So it all started about 2 years ago when a friend of my dad told him that he had an escort mk4 for parts as my father owns another mk4 station wagon, pics below.

Pic below was when we went overland to sicily, somewhere on Etna




We went to see this mk4 for parts and it was in a bad condition but a little driller with wire brush and some hard metal would hold the rust for 2 more years and then I'll scarp it and buy a newer car. At least that was the plan.

So then I bought it and this car was going to be my first car as it was 1 year before I got my driving license.

This is how it was the first day I bought it.






And little better after a good polish and wash




Two weeks after I bought it, the VRT was due and with that rust it wouldnt pass, so my father did the wire brush driller and some hard metal trick and sprayed after wards. It became something different now.

The photos below are some weeks before the restoration, so I already had it for about 1 year and within that time I had already started buying some parts to look better (which this wasnt the plan)- such as front clear indicators, chrome bumper lining, rs turbo dial surrounding, hubcaps, and some other interior bits.





My father's estate and mine


And then I decided to restore it and spent quite some money.

Some of the parts bought

-New Original Bonnet
-Original 4 side doors and boot door which where in a very good condition
-Rear spoiler

Started stripping and we began working on the doors and sprayed undercoat.
We had to peel off 3 coats of different paint from the doors and then peeled till bare metal with a heat gun and sprayed the undercoat/primer which has to be sprayed on metal and then normal undercoat on top.





And ready with primer




car stripped - was surprised when i didnt saw holes with rust under the carpets. It only had some spots here and there. The battery tray was also free of rust holes which this model, the battery tray is the main weakness for rust.










Then started on the body.











Then we sprayed the undercoat and prepared for the color
Home made spray boot






Finally the color - Frozen white
Not its original color but I hated the diamond white, looks dirty

Started from the inside



Masked and outside
Photos taken exactly after spraying









When the color was ready and polished the only thing left was a set of wheels

So I went and spent some more money on a 7spoke 15" and a set of new firestone tires.

Before showing you the result I am going to list the mods/extras which I did.

-Colour coded bumpers
-Black splitter (part of the bumper which looks like a splitter)
-Colour coded mirrors
-Tinted/ privacy glass
-sun visor
-HID 12000K
-All interior lights blue with under dash blue neon (switches on and off with the roof lamp, with doors)
-Smoked side repeaters
-Black moulding on bumpers
-Rear rs turbo(i think) spoiler
-Black bits - door handles, fuel tap and other small bits
-Volt meter
-Alarm

Thats all I think

The result

I had also put the ford logo on the bonnet, I dont have photos of it showing.







Thats not all!

The engine it had was a 1.3 pushrod which for everyday use it consumes too much and here in Malta the roads are short therefore lower gears are more often used.

So then I decided to change the engine. Found a rusty escort mk4 estate which had a good 1.6 diesel engine and swapped it.

Now it is much much better in terms of consumption but power wise, god I miss the power of that little pushrod.

This is how it stands now. - Lowered the front on petrol spring and diesel shock absorber.




Things to do :

-Lower it more - dont know which method is better
-Darker privacy glass/tinted
-Darker sun visor

Hope you like my restoration, I know I should have bought and restored an rs turbo shell but in Malta the rs turbo is a little rare to find. The only option was to import one from UK.

One more thing, future plans - rs turbo engine - 1.6 petrol turbo and maybe same but bigger wheels - 17inch

 

Maybe its just my computer but the pics ain't working.

 

No pics

 

Sorry for the pics. :/

Fixed, should be ok now

 

Ye they are there now. Looks like a good project, nice one

 

Thanks

 

Looks well mate, good job

 

Thanks. Your 5 door is awesome too, I was going to spray mine imperial blue.

May I ask from which/where did you get the kit/side skirts for a 5door?

Will the 3door kit fit ?

Thanks

 

You have to modify the rear arches

 

Both cool cars.Keep up with the good work.