1980 Ford Mk2 Escort Panel Van

My 1980 Ford Escort Panel Van

After having received the news that my beloved Subaru was to be crushed, I was faced with the prospect of a new ride. Weeks of browsing local classifieds ended with little more than the slow diminishing of hope of finding the perfect car. With a modest budget – just $3,000NZD, the market was slim. Many nights spent trawling through cars which may have been practical, reliable, safe, but nothing seemed to fit the bill. It would seem that nothing could replicate the same passion which had flourished with my Impreza.

But then it all changed. A friend of my Father’s – a fellow petrol head – would mention a multi-coloured Ford Escort that he knew of, stored in the shed of a rural property in East Auckland.

Within days my Father and I stood upon a paved driveway - the home of the shed in mention. The shed which - for more than a decade – was home to a marvel of the automotive world. As the door – surprisingly un-ceased – swung open, I was taken back by what met my eyes.

A Ford Escort, unlike those renowned for their rally heritage stood before me. While it did share characteristics with English Rally Escorts of the era, this one was a little different; it was a van. What stood before me was a 1980 MK2 Ford Escort Panel Van in dire need of restoration. Not only was I inspired by the unique nature of the van, but I realised that this was not to be my first encounter with this car. I recall the owner taking me to see the van as a child. He had bought it with the intention of restoring it for his daughter back in 2001. As time passed, he grew busier and the project was simply left to gather dust among his collection of automobiles; a 1971 Ford Thunderbird and 1994 Porsche 944 Convertible. The car which I would later buy would be the car of my childhood memories.

As I paced about the body of the 80’s classic, 35 years of loyal service as someone’s work horse had certainly started to show. Sporting five different colours, even more individual panels from entirely different cars, my soon-to-be project car was to be dubbed ‘The Ugly Duckling.’ It was love at first sight. The Ford - someone’s former daily driver – trustworthy, reliable, possessing all but yet none of the characteristics of my Subaru. I thought nothing would ever match the bond between myself and my Impreza, but I learnt to love it in a different way. While the Ford was nothing like my first automotive love, I grew to love the smooth body lines and charm which the Escort outwardly portrayed.

The Escort was a different kettle of fish. Unlike the relatively simple general maintenance and audio wiring tasks which I confidently performed on my former ride, this classic would require hundreds of hours of tender love and care to ever grace the New Zealand roads again, something which I was ever-willing to offer it. I struck a deal with the owner, just $1,500NZD would mark the beginning of an era; I would embark on a journey to return the British classic to its former glory.

To be built with the modest budget of a full time student, and part time grocery scanner, the van would be started with the intention of sorting the requirements of a re-VIN and issue of a current Warrant of Fitness, before addressing cosmetic issues. To stress the notion of function > form, mechanical and safety aspects of the Ford would be atop my list of priorities. And that’s my ride!