Been a little while since I posted on here, I have had a few project cars over the past few years and am back again with something different once again.

I saw this little beauty on eBay local to me and with my Clio 182 going in the next few weeks I thought it would be a nice cheap project.

It is badged as a Popular Bonus which I cant find any information on so I am assuming its just a Popular with an extra sticker or vice-versa.

The little Fezza is a 1989 model with a genuine 27k on the clock and came taxed and tested.

I picked it up 22nd April and it looked like this:

As it arrived today by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

As it arrived today by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

As it arrived today by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

As it arrived today by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

The interior is near perfect:

Nice and clean by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Original rear interior by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

All original but no parcel shelf or anywhere to hang one by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Lovely squared off spare haha:

Boot floor all original by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr



Firs thing was give it a clean and see what I had to work with:

Guess it never got cleaned behind the plates haha:

25 years worth of grime behind the numberplate by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Before clean front passenger quarter by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Dirt on rear bumper by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Hideous paint on the roof by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Marks in paint on drivers door by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Snow foam in action:

Snow foam on front by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Reflections starting to show by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Plastic before being dressed:

Plastics and tyres waiting to be dressed by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Plastics and tyres waiting to be dressed front by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

All dressed and tyres dressed as well:

Reflections starting to show by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Original numberplate let the finish down by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Finally got some reflections in the paint after a pass with the machine polisher as well:

Roof after a machine polish by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Roof after a machine polish by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr



After trawling for some suitable wheels I found I kept coming back to 4 spokes. I found a set of 5 Capri Laser wheels and ordered a brand new set of 175/50/13 Maxxis MAZ1 tyres and got in touch with SpeedShack about a new set of wheel bolts with the correct collars:

Capri 13x6" alloys by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Maxxis MAZ1 175/50/13 tyres by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Speedshack wheel bolts and collars by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr


Next up I got my new front brake discs and pads delivered so got them fitted up and painted up the calipers, notice the original front Lockheed brake pads and discs:

Original Lockheed front brakes pads by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

All stripped down ready for new parts by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

New pagid discs and pads by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Calipers painted along with new Pagid discs and pads by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr


I then got the new wheels and tyres fitted as well as replaced some badly correoded brakelines, the brakelines were done at MB Motorsport which also replaced the brake fluid as this appeared to also be original:

Laser 4 spoke alloy wheels fitted by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Laser 4 spoke alloys fitted by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

New front brakelines by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

New rear brakelines by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr


Now actually stops but pedal feel is still quite vague but this is the nature of this master cylinder.


With the brakes and wheels sorted next up was suspension, arch gap is around 100-110mm so got some standard XR2 dampers and springs in decent condition so got these fitted up. Pleased I did this as the rear dampers were stuck in the compressed positions and wouldnt raise back up. Fronts were poor as well.

Original Drivers rear setup by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Rear axle dropped down by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

All stripped down by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Rear setup old vs. new by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Original passenger side front strut by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

XR2 front strut fitted by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr


This lowered the car around 25mm and also sorted out the angle of the front wheels abit better:

XR2 suspension fitted front by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

XR2 suspension fitted by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr


Then got the original dealer plates remade by DMB graphics:

DMB remanufactured rear dealer plate by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

DMB remanufactured front dealer plate by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr


So that is where I am upto in my 11th day of ownership and waiting for the following parts to be delivered:

- Eibach front camber bolts
- Ashley XR2 manifold back exhaust
- 50mm lowering spring kit

Will try and keep this updated as I go......

 

Looks good so far mate. However you said it had full tax and test on it when you bought it? Surely a few of the things you have had to rectify would have been a MOT fail?

Good work anyway. Nice clean example.

 

Surprisingly it had no failures, the following were advisories:

- cracked tyres
- corroded front brake lines
- rear spring mount corrosion present

I went over everything and found the front and rear brake pipes were quite bad - these were replaced.

The tyres are obviously now replaced and when I dropped the rear axle I checked over the spring seats and there is no problems with them at all.

 

Thats mint matey. There isnt many mk2s about these days. I needs a big sweaty 2ltr zetec turbo lump in it.

 

Just took a pic of my fiesta brochure for you.

 

Cheers matey - see that's the funny thing with this mk2 - it doesn't have headrests, rear parcel shelf or rear wiper. Strange spec.

I was going to message you as well actually - can you send me the details of the lad who sorted out your Saph as it looks spot on now and will be wanting the Fezza sorting at some point.

 

Pm coming your way.

 

The bonus sticker and pin stripe may have been a dealer fit.
Like the east anglia ford dealers did a escort anglia

 

Well finally got some time on the little Fezza.

The parts fitted within the last few days are the following:

- New track rod ends
- 50mm lowering springs
- XR2 rear anti roll bar setup
- Ashley XR2 exhaust sleeved onto adaptor to standard downpipe
- Optional ford clock
- Optional ford cigarette lighter
- RS centre cap stickers
- Austrian optional extra front valance
- Eibach camber bolts

Wanted to get the car more useable but didnt want anything that detracted the originality inside the car. I sourced an original clock and cigarette lighter and got them fitted in:

SAM_4518 by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Got the new track rod ends on as well ready for alignment:

SAM_4502 by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr
SAM_4504 by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Sourced 2 XR2 rear anti roll bar setups and turned them into 1 good setup:

SAM_4481 by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr
SAM_4484 by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr
SAM_4523 by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Got this fitted up along with my Eibach front camber bolts and 50mm lowering springs:

SAM_4490 by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr
SAM_4530 by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr
SAM_4524 by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr
SAM_4539 by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr
SAM_4528 by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Once this was all done I got Mick at MB Motorsport to make an adaptor to go from the downpipe into the XR2 ashley exhaust I bought. This sounds superb and will be modified for the zetec engine when that goes in later in the year.

Then onto the outside and got some RS centre cap stickers and the Austrian optional front airdam fitted.

Pics of how it now sits:

Upper front-side view by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr
Side view by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr
Rear-side view by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr
Rear view by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr
Side view (zoomed out) by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr
Front & Side view by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

As well as getting work sorted on the car I also have been sourcing parts ready for the zetec conversion.

Currently got the following sorted:

- S2 RS Turbo gearbox with LSD (cheers to Little Bram off here)
- XR2 gearbox cradle
- Escort mk2 uprated gearbox mounts
- Zetec wiring loom
- CVH engine mount modified to fit mk2 inner wing

SAM_4466 by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr
SAM_4471 by robarmstrong1988, on Flickr

Plans are just to use it as much as possible for now and when I get a new house sorted I can get it in the garage and converted.

 

In between house viewings and various other house related bits I managed to squeeze in some hours on the Fiesta.

First up I decided it needed a nice run out so headed off to Whitby:




Also got some plasti-dip to play with, got the front bumper plastics and grill done. Then played about with some spare strut tops. Will do the rear bumper when I get more time:





The standard steering wheel is in mint condition but is a little on the thin side when around the country lanes, a nice XR2 wheel came up for sale so snapped that up, just needs a replacement badge to tidy it up:




Also kept the parts collecting going ready for the zetec conversion once the house is bought:

XR2 tie rods



XR2 radiator fan



Starter motor for RS Turbo gearbox



XR2 front calipers to test beneath the 4 spokes for clearance



Will be slowing down for a few weeks as working alot of overtime in the next few weeks

 

Looks a great find...
Is it having a XR2 kit fitted?

 

Its looking really well. At first I wasnt keen on the 4 spokes but since its been lowered they defo look better on the car. It will go well with a zetec conversion.

Please dont put the xr2 kit on it.

 

.

Looks a nice clean car


What's the front lower valance mate???


Ginger


.

 

No chance haha - I didn't really want to put this many XR2 parts on but love the steering wheel haha

No XR2 kit is going on haha


It is an Austrian optional front splitter, I managed to find an original version and had it shipped over.

 

awesome little project mate, love it!

 

Looks very nice


Brian

 

Nice to see another eighties fezza, looks great man

 

Looks great like that, nice to see a modified one without an xr2 kit for a change!

 

Cheers, wont be getting any XR2 body kit fitted. Not sure if its staying or going as got my eye on a new project or 2 haha.

Really need to find a car to keep as since the ST I keep chopping and changing cars.

 

What did you pay for the car if you don't mind me asking?

Spotted one near me, very similar in blue with what it says is 13k from new for £2.5k....seems expensive to me but I haven't a clue what these go for...

 

The prices are starting to rise so now's the time to buy. My Fiesta had 31,000 from new a year ago with full service history, good body work & mechanically perfect & I paid £700 for her with a full year's MOT

 

May i add if you're thinking engine conversion, have you considered fitting fuel injection from an early Ford Ka? They use the same engine pretty much

 

Such a cool car. I love the wheels and its great that you aren't fitting a XR2 body kit to it!!

 

I think the Bonus' just had different colour options. From memory they only did black mk2's with a special edition. The Festival had a black option with a decent spec I think. The Bonus was a lower spec than the Festival but had some non-standard colours.

Most of the 'special editions' were just to get rid of them before the mk3 came out and are mostly found on 'F' plates.

I may be wrong on the above. However, that is how I remember them.

 

Looks great! An XR2 rear spoiler Either MK1 or 2 would suit it nicely.

 

Dont think the brake pads are original, Delphi wasn't on the go back then was it?

 

needz slamin more i think but looks propa good does that

 

You can go too far with lowering. the way the car is helps give it a good stance but I think anymore & she'll be scraping her arse on speedbumps

That would include the CL model too, an L with high series dash, full height doorcards & other bits & bobs. I know because I scavenged bits from one in Stranraer for Fifi

 

Nice car.

Standard XR2 front brakes won't fit with your wheels.