Ford Escort Ghia 1.6
ENGINE 1597cc/4-cyl/OHC POWER 78bhp@5800rpm TORQUE 92lb ft@3000rpm MAXIMUM SPEED 104mph 0-60MPH 11sec FUEL CONSUMPTION 24-34mpg TRANSMISSION FWD, five-speed manual MoT 12 months from sale ODOMETER 49,533 miles WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?
Unremarkably modern. That’s not to do the Escort a disservice; such is its condition that it requires far less effort to drive than its age suggests. Starting is easy, and after a couple of churns on the key, the autochoke carburettor settles the engine into a high idle that quickly matches engine temperature. Only the weight of the steering at parking speeds betrays the Ford’s age; on the move, the five-speed gearbox is light and positive and the CVH engine is smooth, provided that you don’t extend it too far. The Ghia-spec additional sound-deadening makes this a hushed, refined classic, even at motorway speeds. The brakes have been overhauled recently, though it still tends to pull to the left when slowing.
BODYWORK CHECK
Panel fit is as it should be and all the extra Ghia gewgaws are present and correct. The Lacquer Red paint finish is thick and uniform bar one touched-up area on the offside rear arch. If we’re being really picky, the unpainted metal on the mudflaps’ mounting brackets have rusted and the rear bumper plastic is ever so slightly wrinkled. Correct 155/80 13 Radar RPX 10 tyres are fitted with plenty of tread, and the Ghia-specific wheel trims have survived well – though the steel rims underneath could do with rubbing down and repainting. The rare dealer-fit fog lamps built into the grille really set this car apart from others.
HOW’S THE INTERIOR?
About as good as an Eighties Ford cabin can be. The thick Ghia carpet has survived well, the headlining is unmarked and even the two-spoke steering wheel has retained most of its texture, along with the plastic wood trim inserts in the doors. One floor mat is missing, and the centre dashboard plastic above the air vents has warped slightly in the sun. All the instruments work as they should, right down to the rebranded Blaupunkt-Ford SRT 32P head unit with its wacky joystick stereo fader. The boot floor is immaculate and the spare looks unused. The parcel shelf is slightly warped and the boot carpet’s a little grubby, but it all works as it should.
UNDER THE BONNET
Not far off immaculate; the only messy bit is the extra wiring for the front fog lights down the offside inner wing. There’s a recent battery with the correct Ford terminals, and the fluids are clean and at the correct levels. Detailing this bay would get it very close to concours standard.
THE CCW VIEW
Keep the miles low, the work light and the storage under cover, and this Escort won’t need much effort expending on it bar the cleaning products you’d need to keep it looking spotless. Concours entrants don’t come much more unusual than this.