Smiler
Posted a lot
I no longer own anything FWD! Or with less than 6 cylinders, or 2.5ltrs! :)
Posts: 2,492
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Mar 25, 2004 17:11:53 GMT
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A bit of a touchy one this. These once common cars are now pretty thin on the ground themselves now and were a landmark car for Ford. Are they old enough to be considered Retro?
I at first would say no and certainly don't include my highly modified convertible in that statement but consider the following.
They were a very popular successfull car.
They were on the drawing board in 1979.
They have individual styling. (you can't really mistake them, except prehaps for a mk1 Astra at a distance)
They are an early '80's icon.
Now I don't propose to include the boy raced bastardised XR3i's in that but the tidy original mk3's are attracting interest and clean standard examples (non XR's) are starting to fetch more money. Tidy XR3's (carb fed version) are now rather respected and starting to get the same appreciation as the RS versions.
Just a thought.
Oh, and as for the mk4, a cheap tart up job with a poorer quality result. I hate them!
So what do you think?
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www.Auto-tat.co.uk'96 Range Rover P38 DSE (daily driver) '71 Reliant Scimitar SE5 GTE 3.0ltr Jag V6 Conversion '79 Reliant Scimitar SE6A 3.0ltr 24valve Omega Conversion '85 Escort Cabrio 2.0 Zetec - Sold '91 BMW 525i - Sold '82 Cortina 2.9i Ghia Cosworth - Sold '72 VW Campervan - Sold '65 LandRover 88" - Sold
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Mar 25, 2004 17:18:36 GMT
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sorry have to say no on that one they will never be a retro car in my eyes sorry just my opinion on them I never did like them  |
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Mar 25, 2004 17:35:47 GMT
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well i think they are .i have one that i`m in the process of sorting out for the wife,its a mk3 ,3 door gl in white and still on the 4 speed box with a 1600 engine and the original 13 inch wheels  |
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Mar 25, 2004 19:13:52 GMT
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I agree with Smiler on not including the base ball capped brigade type Mk.3's But a nice original RS1600 or turbo will always be a a future classic i think.
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Just a modern....but surrounded every day by Porsche's !
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Smiler
Posted a lot
I no longer own anything FWD! Or with less than 6 cylinders, or 2.5ltrs! :)
Posts: 2,492
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Mar 25, 2004 20:29:28 GMT
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Well it's nice to see that opinions on these cars is starting to change. I knew it wouldn't appeal to nightmares. ;D
If you treat it as what it is, not a performance power weapon but a front wheel drive, highly competent everyday car then I think it works rather well.
I've certainly grown to like them more and more over the years. And I'm not just saying that cos I own one, I bought mine over 5 years ago when it was a banger and modified it out of all recognition. The only original bits left are the shell, door cards and the roof!
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www.Auto-tat.co.uk'96 Range Rover P38 DSE (daily driver) '71 Reliant Scimitar SE5 GTE 3.0ltr Jag V6 Conversion '79 Reliant Scimitar SE6A 3.0ltr 24valve Omega Conversion '85 Escort Cabrio 2.0 Zetec - Sold '91 BMW 525i - Sold '82 Cortina 2.9i Ghia Cosworth - Sold '72 VW Campervan - Sold '65 LandRover 88" - Sold
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Mar 25, 2004 20:38:22 GMT
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Well people said the mk4 Cortina, or even the Mk3 would never be classic,.. hell just a few years ago people were giving away Split Screen VW camper vans because they "wern't worth the effort". In the 70's Split window Beetles were turned in to Bajas and Buggies... Mk2 Escorts used to be seen as the boy racers car,.. So I think a bit of time will mean the mk3 will gradually gain retro status,.. with the RS and XR3 gaining classic status. They wern't an instant classic,.. so it'll take some time,.. but one day they will be there. One day the Nova will be there too, like it or not |
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Mar 25, 2004 20:44:23 GMT
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rear wheel drive has also popped up in the retro argument but i have broken that by owning an aggro!!!
but i think a nice example of a mk 3 which is stock would probably make it into old skool.
but if they turn up with there pimp daddy beats and neons we would turn them away faster then a shelby mustang!!!
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Assumption is the mother of all f**k ups
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Mar 25, 2004 20:46:48 GMT
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Eventually all things will become classic, we've all been checking out Skodas and Nissans that until recently were the epitomy of boringness. Suddenly you realise that they've all disappeared and they weren't so bad after all. Times change...and so do opinions. MkI & II Escorts used to be the car us non-boy-racers frowned upon and now you read about them in Custom Car where they used to be what the enemy drove!
Their time will come....sooner rather than later I'd say (although personally I'll still giggle at the RS owners club at the Bromley Pageant when the bring along their 'absolutely normal but very clean' MkIVs!)
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Smiler
Posted a lot
I no longer own anything FWD! Or with less than 6 cylinders, or 2.5ltrs! :)
Posts: 2,492
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Mar 25, 2004 20:48:30 GMT
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Can't argue with that! ;D
However, thankfully the mk3 is being left alone by the wideboy brigade now as they much prefer the cheaper (and very carp) mk4. The reason why? You can bolt loads of silly bodykits to them as the fronts are made of plastic! ;D
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www.Auto-tat.co.uk'96 Range Rover P38 DSE (daily driver) '71 Reliant Scimitar SE5 GTE 3.0ltr Jag V6 Conversion '79 Reliant Scimitar SE6A 3.0ltr 24valve Omega Conversion '85 Escort Cabrio 2.0 Zetec - Sold '91 BMW 525i - Sold '82 Cortina 2.9i Ghia Cosworth - Sold '72 VW Campervan - Sold '65 LandRover 88" - Sold
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Mar 25, 2004 20:51:21 GMT
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I think that like every other car, they will become appreciated with age. I look twice whenever I see a Mk3 XR3 (or i) these days.
Hmm. Beige Ghia with all the chrome trim, lowered on Ronal Turbos... They would respond well to some VW influences!
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Smiler
Posted a lot
I no longer own anything FWD! Or with less than 6 cylinders, or 2.5ltrs! :)
Posts: 2,492
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Mar 25, 2004 20:53:28 GMT
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Forgot to mention, there's no such thing as an RS mk4 Escort. The RS Mk3's were derived from motorsport cars (homologation). The mk4 RS Turbo (series 2) was purely a marketing ploy and is basicaly an XR with a turbo. The mk4 XR was hardly different to the standard car either. If anyone owns one, sorry for upsetting you. Just my humble views.  |
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www.Auto-tat.co.uk'96 Range Rover P38 DSE (daily driver) '71 Reliant Scimitar SE5 GTE 3.0ltr Jag V6 Conversion '79 Reliant Scimitar SE6A 3.0ltr 24valve Omega Conversion '85 Escort Cabrio 2.0 Zetec - Sold '91 BMW 525i - Sold '82 Cortina 2.9i Ghia Cosworth - Sold '72 VW Campervan - Sold '65 LandRover 88" - Sold
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Mar 25, 2004 21:07:36 GMT
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My first car was a Cortina Mk.4 ,1977 vintage 1.3 OHV.Unfortunatly it was that rotten it was beyond saving but i got good experience from the old girl.
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Just a modern....but surrounded every day by Porsche's !
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Mar 25, 2004 22:13:18 GMT
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on the subject of first cars ,my first was actually a mk3 1300 gl 4 door in iguess you could call it orange/red on an X plate absolutly mint cost more to insure than it did to buy.got it off a friend for 200,and it cost near 400 to insure.that was 10 rears ago and i`m still paying that amount now with a near perfect record.
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GJM
Posted a lot
Alloy engines; like communism- great in theory.
Posts: 1,393
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sorry, digging up threads from the past ;D In the new Practical Classics this month they have an article of cars made in 1980 i think, 25th Birthday or something. The Escy mk3 is on there, quite a bit on it as well, along with the early Cavaller. So presumably if PC call it a classic then it must be a Retro ride You have to admit, there are less and less of these cars nowadays, cant remember the last time i saw one (or a mk1 Orion which is just a mk3 Escy) Plus PC are calling the Maxda mx-5 a classic which went from 1990 to 1998 (i think) and the Pug 205. I personaly think its about the pinicle of European common ar styling. So is it time to get the Escort mk3 and Orion mk1 a chance?  |
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Is the mk3 escort retro? I'd say definitely! especially considering some of the things that are being put forward as retro (*cough* calibra - wtf ) Although it obviously depends on the individual car. Saw an old woman driving a mk3 ghia the other night at tescos and it looked immaculate. And because you hardly see them anymore i loved it. Most cars they will be missed when they're gone. Incidently, finally waved goodbye to my mk4 escort last night. Was quite sad to see it go, sniff |
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Kris
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,631
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Saw a Mk3 XR3 in the breakers yesterday, I 've got a picture of it, just need SidewaysGTM to get em off his camera.
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Last Edit: Apr 15, 2005 13:01:22 GMT by Kris
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Yeah the MK3 is definately 'Retro' - I reckon a retro car can be classed as such if it conjoures up thoughts of an era that now seems dated, and because by rights such a car should have long gone to the great scrapyard in the sky, they stand out on the street amongst the sea of more modern cars.
The MK3 Escort for me reminds me of Betamax videos, flourescent socks, ET, Alphabet Spaggetti & Vic 20 Commadore computers ;D
A series 1 RS turbo still probably gets me as excited as seeing a MK2 RS2000 or a 60s Beetle, I even have a certain fondness for the S2 RS Turbo as these were the cars me and my mates hankered after when we started driving.
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Apr 15, 2005 13:17:29 GMT
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God yeah, they rock! I love MKIII's, in the same way I love MKI's and II's. But I'd only ever want to own one of the sporting models. As most of you know, I'm a dub man, but I used to be into fords, in a big way, and there really is very little between a decent early XR3 (or early i) and a golf MKI, although the dub does have the edge. A seriously under rated car in my opinion, the RS1600i, RS Turbo (only real ones, in diamond white and blue, i.e. S1s) and the XR3 and later the early i are some of the best hatches of the era. Hmmm, XR3 on clovers  Ohhhh, yes please  And one of these  I'd love a silver XR3 on clovers... |
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The lurker formerly known as Cappuccinocruiser.. or wedgedout..
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Apr 15, 2005 13:21:26 GMT
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Derby Dan, you forgot global hypercolour shirts.
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The lurker formerly known as Cappuccinocruiser.. or wedgedout..
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Apr 15, 2005 15:48:12 GMT
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1600i and RST are justifiably retro.... Not wholly sure about the rest of them though. I've owned both a Mk3 (1600 ghia) and a Mk4 (1300 hcs RST wannabe - YUK!  ) and to be honest I couldn't get shot of them quick enough as they were so terminally dreary and hideously unreliable.  |
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) and to be honest I couldn't get shot of them quick enough as they were so terminally dreary and hideously unreliable. 