I am currently restoring a 1968 Mk1 Escort Van. The original plan was to modernize and speed her up, but after much thought i have decided to keep her completely original.

Its a 1 owner van with a genuine 23,000 miles under her belt, the last owner bought her in march 1968 when they were very first launched. He used it to potter about his farm and sometime in the early 80's just parked it in a barn and left it there. It didnt move until he died about 5 years ago and a local chap rescued it and i bought it. it was very rusty, mainly the bulkhead and front end but amazingly the inner wings were mint.

It went in the garage and I did nothing but look at it for the first couple of years but it got to the stage that I had to either sell or restore it. As you probably guessed restoration started in earnest early last year and the front end is all but finished (metal resto only), that's part 1, this summer I am hoping to complete the rear half, then over next winter complete the mechanical part. the plan is to have it ready for assembly, final body dressing and paintwork either late next spring or possibly early summer.

It is also now believed it may have originally been a 'pre production' prototype which was probably stripped back to a bare shell and put back down the production line. it has various odd build features about it and when i stripped the paint on the front end had all sorts of engraved lines, shapes and numbers under the paint. these had to have been there from new because it had never seen any major paint, and had never seen a welding torch in its life. any help on this would be greatly appreciated. i have included below a link which will take you to photos of the progress so far!

please let me know if you have problems with the link as i have only just posted them. ant advice or comments would be most welcome!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9346648...7632837265318/