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Feb 14, 2021 20:20:12 GMT
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With the oldest Ka's bordering on being classic cars at 25 years old I find it a little bit strange that there doesn't seem to be many modified ones floating around (Unless I've just missed them somehow).  This surprises me a little as there still seems to be a fair amount of them still on the road, and I find myself wondering why the same sort of people who were modifying Minis back in the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, etc are not modifying the Ka nowadays. From what I understand it was based on the Mark 3 Ford Fiesta which I understand was the Ford B platform used on the Fiestas from the first to the fourth generation, so I'm guessing that modifying one shouldn't be too hard. But does anyone know how interchangeable parts from the Fiesta Ford B platform would be? Could you swap in the oily bits from an early XR2 without any serious modifications for example? Can you upgrade the suspension and brakes using bits straight off the Fiesta? So tell me about them, and show me any modified Mk 1 Ford Kas, SportKas, and StreetKas you may have seen. |
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Feb 14, 2021 20:26:59 GMT
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I've had 2 exes that drove Ka's, I always took their car to work, one was a posh one with a full length electric webasto, was great in the summer blezzing to work. Both were horrendously grotty though, from the fuel filler to the passenger door. Fortunately I split up with both before the cars folded  |
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cjj
Part of things
Posts: 275
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Feb 14, 2021 20:56:59 GMT
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I had a few over the years.
Very fun cars that are chronically mispronounced (it's not Kay-Ay)
I have always maintained that if they had a VW badge people would rub their loins furiously over them.
Their biggest gain was their biggest flaw - that modified Mk3 Fiesta chassis is excellent, but biodegradable. The 'new edge' Fords were excellent, though, and I still love the look of the Puma.
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Feb 14, 2021 20:57:15 GMT
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Yes I've noticed that myself astranaut, they tend to fall into one of two catagories, good, or really rusty. I must admit though I like the sound of a posh one with a full length electric webasto, atleast the cloth in the hole in the roof won't rust. I've noticed a couple with so much rust around the filler cap that I found myself wondering just what was holding that filer cap on. I have always maintained that if they had a VW badge people would rub their loins furiously over them. Pretty much true of any VW, especially if it has that other badge on the boot that says 'Golf'. I'm not sure I know anyone who doesn't pronounce it Kay-Ay to be honest, whenever I've pronounced it Ka(h) I get looked at like I'm some sort of window licker! |
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cjj
Part of things
Posts: 275
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Feb 14, 2021 21:05:37 GMT
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I'm not sure I know anyone who doesn't pronounce it Kay-Ay to be honest, whenever I've pronounced it Ka(h) I get looked at like I'm some sort of window licker! I thereby decree your peers as idiots  I like to annoy VW-philes who call it the K.A. by referring to the little VW as the "you pee!". Makes the point |
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Feb 14, 2021 21:31:18 GMT
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My daughter has had a street ka for the last 3 years, basicaly it's a great little car, drives like a go kart and pretty nippy (1.6 engine). Mechanicaly it's been the pretty normal stuff, replacing bushes and ball joints (then doing some of them again a year later due to ecp cr$p parts),a couple of brake calipers, a new exhaust to replace the boy racer back box and 4 decent tyres. Body wise it had 2 issues, the plastic bulkead in the engine compartment had rubbed through the paint underneath it which then rusted and let water in (welded and re-sealed) and there are 2 T shaped pieces welded to the bottom of the doors around which rust was forming, just needed treating and painting. I also cleaned the underside and arches, treated any surface rust and waxed it all. Modifying wise People have managed to squeeze the puma engine in but it is very tight in there, suspension wise you would struggle to better the sport / street ka set up, the one thing which is a bit low rent is the interior, this could be an area to work on. here it is  |
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Last Edit: Feb 15, 2021 9:58:07 GMT by kevins
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Feb 14, 2021 21:55:49 GMT
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What I can tell you is that weirdly, about 2 hours ago, my best mate sent a WhatsApp message saying look what I've bought the missus for Valentine's day......with this picture attached....  I then then log onto Retro Rides and one of the first things I see is this new thread......so there you go...thats my contribution 👍 |
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Opel Commodore A Coupe
Opel Rekord C Coupe
Opel Rekord C Saloon
Vauxhall Magnum Coupe V8 (Magnumania)
Mk1 Scirocco GLS
Mk1 Scirocco GLS (early chrome bumper)
Corrado G60
Mk1 Cortina 2 door Pre Airflow
Mk2 Escort 1300 2 Door
VW LT35 Tipper Truck
BMW 320D E91 Tourer
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cjj
Part of things
Posts: 275
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Feb 14, 2021 22:21:41 GMT
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What I can tell you is that weirdly, about 2 hours ago, my best mate sent a WhatsApp message saying look what I've bought the missus for Valentine's day......with this picture attached.. I then then log onto Retro Rides and one of the first things I see is this new thread......so there you go...thats my contribution 👍 Ah... a StreetKa for desire! |
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skinnylew
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 5,703
Club RR Member Number: 11
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I've just sold the wifes Ka Sport on eBay for £160 and it's being collected tomorrow.
It was a great car and served us really well and i managed to do enough welding to get it through the last couple of MOT's but this time it was wayyyyy too far gone for my abilities.
We got it before we were married as a birthday present for her (9 years ago!) and it was £400 with a water problem. After changing the header tank, heater block i realised it was head gasket and booked it into my mates to be done. New clutch as well and a bill for £650 ish. It was on a 53 plate so it was still worth more than we'd spent.
Over the years i needed the odd bit here and there but the main expenditure was wishbones every 2 years (£50 a pair so no drama) and tyres (see previous note)
It handled like it was on rails, short gearing was awesome around town but a headache on the motorway.
The majority of motorists think it is a normal Ka so tried to bully it along the road, jump it at lights and go around it on roundabouts, they rarely succeeded lol
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Feb 15, 2021 10:21:11 GMT
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I must admit that stumbling across this one on fleabay is what sent me down this rabbit hole!  But it looked a little bit too boy racery for my liking, and as it needed a little bit of welding it's outside my skillset. Added to that, I don't really need another project car that I don't do anything with, and mean to get around to doing something with someday! Besides, I think it's the StreetKa I really like, so perhaps I should be looking at them more, although I have noticed their value has been creeping up on fleabay lately. |
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Feb 15, 2021 10:26:18 GMT
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I thereby decree your peers as idiots That does sound like a pretty good description of them! I like to annoy VW-philes who call it the K.A. by referring to the little VW as the "you pee!". Makes the point I must remember that, one of them drives a you pee! |
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ferny
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 986
Club RR Member Number: 13
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Feb 15, 2021 10:52:29 GMT
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I fitted a pair of Spark KA leather heated seats into my van. £60, wipe clean and great in the winter!
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riggs
Part of things
Posts: 74 
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Feb 15, 2021 11:28:30 GMT
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Back in the mid 2000's there where plenty modified ones, I think the issue is they where always looked at as a 'girls' car.
One of my friends had one, as a group of mates we all had fiesta's, but he was on a tighter budget so opted for a KA. It got fitted with some escort alloys and it looked half decent, I remember refurbing the wheels for him.
Within a year it failed its MOT on welding, the generation we were/are, welding means terminal rust, he sold it to the mechanic and then bought himself a rover 25 which was accident damaged, I spent the weekend repairing and painting it, was a half decent car, felt a lot more solid for the money.
I remember when they where new, my dad had one on a P plate IIRC (I was 7-8) and it was brilliant, he didn't keep it long unfortunately
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Feb 15, 2021 11:30:19 GMT
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Wifey test drove a Streetka a couple of years ago. I can only guess that Ford made the body out of jelly. Never driven anything so flexible in my life. The scuttle had a life of it's own.
She passed on it.
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Proton Jumbuck-deceased :-(
2005 Kia Sorento the parts hauling heap
V8 Humber Hawk
1948 Standard12 pickup SOLD
1953 Pop build (wifey's BIVA build).
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Feb 15, 2021 12:03:27 GMT
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I sat in one once. At 6'6" I am quite long, there was a problem as soon as I got in, the space was fine and it was comfortable enough. The problem was seeing out, because of the roof curving down into the windscreen, my view ahead was of the sun visor, I had to duck down to see ahead of me  . So I took it off the list and moved on. The mk2 Ka based on the Fiat 500 was fine, I had one as a courtesy car. It does feel like you're sitting on the car though, not in it. |
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longman
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 507
Club RR Member Number: 3
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Feb 15, 2021 12:20:28 GMT
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There is a race series for them ... Enduroka |
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Paul
98 500 SL
86 911 Carrera/sold
23 Octavia Phev
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Feb 15, 2021 12:28:28 GMT
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I always felt these were the real "new mini" of the era, cheap tiny car everyone has some experience of, distinctive styling, wheel at every corner, go-kart feel. Shame about the rust issues.
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If at first you don't succeed........
....Don't try skydiving!
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Feb 15, 2021 12:37:18 GMT
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dragon
Part of things
Posts: 153
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Feb 15, 2021 14:01:49 GMT
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A long time ago I drove the Millennium model with a booming exhaust and alloys and low profiles tyres. Loved it and would have kept it after it was offered to me but I needed a 5 seater car.
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Feb 15, 2021 14:11:26 GMT
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My first car was a 96 KA in green
I'm 6foot3 and i thought for 2 years that driving long distances was just inheriently uncomfortable, being the only car id driven for more than an hour at a time.
When i bought my Focus i realised it was just the KA that was badly suited for me.
I gave it to my girlfriend at the time and then another 2 years later failed the MOT on rust, wasn't too bad but we binned it as the value for selling it was bascially scrap at the time even with an MOT and so it went for the 1.6 Sport ka as a replacement for her.
The little 1.6 engine in that thing was very fun. Had good poke off the line and suprised 'boy racers' with their saxos and 106s
The car was certainly prone to rusting and the rear springs had both snapped which was weird.
Easy to work on and all the parts were super cheap and easy to get.
I'd imagine scrap yards still have KAs come in on the reg now.
If i was going to buy a low mileage and good condition cheap small car thats quirky and likely an investment The Sport KA would certainly be a top contender
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1973 MK1 2600 Capri - Located in Texas
1976 3.0S Capri - X-Pack long term Project
1978 2.0S Capri
1984 Transit County MK2 4x4 LWB 2.5DI
1985 2.8i Special Capri (v8 5.0L)
1986 2.8i Special Capri
1987 280 Turbo Technics Capri
1993 1.8TD P100 - Beater, parts collector
2008 BMW 320i Touring - Daily
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Ax GTi Turbo
. So I took it off the list and moved on. The mk2 Ka based on the Fiat 500 was fine, I had one as a courtesy car. It does feel like you're sitting on the car though, not in it.
