As some of you are aware, I have been searching for an original MK2 XR-2 for bloody ages now. Today my search came to a flying stop!
Poised for collection is an unmolested '88 'F' registered cracker with less than 100k on it and all in one piece, down to the last factory washer.
It has been laid up for a few years but it has also been spared having any of its parts cannibalized or sold off. On the downside, where it has been sitting for so long, vegetable life has started growing both on it and in it. There's probably enough microbial life inside it for Attenborough to film a whole series on but i've made up my mind and i'm having it.
Haggling a price with the owner now but i reckon i can beat him into submission cos it looks like a real eyesore.

For whomever is interested i intend to document its restoration and recommission here on the forum. As soon as i learn how to post pics i'll slap a few together and post them up. In the meantime if anyone can recommend a top class bodyshop i would be very grateful. Not looking for a cheap job, looking for absolute perfection (whatever that costs) .

Car is black with grey trim. Pics to follow.

Thanks for reading. Help and advice is always welcome. Post in this thread or PM me.

Happy days!

 

keep the updates coming, post pictures to photobucket then on photobucket when you click on the picture, next to the pic , it will say img code. if you click that it will say "copied" then all you have to do is right click and paste on your reply and the image will come up

 

Photobucket for I phones becoming a real nightmare right now,tried uploading from the phone as I always do and it just wouldn't let me.
Loads of complaints on App Store about it.
I went on the standard Photobucket site in the end and although a bit more hassle it worked ok.
Ironically to post a photo of D110 RUX my old xr2 in white!!!

 

Okay, photobucket account sorted. Tomorrow i'm off to see if the engine is seized and subject to the outcome of that i'm going to make the guy an offer. We'll see how that pans out. I'll update with the results. Thank you all for looking.

 

Need pics.

 

hope the car turns out ok i had a e reg silver one,loved it. always fancied a gloss black one with colour coded bumpers/kit..

 

my mate got black f reg one for sale Ł850

 

Damn...you tell me that now after i've bought this one..lol! Like buses, right? Wait forever and then they all show up at once. Haha. As the Americans say: Go figure.

Anyway, engine is not seized, the oil is clean on the dipstick and the car is now mine. Very happy with it as well. Even the original radio/cassette is still there. Going to try and post a pic now. Stand by...

 

That didn't work for me, Bud..clicking on the pic just advances onto the next pic. No text appears next to the image. maybe i'm being extra thick but i can't get any text to show up.

I'll keep trying..

 

 

Looks like i was just being extra strength stupid...i got it sussed. Thank you for the instructions.

 

 

 

Now thats how to find one

 

Nice find mate! Looking forward to the updates!!

 

Your username made me LOL

 

Thanks everyone for the comments and the views. I know it looks a bit sore at the moment but my cunning plan is to find someone to bring it back to 'better than new' condition. Nothing is missing.
The last time this car actually moved under its own power was '06. I've seen some beauties over the years, some with colour coded arches and bumpers, some without, and i love the shape and the way they look.
I'll get myself a respirator and snap some pics of the inside. I'm pretty sure it's full of spores and nasty stuff but i intend to re-cover all the seats with new covers. New covers means Ford OEM covers and not cheapo Halfords covers.

Thanks again for looking, everyone. More pics to follow.

 

 

That'll look a different car just with a good wash

 

Absolutely it will but what isn't so clear in the pics is the faded paint and peeling decals. I'd like to have the car mirror gloss black with the stripes painted on and clearcoated over, so that you can't feel them. I'll get it running first.

 

oft that needs a good clean lol
look forward to reading the updates on this

stick at it theres light at the end of the tunnel

 

i think you should just not clean it and drive it. proper old look. first time iv found a filthy car look good lol

 

nice find, it amazes me how someone could let it get like that in the first place

 

I sometimes think the same thing myself. In this case the previous owner simply outgrew the car and bought something bigger to suit his needs. The Fiesta was just parked up and forgotten about. I'm not complaining because it means that i get the car i always wanted.

The interior looks nasty. It's covered in that mould that you find on out of date, stale bread. It's on the seats, the carpets, gearstick, steering wheel and weatherstrips. Still, it's all getting renewed so it doesn't matter really. I'd never let a car deteriorate like this. It's so easy to just sell it or at least wrap it up under a tarpaulin. Still, at least there's no rust
and that really is a surprise. It's a good, hard car.

Thanks for looking. I'll get some pics of the inside up soon.

 

Haha..go with the 'rat' look? It appeals to some folk but i'm after a real glossy, deep mirror finish. I have an everyday runabout so this is going to be my Sunday best car. Hopefully with fresh fuel, plugs and a new battery I'll have it running this weekend. Let's see what happens.

 

Thank you for those words of encouragement. Yep, i'll work hard-ish to get this project finished. I'd like it ready by August if possible.

 

 

Quick update for anyone who is interested. My replacement seat covers have arrived at my local dealer, i just have to shoot down and collect them. I also have a guy coming over from a local bodyshop to give me an estimate on the re-spray. Will let you all know how much he comes up with.

More updates to follow along with photos.

 

You need to clean it so the estimator can see the actual condition of the car and us lot wanna see it after a good jet wash too lol. Just do me one favour if you're going to town on it before you fit the new seat covers and refit the seats paint the seat runners if they need it so many people forget and it really fucks me off lol anyway now I've got that off my chest good luck with it

 

Shame you're considering a respray a machine polish would bring the paint up well.

Would love to get my hands of it.

 

Well whilst i've been searching for this car i have been following some restos of other forum members and i just love a freshly painted car.
Whilst a machine polish will no doubt improve things it won't get rid of stonechips and the couple of scabs that are on the bonnet and the headlamp panel. I see other cars here and i'm dead envious of the quality of the work i've seen.
The seat runners will need some surgery because they're all stiff so when the seats come out and get stripped down i'll recondition them as required. Thank you for the comments and the advice...it's always welcome and much valued.

 

you want to take the body kit off if your respraying the car & see what the sills are like,as the kit can hide alot of rot,what are the inner wings,boot floor like,as the do rot bad

 

You're right there. Luckily the inner wings and boot floor are rock solid. Won't know what the sills are like until the kit comes off. I'm tempted to remove the kit myself to save the bodyshop doing it and so i can clean it up while the car is away. What puts me off is that i may inadvertently damage it. I'm expecting to lose a few clips but i would really be upset if i damaged the arches or the sills. The plastic must be really brittle by now.
Any tips from anyone who has done this would be very welcome.

Many thanks.

 

 

Looks really good mate and great solid base to start from. Iv just brought a mk3 escort thats been sat in a barn collection for 10years,covered in dust but no mould lol

 

too be fair that looks realy tidy for what it is! i just hope you dont find any rust behind the arch's but its been stood so long its not seen salt for a while either so you maybe lucky with rust!

Give it a good clean up asap with a jet wash and update us with pics, im intrested to see how she looks without the green! haha

look into getting your interior steam cleaned they will probably come up like new aswell.

Good look with the progress, i love a good fez!

 

That look's well other than the mould growing on it. Give it a good clean and polish and it'll be a different car completely. Good luck with the project mate. Love XR2's.

 

Thank you for the positive comments, guys. I should be able to borrow a jet wash this coming weekend so we'll see how the old love looks after a good clean. I'll post pics of the result.

 

Some pics of the crusty old interior. This lot is going into the dustbin.com and will be replaced with OEM covers. The actual foam stuffing is all in good order and will be re-used.














Not sure yet at this stage what the seatbelts will clean up like. If i can get them all new and sparkly then they'll stay, if not i'll source a new set
Ideas are always welcome.

 

ive got many xr2 parts if you need a seat cover ect