what project

**youngracer** · 07-01-2007, 00:02

whats the thing to look at when buying and knackerd escort to restore i dont know what to look at before i buy it or when i should walk away and look else were im looking for a 1300 or 1100

**RChambers** · 07-01-2007, 00:10

pretty much the whole of them rots so you have to check it all really

. I assume you mean a mk1/2 here btw. The main places are.

- front corners of floorpans/a-posts
- inner and outer sills
- wheel arches
- inner wings especially the strut tops
- chassis rails mainly the bit that curves down the bulkhead and near the rear spring hangers.
- wing rails and fronts of wings
- rear valance where it meets the chassis rails sometimes

Probably missed some off there. Best to get someone who knows what to look for to go with you when you look if possible

Running gear is far less important than body condition btw.

**retro_car_man** · 07-01-2007, 00:21

why not ask some one local to you on here to call up and show you where to look, using there car as an example??? sure any one local will gladly help you

**alladdin** · 07-01-2007, 21:57

looking at your age i guess your restoration experiance is ltd? you might want a 1/2 decent one or be put off for life !(well done for going for it by the way!) i would say that its such a minefield that you really need someone with you that knows escorts. thats not a reflection on you .... i would say the same to anyone new to escorts... the prices are not low enough to buy a rotton beyond repair wreck.
this site will help no end, dont be afraid to ask questions.

**POO SLINGER** · 07-01-2007, 22:43

Bob ticker offered to come round with me to help look at escorts as i wasn't 2 sure of what to look for.

Top man

another good tip is to take a magnet with you. it won't stick to filler

**Retromotorsport** · 08-01-2007, 11:36

Alladin has the right idea ... if you have never restored a car or are going to be paying for parts and labour on a restoration project you should be looking at the best you can buy. Its always cheaper to let someone else pay to have the work done.

There was a recent restored to concourse condition Mk1 that came in at £37,000 I belive ... and would probably only get to around 10-12k if it was for sale (if that)

So a really clean well restored one could save you a fourtune, or the " grandads " car thats in good condition. But like has been said , ask on here for someone to look at it for you.

If your looking for a restoration project to learn on or even have someone (your dad ) pass on thier skills to you then almost any car under 3k is going to need work on it somewhere.

And when going to look at one ... look hard..very hard at everywhere. a shiny paintjob thats fresh is a surefire clue to whats underneath, and think to yourself, this cars just been painted so whys he selling???