A CHAT WITH AN ESCORT MKI OWNER

Richard Foster has good reason to be committed to his 1974 1300 XL…

1 When did you buy your Escort?

‘My dad bought it for me as my first car back when I was 18, back in 1998. I’d wanted a 100E Estate, but I was more than happy with my 1300 XL, quickly nicknamed the Bronze Bullet by my friends! We went all over the place in it, including one memorable trip to see The Strokes at the Birmingham Academy.’

2 Where did the car come from?

‘We had looked at a few Escorts, but most were a bit shabby and more than a few were suffering from rust issues, most noticeably in the A-pillar area. Then one day, we spotted my car for sale in King’s Lynn for £600. It was owned by an elderly gent who’d bought it new in 1974. When he rolled the car out of his garage, it was clear it had been well preserved.’

3 How come you still own your Escort?

‘It might have been my first car, but I come from a classic car family, so my dad made sure I looked after it! That said, one day in 2001, I crashed it into the back of somebody. We had one heck of a job finding parts back then, as mine has square headlamps and the four-door has different front wings and doors to other models. I’m glad we fixed it though.’

4 What is the current status of the car?

‘I’m afraid it’s in my garage looking sorry for itself. I plan to give it to my 18-month-old daughter as her first car, so I have time to recommission it! Right now, family and the house come first, but the Bronze Bullet will return one day. My old school friends are amazed it still exists at all!’