Classic British anyone?

[MisterAU]

Anyone else have the pleasure of owning, past/present, any of the Brit Fords?

I'm lucky enough to currently own a '70 Capri GT3000 and a '79 Escort RS2000.

My first experience with British Fords was a Zephyr that my Mum owned back in the early 60s. Although I did come home from hospital a few days after my Birthday in a Prefect that was my Grand-dad's in 1954.

As I grew up Cortinas and Escorts were winning on the tarmac and in the dirt, and I was always just as big a fan of them as I was of the Mustangs/Falcons that were the real "muscle" on the road and track.

My first ownership of one was in 1975; a MkII Escort 1300 that I purchased new as a driving school car. Compared to the run of the mill driving school offerings of the day like Datsun 120Ys and 180Bs the Escort was light years ahead. So many of my students went out and bought one that it wasn't funny - I am sure I sold more Eskis than any car salesman working full time ever did!

My current RS was purchased from it's original owner in 1981. So I've had it now for over 30 years and nearly 400,000km and it gives me so much driving pleasure every single time I hop in it. I never get tired of driving it (the way it was MEANT to be driven) on the many forestry roads in my "backyard".

The Capri ... the car I wanted to buy when I was 17 but was $500 short. I had to wait 30 years to finally get one! It has had a fairly chequered history having been used for many years as a track car. However it has only had two family ownerships prior to my purchase of it. It has been used as a regularly driven car until I pulled it off the road for a much needed body tidy-up last year. I hope to have it back on the road as good as new ... soon.

[Falc'man]

Had a 71 GT Capri in Monza Red. Absolute rocket and I wouldn't mind getting another one in the future. The noise from that V6 was sublime. Wrote it off in a head on collision.

[MisterAU]

Yeah mate the V6 Essex motor is the best sounding six ever built. I don't know where it makes the sound but it is absolutely perfect. I can't drive mine with the radio on - just have to hear the music of the engine unaccompanied by anything other than the whinging tyres!

Terrible shame for yours to end that way ... glad though that you were able to walk away from it. I know full well what it's like to be in a head-on.

[Falc'man]

Unbelievable isn't it. Hearing it from the inside so many guys back then would ask if it was an eight. From the outside I have to say it didn't disappoint, either. Very racy and it sounded the business.

[defective]

growing up in nz in the pre jap import days british stuff was everywhere,

i remember mum and dad having things like hillman hunters, vauxhall victors, minis, austin princess', chevettes, etc etc

first car accident i was in was when we rolled a mates hillman avenger, was the sporty twin carb model lol.

i had numerous cortinas and escorts, but stayed away from the more idiosyncratic british stuff.

[Ford Bigblock]

Those were the days. I have owned Escorts, Mk 1 & 2, Cortinas (all models) a V6 Capri (went like stink) and a MK3 Zephyr. At this time my boss had rally cars, the first was an Anglia, the second was a Mk 1 Escort.

Unfortunately I only have memories of these fine cars.