Been car shopping!
04-10-2009, 10:06 PM
#1
Been car shopping!
Well, my current RS2000 was getting a bit silly on insurance, I just couldn't justify spending £50 a month insuring a 2.0 Escort (I could insure a Focus RS for that!), and being a poor student, I needed something much cheaper, so I've been shopping!
I went to see Sean, the chairman of the Orion Register, this morning, had a drink and a chat, took it out for a run, and it had to be mine (well, to be honest, it had to be mine before I'd even seen it in the metal!). I just love it, it's in really lovely condition, drives like a new car, and you can tell it has just been cared for it's whole life.
I picked it up late this morning, and then drove it straight to near Warrington for a club meet with FEOC-UK.com, and eventually got home a little before 9pm. It didn't skip a beat! It did take a bit of getting used to after the RS but now feeling at home in it, it's lovely to drive. Chris Pollitt from Performance Ford was in attendance, and was all over it, even sent a picture of it to another staff writer!! Sitting in it and looking all over it, so that certainly made the trip worthwhile, so hopefully a pic or two will make it into the report in the magazine on the meet, that really put a smile on my face!
It's a 1989 1600E, been in the same family for around 20 years, and was then sold to the previous owner (Orion Reg chairman) who ran around in it for six weeks, and then sold it as it wasn't really needed. It still has the dealer plates on it, all the manuals and all that business with it, loads of receipts (including £800 on new shocks/springs/exhaust at it's last service), and is standard in every way bar an alarm. The engine is like no CVH I've ever heard, it's so quiet, it's incredible.
I took a few pictures, but only had my phone on me, and the light was fading. These do the car absolutely no justice at all, so will try to get some proper ones soon, once it's been cleaned up again.
As for plans. Well, there's a question! I want to get the few tiny little rust bits sorted, that's a high priority. First off I'm gonna spend some time poking about underneath, cleaning up any surface rust and getting it all stone chipped and looking mint, then maybe getting the rear suspension arms etc powder coated too, just so it all looks the part.
If it gets any modifications, I can't see it being any more than a set of alternative Ford alloys, a slight drop and a stainless exhaust. No clear indicators, nothing like that, but maybe some spotlights if I find a nice set! It's just too good to mess around with too much!
I know a lot of you will be thinking that it's just another old Orion, but it's so original, and a model that just seems to be virtually extinct these days, and you certainly don't see many Fords with real wood capping on the door cards now
Bloody love it
I went to see Sean, the chairman of the Orion Register, this morning, had a drink and a chat, took it out for a run, and it had to be mine (well, to be honest, it had to be mine before I'd even seen it in the metal!). I just love it, it's in really lovely condition, drives like a new car, and you can tell it has just been cared for it's whole life.
I picked it up late this morning, and then drove it straight to near Warrington for a club meet with FEOC-UK.com, and eventually got home a little before 9pm. It didn't skip a beat! It did take a bit of getting used to after the RS but now feeling at home in it, it's lovely to drive. Chris Pollitt from Performance Ford was in attendance, and was all over it, even sent a picture of it to another staff writer!! Sitting in it and looking all over it, so that certainly made the trip worthwhile, so hopefully a pic or two will make it into the report in the magazine on the meet, that really put a smile on my face!
It's a 1989 1600E, been in the same family for around 20 years, and was then sold to the previous owner (Orion Reg chairman) who ran around in it for six weeks, and then sold it as it wasn't really needed. It still has the dealer plates on it, all the manuals and all that business with it, loads of receipts (including £800 on new shocks/springs/exhaust at it's last service), and is standard in every way bar an alarm. The engine is like no CVH I've ever heard, it's so quiet, it's incredible.
I took a few pictures, but only had my phone on me, and the light was fading. These do the car absolutely no justice at all, so will try to get some proper ones soon, once it's been cleaned up again.
As for plans. Well, there's a question! I want to get the few tiny little rust bits sorted, that's a high priority. First off I'm gonna spend some time poking about underneath, cleaning up any surface rust and getting it all stone chipped and looking mint, then maybe getting the rear suspension arms etc powder coated too, just so it all looks the part.
If it gets any modifications, I can't see it being any more than a set of alternative Ford alloys, a slight drop and a stainless exhaust. No clear indicators, nothing like that, but maybe some spotlights if I find a nice set! It's just too good to mess around with too much!
I know a lot of you will be thinking that it's just another old Orion, but it's so original, and a model that just seems to be virtually extinct these days, and you certainly don't see many Fords with real wood capping on the door cards now
Bloody love it
04-10-2009, 10:17 PM
#5
Cheers chaps.
On the wheel front, although I like the design of the standard rims, I'd like to go up to 15/16" really, to allow some upgraded stoppers perhaps.
Ideally I'd like a set of 16" diamond cut seven spokes, but they aren't very common! My second choice is probably some shark tooths off a Saph 4x4
On the wheel front, although I like the design of the standard rims, I'd like to go up to 15/16" really, to allow some upgraded stoppers perhaps.
Ideally I'd like a set of 16" diamond cut seven spokes, but they aren't very common! My second choice is probably some shark tooths off a Saph 4x4
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06-10-2009, 11:02 AM
#8
Glenny, yes mate, she's totally original with the exception of the alarm
Matt, spoilers are a sticky subject! I don't mind the RS one, but I think the Saph Cosworth one suits much much better, but obviously that would be less original. It's a tricky choice!
Matt, spoilers are a sticky subject! I don't mind the RS one, but I think the Saph Cosworth one suits much much better, but obviously that would be less original. It's a tricky choice!
Ace !
06-10-2009, 04:23 PM
#13
PassionFord Post Troll
i think sharktooths or diamond cut lattice wheels and lowered would look ace, nice subtle exhaust then enjoy the amazingness of a standardish orion in mint condition
cant see it being much better on fuel than a rs 2000
09-10-2009, 01:41 PM
#19
Only 25 mate. Always had a thing for Orions since I was younger. Do prefer the 1.6i in some ways, but this was just way too mint to turn down! Trying to find out a bit of history on them really, as don't know much about them. Bit of a drop and some wheels and it should look a little less grandad Cheers mate. You'd be surprised, it's definately better so far. Fuel isn't the issue so much though, it's insurance I was trying to reduce
Cheers mate
09-10-2009, 02:19 PM
#20
Big Wanger,back in the day the orion ghia 1.6i was a very popular car along with xr2's and xr3i's,you don't see them very much now but i had my fair share of orions.
best colour one i ever had was a special edition "Biscayne" ask yer man down the Orion Register if he knows what i'm on aboot.
iirc tickford painted all of the 16e's or just the black 16e's as they suffered paint contamination outside fords and needed a full waft for rectification.
nice car that matey.
best colour one i ever had was a special edition "Biscayne" ask yer man down the Orion Register if he knows what i'm on aboot.
iirc tickford painted all of the 16e's or just the black 16e's as they suffered paint contamination outside fords and needed a full waft for rectification.
nice car that matey.
09-10-2009, 02:53 PM
#21
Not heard of a Biscayne before!
Yeah, when I was in my teens a few of the older lads had them, and the later MK5 based ones too, which is what really got me into them, as they were quite quick back then too, especially compared to what a lot of youngster had. Had an M-plate Escy saloon as my first car and been hooked ever since! This is my first 1.6i MK2 though strangely.
Cheers for the kind comments though mate, and didn't know Tickford had been involved, interesting to know
Yeah, when I was in my teens a few of the older lads had them, and the later MK5 based ones too, which is what really got me into them, as they were quite quick back then too, especially compared to what a lot of youngster had. Had an M-plate Escy saloon as my first car and been hooked ever since! This is my first 1.6i MK2 though strangely.
Cheers for the kind comments though mate, and didn't know Tickford had been involved, interesting to know
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