Practically Classics Forum

Is this ebay seller nuts, or has he been at my meds?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-MK1-ESCO ... viewandbid

£28,700.00 and resrve not met for a FORD MK1 ESCORT TWINCAM LOTUS

No, I don't think that he's nuts, that description would apply to the people who pay that type of cash for an old Escort with a fancy engine.

The last genuine twin cam MK1 that went through one of the big, specialist auction houses wasn't anywhere near as original as this one, having been fitted with a small steering wheel, alloys, and various other updated bits. That car sold after the sale by private arrangement for a shade under £40,000. So as these things go, that one's probably not too far from its true potential. But I don't have to buy one and if I did, I'd want it for a lot less. 'Cos I'm watertight.

i couldnt live with myself if id spent that sort of money on an escort...even after the lottery win!

I've seen one advertised at £60000 or thereabouts. If it’s good, it will be cheaper than restoring a wreck.

However, the only cars with that engine, to interest me, would be the Lotus Elan or perhaps a Seven (Though I remember a rather nice Brabham, that used the engine and of course Lotus F2 cars used it, plus things like the 23).

Cars like these perhaps have higher values than you might expect. I think some of it must be related to the competition history of the Escort but I also wonder how many people hankered after a “Boy racer” Escort years ago and now, if they have made a few quid, are able to throw money at it? When I think back to my school days, most people hankered after Capris or Escorts. They weren’t really interested in cars; it was more an image thing. Maybe in thirty or forty years, people will want to relive their youth with a Corsa Prattmobile…….if there are any left.

Nostalgia forced pricing I think it must be. I too have seen one of these for sale on pistonheads for £65k.

Also, at the NEC last year I was chatting to the owner of a mk1 rs 1600 with the twin cam engine. Stunning as it was I could hardly believe the agreed insurance valuation..........85 grand!

Not that I was ever an officianado of the old twink but I don't ever remember a BDA - BDF Lotus engine as fitted to the various Twin Cam's looking like that, in fact don't ever remember seein an air filter on a set of twin 40 webbers, and if I remember rightly the Twin Cam had AVO wheel arch flares ala the Mexico.

If I was going to pay that much for nostalgia I would want to take it to bits and check all the part numbers first.

On an aside I saw one of these back in the early 70's which had gone over a cattle grid on the Waskerly Moors in NW Durham on a night rally, unfortunately the driver lost it and the car wrapped itself round a snow pole on the drivers side and it ended up just about where the pedal box should have been. Wouldn't have given £50 for that one but turn the clock back Scrap money for a Twin Cam yeah!!!