Hello all.

I have an unusual vehicle style, over the years I have bought less popular models and made them my own in my own way. I like them to look as though they left the factory upon first glance but modified upon closer inspection. I have two priorities, comfortable seats and good sounds. I am also a bit of a clean and shiny obsessive. Speed is not such an issue, I ride bikes for that....

This is my third Escort van, I started with a mk5 that was chosen by my work partner at the time. It came to me with terminal rust and in very poor condition, I nursed it for a year but couldn't save it. Then came a mk6 that I chose. It was starting to rust around the edges but still looked smart. After four years or so it was really coming together until somebody decided to modify the rear end for me and drive off without leaving a note. I drove it crumpled until I found the current mk6 replacement. It was showing 54k and was clearly looked after. It was, however, starting to brown along the front roof edge, rear arches, rear suspension mounts and sills, all the usual areas in fact. The near side wing had a large dent. I paid £1100 for it in 2015.

I gave it to my local paint man, he removed the screen, wheeled off the rust all round and blew it over. I fitted the mk5 XR3i wheels that I had re-painted myself and was running on the previous van, swapped the install over, gave everything a serious clean and ran it like that for three years:







The inner wings and load area were barely white, either the van had a BT history or Ford were not too bothered about painting these areas.....