1978 Ford Escort L 1.3 petrol

Summary:

A decent starter car

Faults:

Bodywork was slightly rusty from the start.

Tyres needed replacing at 83,000 miles.

Cylinder head needed replacing at 86,000 miles.

Engine started leaking oil during final 3 months of ownership.

General Comments:

For its age, the Escort was a reliable and solid starter car which gave good value for money.

At 11 years old, it cost a bargain £400.

Lost its value quickly.

One year after buying the Escort, I traded it in and got just £250 for it.

Saw it on the road as recently as 1999, by which time it was 21 years old.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 25th May, 2006

1978 Ford Escort L 1.3 petrol

Summary:

Reliable, good to drive, comfortable and excellent value for money

Faults:

Gearbox started rattling after 129,000 miles and had to be replaced.

Brake cable snapped after 136,000 miles and was also replaced.

Started to go rusty towards the end.

General Comments:

Engine was as smooth as silk right up to the end. Bodywork started to show its age though.

Previous car was a 1973 Ford Cortina which lasted well until 178,000 miles when the engine blew up!

The 1978 Ford Escort was a really good car. It drove well and the mechanicals only rarely showed their age. After all, the car was 22 years old and had driven 148,000 miles by the time I sold it. It went to my younger brother for £20 and I bought a 93L Ford Fiesta 1.4 Ghia for £1,000, which had covered 56,000 miles. I had the Fiesta for 3 years, by which time it had covered 75,000 miles, and I sold it to a workmate for £400. Now I have a 96P Ford Scorpio 2.9 V6 which I bought for £2,500 and has now covered close to 100,000 miles. The Fiesta was quite good and the Scorpio is powerful and comfortable, but the Escort is far more reliable than any other car I've owned.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 1st April, 2004

21st May 2026, 18:25

Personally, the Mk2 is my favorite Escort. Very similar to the Hillman Avenger, it had enviable mechanical robustness; very few problems were reported with the Mk1 and 2. The Escort's problems began in the late 1980s, with the Mk5 probably being the least reliable version in its history.

In England, in the early and mid-1980s, there was almost a Mk2 on every block; for me, it earned the title of the quintessential British national car.

1978 Ford Escort 4 Door Ghia 1.6

Summary:

An all time star on the road and track

Faults:

Not much as at the moment I am in the middle of restoring it.

The 3.0S Capri engine that is going in is sweet as well as the type 9 5 speed gearbox. So that's about it.

General Comments:

The best classic anyone could ever ask for.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th July, 2003

28th Mar 2004, 05:37

What age is the Capri motor that fits into the escort cause I own a 2 door escort 2L and want to fit a bigger motor into it?

1978 Ford Escort MK2 Ghia 1.6

Summary:

Brilliant nostalgic motoring

Faults:

The only problem I have encountered during my ownership is a faulty ignition switch. The engine has been around the clock, but still serves well. It also leaks oil, but that is expected of a car this old. The interior is like new, without any blemishes at all. I would definitely buy another classic ford as I think that they are better than modern fords, even though I'm only 20 years of age.

General Comments:

An exceptional car when looked after properly.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 13th November, 2002

4th Jul 2005, 01:06

I am nearing the completion of a Mk2 2litre SOHC. The car has been great fun in the rebuilding phase. A fair amount of rust to remove in boot, D pillars, front guards and plenum chamber. Other wise fairly clean. I now look forward to getting it on the road.

16th Apr 2008, 14:41

Can you run the Mk2 Escort on unleaded petrol?