1978 Ford Escort Mk2 – Classified of the Week

The world of retro and classic Fords is a vibrant one, not least because of colours like Vista Orange. However, while this world is indeed vibrant, it’s not the most varied. There is a following, and quite rightly, for the go faster performance models. The Mexico, the RS, these are the classic blue ovals we see on the regular. And that’s no bad thing, they are great cars after all. However, it does mean the basic cars from which these halo models evolved are often forgotten. And that is a shame. Happily though, this week’s classified of choice is exactly that. No stripes, no alloys, no bucket seats. 

What we have here is a 1978 Ford Escort 1300. It’s not fast, it’s not sexy, but it is wonderfully charming. The four-door Escort was as ubiquitous in the ‘70s and ‘80s as the Focus is today. It’s a car we all had, or if we didn’t, we knew someone who did. It was a hugely, hugely popular model. But, because it’s not of a performance ilk, and because many of them were four-door models like this one, they were largely forgotten. As such, the irony is that these cars in base trim are now rarer than the sporty models everyone desires. 

This car, which has been shipped in from hot, dry South Africa, is rust free and completely original. It stands as a charming reminder of what everyday transportation used to look like. It’s powered by a simple 1.3 Kent four-cylinder engine mated to a four-speed manual transmission delivering power (we use that word lightly) to the rear wheels. It’s a lovely little thing, and one that will almost certainly turn more heads than a Mexico in the show field. 

Owning classic cars isn’t just about buying the cars we want, it’s also about preserving motoring history, and that’s where cars like this come in. You should buy it, use it, enjoy it and build memories with it. Then, before buying the RS2000 you really want, you can pass this on to another budding enthusiast who wants a reminder of good, honest retro motoring. These cars are our motoring history, they are just as important as the halo models. We love that this one has survived in such wonderful condition, and we know that if you take the plunge, you’ll love it, too.