The Escort Files - Project XVK

XVK 708 T was the first Mk2 Escort I bought, back in 2002.  I saw the advertisement in Auto Trader and went up to Newcastle-upon-Tyne to have a look at the car, which was a standard 1979 2-door Popular in Riviera Blue.  The previous owner had replaced the front wings and the outer sills, and done a bit more welding to make the car solid.  It had also had a respray.  Although none of the work was neat, it was serviceable and made for a decent starter car for £650 (not bad for a 2-door).

The above pictures show how the car was when I bought it originally.

And this is what it looked like when the previous owner was working his magic !

My initial aim was just to buy a cheap Mk2 to play about with, but I soon ended up doing a lot more than I had originally planned.

ENGINE: The weedy 1.1 litre crossflow was replaced by a 1600 unit complete with K&N, 4-branch manifold, single box exhaust and electronic ignition.  I also had a 5-speed gearbox fitted from a Sierra (type-9).

BODY: I added Mexico front and rear spoilers and a Mexico stripe kit from PJG Graphics.  Also, a pair of Rally Giant spotlights were fitted to the front, along with soem quarter bumpers.  I also painted the rear panel black, similar to an RS2000.

SUSPENSION: The front suspension was replaced with struts from a Sport model, along with 220lb -2" lowered springs.  There was also a Twin Cam anti-roll bar with double-width kit, and polyurethane bushes.  At the rear, anti-tramp bars were added, along with Bilstein shocks and 2" lowering blocks.  The car handled really well and looked very low, so low that it made getting it on to our drive very difficult.

BRAKES: Reconditioned M16 calipers and disc brakes at front.  New drum brakes at rear.

WHEELS AND TYRES: 7Jx13" Performance Superlites with 185/60 tyres.

INTERIOR: I took out the black vinyl seats and replaced them with a pair of Cobra Clubman bucket seats, with TRS 3-point harnesses.  I added a rear firewall, full Safety Devices roll cage with door bars, Sport clocks, centre console, and RS steering wheel.  The carpet was stripped out and the floor painted white, like a rally car.

I sold this car in 2002 and replaced it with a Mk5 Escort RS Cosworth replica (RS2000 engine) that I kept until recently, then sold.  In the meantime, I bought DKU357V, a 42K mile 4-door Escort.  See other pages for more details.