TWENTY FOR 2020

Turn of the TV and put down that phone. Here are 20 reasons to get that mojo back and your motor running in 2020.

How to start the new year like a boss.

As much as we tend to focus on the build or restoration of a classic Ford, ultimately the whole point of owning these cars that we love and cherish is to grab hold of that steering wheel, turn the key and go for a blast up the road.

But what if your classic Ford is still months away from returning to the road and you’re in need of some motivation? Over the next five pages we’ve got both angles covered, so turn off that screen, turn the page and get busy — no excuses!

“2020 IS THE YEAR TO GET YOUR CLASSIC FORD BACK ON THE ROAD”

1. LEARN A NEW SKILL HOW EASY: ★★ ★★★ COST: ★★ ★★★

Whether it’s making composite panels, rebuilding a gearbox or painting bodywork, make 2020 the year you learn a new skill. It’ll mean finishing that project becomes easier, cheaper and more satisfying if you’ve managed to do more yourself, as well as making yourself more useful to your mates! Look up college evening courses near you or one of the excellent, recognised full-time restoration courses, or even talk someone into showing you the ropes of their particular skill. Contact: Contour Academy, www.contourautocraft.co.uk

2. HIT THE ROAD HOW EASY: ★ ★★★★ COST: ★ ★★★★

One of the best things about driving old Fords is that you don’t have to go especially fast to have fun, and there’s a lot to be said for taking your chosen blue oval for a run over your favourite stretch of asphalt. There’s a lot of fun to be had while still sticking within the confines of the national speed limit, especially if you can time your run for spring or summer when the longer evenings make it all the more entertaining. Once again it’s best to rope in a convoy of likeminded friends for this, not least because a line of barking, snorting classics sounds utterly compelling!

3. FINISH THAT PROJECT HOW EASY: ★★★★ ★ COST: ★★★ ★★

Whether it’s a drawn-out build crafted over a number of years, or a rebuild to make your car harder, faster and stronger, 2020 is the year to get your classic Ford back on the road, track, trailer, or whatever floats your boat. We’re anticipating great things for this year!

4. GET A ROLLING ROAD TUNE HOW EASY: ★ ★★★★ COST: ★★ ★★★

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that dyno sessions are the sole preserve of fuel-injection and complex ECUs, but this isn’t the case. Taking your classic Ford to a rolling road can be a fantastic experience, particularly if you’ve not had the fuelling and ignition set up for a while, or if you’ve spent the winter months bolting on aftermarket tuning parts.The chances are you’ll leave with a car that’s running sweeter and sounding better than ever before. It might not be the cheapest day out if you go it alone, but dyno days are one of the most popular of group activities, so the chances are one will be happening at some point soon. Contact: Northampton Motorsport, www.northamptonmotorsport.com

5. CHECK OUT A NEW SHOW HOW EASY: ★ ★★★★ COST: ★ ★★★★

If you do only one thing with your classic Ford in 2020, then take it to a show you’ve never been to before. We are spoilt by a huge variety of events on the classic Ford scene, but an even bigger selection is available to you if you start looking around at the general classic car events that take place every year, with new shows starting up all the time. It’s a great way of picking up new ideas for your projects as well as meeting fellow petrolheads — and no-one ever turned down an appreciative comment for their classic Ford!

“HAVING AN EXTRA PAIR OF HANDS AND SOMEONE TO BOUNCE IDEAS OFF IS THE PERFECT ANTIDOTE”

6. PICK UP A NEW PROJECT HOW EASY: ★ ★★★★ COST: ★★★ ★★

We’ve all done it — spotted a potential new project car for sale, worked out exactly we want to do with it, so this weekend, why not go the distance, snap one up and get it into the garage? Unless you’re feeling brave, don’t go for a total basket case though — they’re the kind of projects that never get finished — instead, choose carefully and find a car that matches your skillset and more importantly, budget. And if you’re buying a part-finished project, make sure you know exactly what is needed to get it done.

7. TREAT YOUR CLASSIC FORD TO A FULL ON DETAIL HOW EASY: ★★ ★★★ COST: ★ ★★★★

The chances are you’ll already be quite a fan of keeping your pride and joy in tip-top condition, but it’s still easy to become slightly lax when it comes to prepping and polishing the paintwork, especially during the winter months. Taking the time to thoroughly wash and detail your classic Ford can be just as rewarding as lying under it with a welder, a grinder and a big hammer (it’s also much cleaner and less stressful), and you’ll be amazed at how much better it’ll look when you’re done, to boot. Just make sure you invest in a good quality car shampoo and a pot of carnauba wax. Take your time about it, and you can’t really go wrong. Contact: Meguiar’s, www.meguiars.co.uk

8. HELP OUT A MATE HOW EASY: ★ ★★★★ COST: ★ ★★★★

All major projects come with their own set of ups and downs, and actually getting to the end of one can feel akin to a soap opera omnibus! Doubtless one of your old Ford mates will be in the process of trying to convince an engine to fit somewhere it was never designed to go, or be in the middle of tackling a pair of terrifyingly rotten inner wings, so why not pitch in and help out? You don’t even need to be especially mechanically skilled to be of use; simply having an extra pair of hands and someone to bounce ideas off can be just the catalyst these kinds of intensive projects need.

“MEETS ARE THE PERFECT CHANCE TO CATCH UP WITH FRIENDS, SWAP STORIES OR EVEN PARTS”

9. TAKE IN A CLUB MEET HOW EASY: ★ ★★★★ COST: ★ ★★★★

There’s not much better for restoring your classic Ford mojo than a club meet; they’re the perfect opportunity to catch up with old friends, swap stories (and parts) and get advice on your next purchase or modification. Obviously they tend to increase in frequency as the summer show season edges ever closer, but have a look at the various Ford groups on social media and you might well be surprised by how many events and gatherings continue all year round, often moving to pubs and cafes when the hours of daylight are shorter. They’re the ideal way to maintain your passion for Fords and the wider scene, and you might just make some valuable new friends.

10. DO THE BREAKFAST RUN HOW EASY: ★ ★★★★ COST: ★ ★★★★

Few like getting up early, but that changes when it’s a dry, bright morning and there’s a classic Ford parked in the garage ready to go. At 6 am in Spring it’s light enough but quiet enough to go for a run on your favourite roads. What will be jam-packed with commuters in 24 hours spookily, eerily empty. Grab a map, pinpoint a decent cafe that opens early for breakfast, and then pick out a series of roads that lead there — but not the direct route you’d normally take. Glance at your watch and you’ll realise it’s time to head back home to start that long list of DIY jobs you were handed the night before. That run out will almost make doing it a pleasure. We did say almost.

11. HEAD TO THE COAST HOW EASY: ★ ★★★★ COST: ★ ★★★★

There’s something about seaside towns that attracts legions of car fans, and we’ve long known that places like Southend-on-Sea will always be associated with car culture, particular if the cars in question have a Blue Oval on the bonnet.You could even go further afield and explore some of the UK’s staggeringly beautiful shoreside roads, many of which hug the coast and follow the curvature of the land — perfect for early spring blasts to clear the automotive cobwebs! It’s also well worth ensuring you bring some of your mates along for the ride – there’s something very evocative about a convoy of old Fords cruising down the seafront.

12. SPEND TIME IN THE GARAGE HOW EASY: ★ ★★★★ COST: ★★ ★★★

Sometimes, the prospect of leaving the house for grazed knuckles, seized bolts and four decade old underseal isn’t exactly an appealing one, but there’s certainly fun to be had by going to your garage or lock-up. Even if you don’t actually get much done it can still be a rewarding experience, and you’ll be surprised just how worthwhile an evening of careful tinkering and pottering can be! You’ll be grateful of the time spent in the garage when the springs rolls round and your car is already prepped and ready to go.

13. GET INSPIRED HOW EASY: ★ ★★★★ COST: ★ ★★★★

There are several things around to get your creative juices flowing for a new project or the enthusiasm flowing again for your Ford, the first of which is a damn good show — or indeed the deadline to get to it.The Classic Ford Show is an obvious starter point, but you also need to spread your wings away from the obvious. Arguably, one of the most inspirational is the VW scene. When you attend plenty of shows take lots of photos, then arrange them in a kind of favourites folder on your computer. Download them and print them out — you could even have a cool wall of stuff you love.The long and short is, open your mind and collect cuttings from mags or whatever; even if it’s a tiny snippet of something you really like, save it and try and think of a way to incorporate it on

14. BE REALISTIC HOW EASY: ★ ★★★★ COST: ★★★ ★★

With practice — and a touch of talent — you can do everything yourself. But sometimes that just isn’t possible so be realistic about what you can and can’t do. Paint is the most obvious thing because good paint, like wheels and upholstery, it can make or break a car.You might be able to spray your car yourself, but do you actually have the facilities without annoying the neighbours? Getting the chassis work done by an expert, for example will ensure the car’s square and level so you can concentrate on the glory bits.The whole aim is to keep that project going so you don’t lose enthusiasm.

15. DO A TRACK DAY HOW EASY: ★★ ★★★ COST: ★★ ★★★

The UK is blessed with an enviable selection of race circuits, which compare favourably with any track in the world. Track days may not be the cheapest day out, but there’s no denying the rush of going onto a world famous circuit in your classic Ford. Get your Mk1 Cortina onto Mallory Park and you’ll feel like Jim Clark. Speaking of which, want too break yourself in gently? Try one of the 20-minute sessions taking place throughout the day at this year’s Classic Ford Show or Ford Fair. Contacts: www.classicfordshow.co.uk, www.fordfair.co.uk

16. TRY NEW BOOTS AND ROUNDIES HOW EASY: ★ ★★★★ COST: ★★★ ★★

Starting to get a little bored with how your classic Ford looks after all these years? Don’t consider selling up, go out and buy some wheels for it instead. If there’s one thing you can do to radically change a car’s appearance that’s reversible, it’s to go for a new set of rims. With a huge range of both new and period wheels available in Ford fitment, the choice is vast with plenty of opportunity to try something different — and with good-quality wheel adaptors, you don’t even need to stick with something meant to go on a Ford...

17. BE A RING MASTER HOW EASY: ★★ ★★★ COST: ★★ ★★★

Three words: ultimate driving experience. Do the Nürburgring Nordschleife and you’ll never be the same again.You can forget about taking your car to even the most awesome and adrenalin-inducing track days, you’ll never, ever get the buzz that comes from razzing around the ‘ring. Set against the gasp-worthy background of Germany’s Eifel mountains, the Nürburgring was originally built as a test track, but also played host to a variety of major motorsport events. Racing was banned in 1976, though, after Nikki Lauda almost met his maker during that year’s Grand Prix.

Today, the track’s used for manufacturer testing and driver training, as well as Grands Prix. But when that’s not going on, the Nordschliefe, or Northern Circuit, becomes a one-way public toll road that anyone in any vehicle can drive, from crawling coach loads of day-tripping Austrian pensioners to speed freak superbike riders. All you need is your classic Ford and some cash and you’ve got 14 miles of the twistiest, most exciting tarmac in the world. With 88 lefts, 84 rights and no speed limit, the ring makes for extreme driving. Corners are very fast and totally blind, so if you’re looking for thrills, this is definitely the place to come. Only three of the stomachchurning bends have a run-off area, the rest are flanked by Armco or concrete walls just a few feet away from the tarmac — hair-raising stuff. Contact: www.nuerburgring.de/en

18. EXPERIENCE LE MANS HOW EASY: ★ ★★★★ COST: ★★ ★★★

Now why, you may be wondering, would a classic Ford nut be interested in travelling all the way to France to watch an endurance race involving lots of very modern race cars? Well, you see, Le Mans is not just about the famous 24-hour race, it’s the whole experience that makes it an unmissable event, especially if you’ve got a classic Ford for company. Every year, more than 50,000 Brits make the journey across La Manche to join forces with 150,000 other motorsport fans from all around the world. But the fun starts days before the race itself. Getting there is all part of the experience.You set off on the Wednesday before, catch the midnight ferry, then spend the next day driving down to Le Mans. With thousands of other British visitors making the trip, many of them in the most droolsome of classic cars, the journey to Le Mans is like a massive, unofficial road run — with the world’s most significant endurance race to look forward to at the end. Night racing makes Le Mans particularly special. Jump in your classic Ford during the early hours of the morning and travel round the circuit in the darkness, stopping off occasionally to watch the drama and bright lights of the race at various points along the way. Awesome, exciting and unique. Contact: www.lemans.org/en

19. UPGRADE THE SUSPENSION HOW EASY: ★★ ★★★ COST: ★★ ★★★

Forget engine tuning or transplants, the biggest difference you can make to your classic Ford’s driveability and performance is to sort the suspension — properly. Whether it’s hunting down good-quality, original-spec components or choosing sensible upgrades, a properly set-up classic Ford is a joy to drive on the road or track, and the good news is, there are well-proven routes to creating great handling for all the classic Ford range thanks to the clubs, forums, specialists, and this magazine, of course! Contacts: www.bilstein.com/uk/en, www.gazshocks.com

20. FINALLY... DON’T DO TOO MUCH! HOW EASY: ★★ ★★★ COST: ★ ★★★★

There’s nothing like wading into a new project, but ripping it into a million bits as soon as you get it back to the garage isn’t necessarily the right way, or taking on a major restoration without thinking it through — you risk getting despondent leading to yet another unfinished project up for sale… Likewise, don’t plan a year’s worth of upgrades, track days or shows to do every weekend — it’s just not achievable, or even affordable in most cases. Be realistic, be flexible to allow for setbacks and the odd family holiday… and remember, this hobby is all about having fun.

“THE NORDSCHLEIFE IS A ONE WAY TOLL ROAD THAT ANYONE CAN DRIVE IN ANY VEHICLE”