Description
Mileage
• The mileage on the car is currently sitting at just over 29, 000 miles. An incredibly low mileage for a vehicle of this age and with MOT certificates dating back to the 70s, we have no reason to believe this is not genuine. All MOT certificates will be supplied with the car and are available for viewing when testing and inspecting the car.
• Please note: the mileage may be slightly higher if booking a test drive/ viewing because the car has been booked for several test drives.
XL Edition
• KHO is an XL trim. Ford were well known for different very distinguishable trim levels and the XL was billed as ‘style and luxury’ and the buyer looking for an Escort with a little more panache and a top speed of around 90mph. It sits above the standard saloon and the L model.
• The XL features to note include the rectangular headlights trimmed, the bright metal rocker-panel mouldings and the overriders. The four door saloons, like KHO, sport the bright chrome window mouldings. To the interior, the XL features including full GT style instrumentation including tachometer, oil pressure gauge and battery condition indicator all housed within a larger fascia binnacle.
• Additional points noted on the sales information at the time includes distinctive door trim styles, a slick gear change, valances, deep embossed upholstery, heated rear window and a cigar lighter. Interestingly, this car does not have the heated rear window (nor does it look to have been removed) but does have the cigar lighter with the original cigar lighter still in the socket. Please note as this is period correct and of its time, it is not the standard size of cigar lighters in 2021 and has therefore not been tested by our team.
Paint and exterior
• The car is a four-door saloon finished in Ford Tawny Brown (code S) which was an optional colour and is a fantastic bronze metallic shade and one of the most popular 70s colours in the Ford line up. We believe this to be genuine as logbook shows ‘bronze’ and there no colour change listed. The paint work is again, believed to be from new, and shows signs of very slight wear and tear across panels.
• We have described this is great detail below to ensure buyers are fully informed before viewing.
• The front panel and bonnet are in good shape with no dents and some stone chips to both bonnet and front valance/ panel. These have not been touched in, so it will be for the new owner to decide to touch up or respray.
• The front O/ S wing shows a couple of blemishes towards the bottom of the panel where the drivers door meets – this seems to be a typical ‘weak spot’ for the MK1s.
• The O/ S front and rear door both show a few small stone chips but the quality of the paint is undimmed and there is no rust visible. The stone chips are very slight and only visible at close inspection and do not detract from the car or overall look.
• The front door has a dark mark on the edge of the door by the window which is in keeping with there having once been a clip-on aftermarket mirror attached, although this is no longer visible.
• The rear panel sitting behind the O/ S rear door has a few small stone chips and a light scratch around one inch long running fairly low down to the left of the wheel arch. There is a small dent only visible at certain angles and certainly something you’d not notice unless closely inspecting the car. The wheel arch is strong and shows no sign of filler, rot or repair.
• The boot panel shows lacquer loss in small spots and light patina with no rust appearing or visible.
• The rear panel sitting behind the N/ S rear door has one noticeable large stone chip and a very small, almost undetectable stone chip to the lower front of the arch. Again, just like the arch to the O/ S rear, this is in excellent condition with no rot, filler or repairs.
• The N/ S front and rear door are both in fine fettle with a couple of barely visible stone chips. There’s a small patch above the door on the N/ S rear door which feels like a paint blemish but really is only something noticed on our careful and prolonged vehicle inspection. The N/ S front wing is, again, largely blemish free aside from some stone chips.
• The panel which sits under the windscreen is known for being a problem area and on this car, it has largely escaped the ravages of time aside from the N/ S bottom corner under the window rubber which could do with a little bit of attention.
• The rubbers on every window look to be original and are uncracked. They look in good condition. On front and rear screen, the chrome insert is present but is slightly dulled and miscoloured.
• The chrome across the car is in very good condition and although the bumpers have very light pitting/ spotting, they’ve cleaned up so well so as to look perfect until close inspection. The chrome door tops are in great condition and the door handles and locks are all in great condition too, in addition to this, the chrome around the lights is also of an incredibly good standard.
• The 1300 badges and Ford badges are all in excellent condition and the red colouring in the 1300 badge has not been dimmed or bleached by the sun.
• The numberplates appear to be original and are very in keeping with the style at the time with white to front and yellow to rear. These are the standard metal style plates and not reflective.
• If you wish to discuss respraying the car or having exterior modifications applied to the car prior to completion of sale, this is something our team are happy to discuss with you to suit individual requirements.
• Wheels and tyres are in excellent condition and the wheels are the standard type sold with the car at point of sale. All tyres are excellent.
• All doors shut nicely without excessive force and the panel gaps are uniform and correct all the way round the car.
• Overall, we describe the car as remarkably exceptional and honest, with all problems described above as accurately and as closely to our knowledge as possible.
Engine Bay
• The engine bay has been largely untouched and is a great opportunity for the new buyer to add value to the car and help bring it up to concours standard.
• Whilst all hoses, pipes and perishable items are in good health, the general condition of the engine bay is in keeping with a used car.
• There are no leaks, rust patches or areas of concern and some cosmetic TLC would easily bring this engine bay to show condition with very little investment.
Interior
• The seats, both front and rear including driver’s seat are in fantastic condition, with the only area of concern a small cigarette burn in the vinyl driver’s seat. The plastic mouldings which hold the seats in place are intact and unfaded with no cracks or chips. The seats, which are a rich tobacco brown, are fully sprung with no hint or sagging, fading or splitting.
• The headlining is in fantastic condition for the age of the car and is completely unmarked and has no rips, tears or the dreaded ‘cigar smoker’ yellowing. It looks as good as the day it was put into the car, rich is very rare in a vehicle of this age.
• Another point to note on this lovely Escort is that the wood effect trim often peels or shows age, but every single piece of wood effect trim is perfect with no scratches or gouging.
• Only the 70s could pack in wood effect trim and chrome into one dash layout and the chrome, just like the wood effect, is in very good condition. The door handles/ window winders show light use but this is very minimal and doesn’t detract from the quality and breath-taking quality of the interior.
• The carpets look brand new, front and rear, and are black. We believe these to be original.
• The car also sports a period correct radio. We cannot confirm via paperwork whether this was fitted at point of sale, but is certainly correct to the era of the car and has been fitted considerately and does not look out of place.
• The interior of this car will win you over before you’ve even turned the key, it really is special.
Engine and transmission unit
• This Escort is fitted with the 1298cc Kent crossflow engine and whether it’s the low mileage or years of careful ownership, the engine sounds wonderfully smooth and there are no knocks, bangs or rattles and the oil pressure even when taken to temperature is sitting exactly where you’d want it to sit.
• A usual area of concern on these engines is noisy tappets and the engine in this Escort is not rattling at cold or at temperature.
• KHO has been fitted with a 4 speed manual.
Underside
• Just like the interior and exterior, the underside of this car is in fantastic condition.
• A member of our team has inspected the car and it is original underneath and has not been welded and there are no areas of concern.
• As you look closely at this car it quickly becomes apparent, both outside and in, that it has been well maintained and looked after and kept away from harsh weather conditions. It really is an exceptional car.
History
• Our paperwork shows the car having had 4 previous owners and previous owner acquired in 2003 before The Motorist acquired the vehicle last month. Previous log books, which will be supplied with the car, show this to be consistent and correct.
• Whilst we have no history on work undertaken on the car – only MOT certificates back to the 70s
• The car has previously been in Classic Car Weekly in 2013 as the ‘example car’ of a Ford MK1 Escort and a copy of this newspaper with the article feature is provided at point of sale.
Booking a visit to The Motorist showroom
• All enquiries and booking requests must be sent to using the button below
• Appointments for viewings and test drives can be booked throughout the week by prior agreement.
Modifications to vehicles prior to sale and servicing
At The Motorist, we have a fully functioning workshop and garage and can therefore accommodate any work you wish to be undertaken before you drive your car home. We also offer aftercare, MOTs and servicing; so you can buy the car of your choice with no worries for ongoing maintenance or repair
