Bigpower

Well today was an interesting day without doubt!
Plans have been underway for a few days now for a deal to take place with another member, which out of the blue meant I had to find a replacement "do it all" car.
As I have bored many a poor soul about before, I still love Sierra's, even after 6 of them so far, of different engine sizes, drivetrains and body shapes.
Being a bit of an old skool Fod boy at heart, my friends with their Mark 1 Escorts have always gone on about the virtues of the trusty old Pinto engine, so I decided to listen to their advice and try and find a Pinto again (After giving up months ago).
I find this on Pistonheads, and after a bit of a saga, picked it up this evening.
Excuse the rubbish advert photo's, I'll get some better ones uo tomorrow.







The history of the car is that an old girl got the car from a main agent, specified next to sweet FA on the options list, and then did bugger all miles in it till she gave up driving , and sold it to the car collectors I got it from who bought it. Both have always kept it garaged, and so rot for a 23 year old ford is minimal. Only the very bottoms of the rear arches/sills are crusty, everything else seems pretty good.
The wings, arches, sills, floors inner wings, and suspension turrets all seems spot on.

The spare wheel has never even been out of the boot, and the interior pretty good too. (No rips,tears, gaps or mods)

I drove it very carefully on the way home, as it's only done 300 miles in the last 2 years.
It's done 31,300 miles in total, and had all the MOT's and service history to back it up.

I doubt there are too many like this left being totally standard.
And give it a little while there'll be one less, as I plan to uprate all the running gear, and go 2.1 with a gas flowed head and cam, exhaust etc.

With no CAT to worry about, there are nt many restrictions, so I'll change the cam belt, run it for a bit, and then get it on the rollers for a "before" figure.

Better pics once I've cleaned it, and the Mrs has stopped cursing me!

I am glad you got home ok Rob, albeit a bit late that looks really good. I hope it serves you well.

Nah, I'd get a golf mate .. only kidding buddy - very cool, funny how many people bought cars then just never used them.

Nice purchase rob look forward to this project.

mike

The sooner we change this forum name...........
The Pinto should be a giggle and I remember my old GLSi company car from about forty years ago was a laugh in terms of handling, so you should be assured of some fun. Standard looking with improved bushes, dampers etc will be well worth while as most of that stuff that's on there could well be knackered, but then you know that already.


I bet it's like Ashes to Ashes when you jump in that....Old school!!

Hang on.......Grace is 21 years old and this is 23 years old. What the Hell does that say about us two?

Have fun. Modify gently and graciously. V8 the thing in time to come. (If Pete decides to sell or break any more bits off of the Dagenham Destroyer, I'll let you know.

well done mate once you have the sierra bug there is no getting away from it:sifone:

that is a very good car looking at the pictures
with the bubbling at bottom of the arch/sill rub it down on mamarite it inside and out.

Seeing your sig Bart, you really should paint the track car yellow

stuart wrote:Seeing your sig Bart, you really should paint the track car yellow

No! The gold matches Alan's trainers

Nice find Rob Not my cuppa though (sorry Bart & Pabs)

Under the circumstances I'll excuse you for not showing at North Weald yesterday. Your tea went cold and I still have your Sierra workshop manual. If you PM your address, I'll post it to you.

Not the tea, the book.

All track cars should be yellow!!

Nice car Rob I have a rebuilt 205 block pinto running twin 45 webers in my kitcar when I finally get round to finishing that!!! Far too many projects on the go!!

Are you going to paint yours Rob? You keep flirting with the idea mate