Nov 9, 2019 0:28:10 GMT by biffy1984

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biffy1984 Part of things Posts: 181	1984 Orion 1.6i Ghia (first car)biffy1984 @biffy1984
	Nov 8, 2019 23:54:58 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	And a few days later the strip down begins Engine has been sitting for god knows how many years with no plugs in it so is seized solid, just as well I have a good CVH from a cabriolet I broke up a few years back👌🏻


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biffy1984 Part of things Posts: 181	1984 Orion 1.6i Ghia (first car)biffy1984 @biffy1984
	Nov 9, 2019 0:14:22 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Sorry for the muddled up pics🤦🏼‍♂️ Rot inspection time....it needs inner and outer sills, battery tray, inner wings, front panel, rear chassis legs and possibly inner rear arches. Lots of other bits and pieces but generally solid in a lot of places I’ve seen them rot out before.


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biffy1984 Part of things Posts: 181	1984 Orion 1.6i Ghia (first car)biffy1984 @biffy1984
	Nov 9, 2019 0:23:17 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	No time like the present since the enthusiasm is there😂 Driver’s inner wing done💪🏼 More updates tomorrow.


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07lilredwagon Posted a lot Posts: 2,051	1984 Orion 1.6i Ghia (first car)07lilredwagon @07lilredwagon
	Nov 9, 2019 2:25:46 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	ahhh, the first car! what a cool project. I'm envious that your son has such an early start on a wonderful hobby or career. enjoy! JP
	I know its spelled Norman Luxury Yacht, but its pronounced Throat Wobbler Mangrove!

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lord13 Part of things Posts: 537	1984 Orion 1.6i Ghia (first car)lord13 @lord13
	Nov 9, 2019 7:39:09 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	I remember these well...the MK3 escort shell loved to rust and the orion was no different a damn good project though, I'm sure it'll be fab once done
	]

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rickygolf83 Scotland Mk2 Golf 8v & 16v, VR6, Nova Antibes, Mk4 1.8t & mk4 Gt Tdi 130 Posts: 560	1984 Orion 1.6i Ghia (first car)rickygolf83 @rickygolf83
	Nov 9, 2019 7:52:06 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Awesome find! My first car was the orion in my signature, although it was only 8 years old at the time! My dad had a mk1 1984 1.3L back in the day. Ispotted one on ebay few months ago but he wasnt interested in a trip down memeory lane :-( Looks like a lot of work to save this, but judging by the pics above, you are the men for the job!


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Mercdan68 Posted hell of a lot Posts: 9,223 Club RR Member Number: 68	1984 Orion 1.6i Ghia (first car)Mercdan68 @forddan68 Club Retro Rides Member 68
	Nov 9, 2019 8:08:42 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Superb work, great to see another young lad getting into the hobby, keep updating👍 My lad is heavily into the ford thing now Just six months to go before a provisional can be applied for
	Last Edit: Nov 9, 2019 8:11:01 GMT by Mercdan68 Fraud owners club member 2003 W211 Mercedes E class 1989 Sierra sapphire 1998 ex bt fiesta van

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ballbagbagins RR Helper Posts: 1,534 Club RR Member Number: 164	1984 Orion 1.6i Ghia (first car)ballbagbagins @ballbagbagins Club Retro Rides Member 164
	Nov 9, 2019 8:57:17 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Get him some ear defenders for when he's grinding.


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mattxr3i Part of things Posts: 128	1984 Orion 1.6i Ghia (first car)mattxr3i @mattxr3i
	Nov 9, 2019 9:33:33 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	I had a MK1 Orion 1.6GL as my first car in 1999 - I was so proud of it. Changed a few things as youngsters do, Orion Ghia I mk2 Interior with rear head rests and a weber carb were the highlights! Thinking person's XR3i, keep us updated, it will look great
	Last Edit: Nov 9, 2019 9:33:47 GMT by mattxr3i MK4 Ford Escort XR3i - Standard MK6 Ford Escort GTi - Track Car

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mrbounce Posted a lot Posts: 2,294	1984 Orion 1.6i Ghia (first car)mrbounce @mrbounce
	Nov 9, 2019 17:22:15 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	That is achingly cool. My mate borrowed one back in '89. It was quick compared to the other stuff that was about. I loved it. Unfortunately he had to return it... Bookmarked - will be following this!
	Nothing points at bad engineering more than creases in Gaffa Tape. redirect.viglink.com/?key=63364c64c1bea2953642596e66a2463a&subId=2095273&u=http%3A//retrorides.proboards.com/thread/191577/1981-midas-coupe-project-zippy%3Fpage%3D1

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biffy1984 Part of things Posts: 181	1984 Orion 1.6i Ghia (first car)biffy1984 @biffy1984
	Nov 9, 2019 17:24:37 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Nov 9, 2019 9:33:33 GMT mattxr3i said: I had a MK1 Orion 1.6GL as my first car in 1999 - I was so proud of it. Changed a few things as youngsters do, Orion Ghia I mk2 Interior with rear head rests and a weber carb were the highlights! Thinking person's XR3i, keep us updated, it will look great 👍🏻 My first car was also an Orion 1.6i Ghia, bought from a guy in a multi-storey car park in Aberdeen when I was away at college when I was 15 for £550😂 that was back in 1999. many hours spent welding on that one too, it’s the only way to learn. Loved that thing😍 I had loads of Orions when I was younger, I would of been maybe 18 when I had this red one I bought the red one after it has been in a fire, the whole interior was burnt out, so again down at college I stripped the complete interior from one in a scrappy in Huntly, paid the man 30 quid for the lot (dash, headliner, carpets, seats, door cards and all😂) and took the whole lot back home with me on the plane, for no extra charge!! Changed days....


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grizz Probably posted too much REZIN ROCKIT......🚀 Posts: 28,504	1984 Orion 1.6i Ghia (first car)grizz @grizz
	Nov 9, 2019 18:08:42 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Brilliant photo You certainly chose a challenge. Good luck etc.
	Last Edit: Nov 9, 2019 18:10:44 GMT by grizz 1966 Chevy C10 V8 REDNECK EXPRESS. (Restoration now) GRIZZ-POD Build Thread grizzmakes.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-birth-of-grizzmakes.html IF YOU CAN'T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER, YOU'VE GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM MATE. .

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Rob M Posted a lot Posts: 1,915 Club RR Member Number: 41	1984 Orion 1.6i Ghia (first car)Rob M @zeb Club Retro Rides Member 41
	Nov 9, 2019 18:34:47 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	That's an early one too! Early ones must be super rare now. I suspect that, by the way you are going about it, it is going to be a VERY good car and not just a 'useable retro' by the time you both have finished it. Good save there!!


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turbotechnics Part of things Posts: 299	1984 Orion 1.6i Ghia (first car)turbotechnics @turbotechnics
	Nov 9, 2019 19:50:39 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Great first car and project. Mk3/4 escorts/orions are a joy to work on with plenty of spares available. Keep up the good work.


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pabblo Part of things Posts: 435	1984 Orion 1.6i Ghia (first car)pabblo @pabblo
	Nov 9, 2019 21:16:52 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Nice to see an Orion being saved, I remember a lot of modified ones around. As a teenager back in the late 90s, to early 00s reading Max Power etc... They were one of the cars to have, good luck with the project
	1989 mk1 Fiat uno 45 Breeze retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=readersrides&action=display&thread=117980&page=1 2000 Fiat Fiorino Van ( Now sold ) retrorides.proboards.com/thread/170942/2000-fiat-fiorino-pain-commmence#.VBcgEo10wiQ 1995 Fiat Punto 55 EL 6 speed. ( Misbehaving!! ) retrorides.proboards.com/thread/179376/1994-punto-speed-where-begin 97 1.2 Punto 60S, 93 Uno 1.1 I.E, 05 Punto Mk2B 1.4 Sporting

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kevins Posted a lot Posts: 4,860	1984 Orion 1.6i Ghia (first car)kevins @kevins
	Nov 9, 2019 21:36:07 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	A guy I work with has got an immaculate completely original white one, it brings back so many memories, 25 years they were everywhere. The main issue he has had is finding someone to sort out the k jetronic.


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biffy1984 Part of things Posts: 181	1984 Orion 1.6i Ghia (first car)biffy1984 @biffy1984
	Nov 12, 2019 22:26:32 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	On to the passenger side, cut away the grotty inner wing and what was left of the non existent battery tray And the new tray getting welded in place😎 The bulkhead had rotted further up than the new repair panel could cover so had to set in a bit from the back, it’s come pretty good though. Inner wing panel next, should tie in well with the new battery tray🤞🏼
	Last Edit: Nov 12, 2019 22:31:59 GMT by biffy1984

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biffy1984 Part of things Posts: 181	1984 Orion 1.6i Ghia (first car)biffy1984 @biffy1984
	Nov 23, 2019 21:11:56 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	A bit more progress on the old wagon, he just working on it a couple of nights a week but there’s no hurry😂but it’s all coming along nicely. Tying the inner wing into the new battery tray and new wing rail now all welded in.


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pauly22 Posted a lot Posts: 1,351	1984 Orion 1.6i Ghia (first car)pauly22 @pauly22
	Nov 23, 2019 21:25:06 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Great project. Haven’t seen one of these in years.
	1994 BMW 525i touring 2004 BMW Z4 sorn and broken 1977 Ford Escort 1982 Ford Capri getting restored 1999 Mazda B2500 daily driver.

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