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/

 

Excellent work mate, what colour are you going for?

 

hi shaun, thanks, originally I wanted to build a fast road van, nothing fancy, maybe something like a 2 litre fiat or lancia twin cam. The more i delved into the history of this van and the more i thought about it, i thought the best thing to do would be to rebuild it totally original, so im keeping the 1100cc, 12 inch wheels, drums all round and no servo,so its going to be fun!

The only bit I have anguished over is the colour, I know i should really keep it the original colour but i have been so tempted to paint it In a nice orange or red, but ive now accepted that it should stay blue but im still torn, i think the pale blue Ford did would look much nicer and more retro than the original dark blue, im still not sure, what do you think?

anyway I have a Mk2 cortina with fast road designs on it, probably wont get round to that till the vans done though!

 

Top work that matey.Most people would of just scrapped that.I take my hat off to anyone who restores old fords.

 

Nice mate well done , as glen said really.

 

Wow mate, alot of work gone into her! in my opinion if your staying standard with everything else then she should stay the standard colour, just make her exactly like she has rolled out of the factory. She will be appreciated for her original beauty not because of her flashy jacket. keep up the good work.

 

Good to see its staying standard!

 

Nice one mate some top work going off there. Nice to see another being saved. I'm restoring a mk1 at the moment, not van, so know what is involved

 

Wow fantastic work ,i think with the low miles and if your staying standard ,original colour must stay aswell