1959 Escort garage find

Alpo23 · Post by **Alpo23** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 8:04 pm

ok, I picked up this 1959 Escort from a long time friend. She had it for several years then had 2nd gear go out on her. She parked it in her heated garage and there is sat since about 1993 or so. I'm posting a link to the pics. when I say it has no rust, I mean none. the rockers/undercarriage is clean. drip rails no rust. not sure what I want to do with it. restore? resto-mod with new driveline? or turn into a dedicated dragster.

http://picasaweb.google.com/wyterayven/Escort# if anyone can/wants to do a better posting of the pics directly, that would be cool

morspeed · Post by **morspeed** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 9:08 pm

Here you go Alpo23

If it ends up for sale let me know Tony

Alpo23 · Post by **Alpo23** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 10:22 pm

Thank you for doing a better job of posting the picks. I have plans for it, just not sure how to procced. I envision modern front disc brakes and a nice 4 cyl with a 5 speed. fortunately it is now in my garage out of the elements so there is now rush to get anything done. if anyone has info on suspension conversions and driveline upgrades that would help alot. I was under the impression that they had rack-and-pinion steering, but this one is a 101E and has regular pitman arm/gearbox steering.
I did find sources for some of the weatherstriping. True to British form, the window rubber has degraded to crumbly carbon. the headliner needs to be redone as it sags down about a foot. But I'm still amazed at how solid the body is. that is what made me save from a fate from ever going to a junk yard. I keep seeing these come up on craigslist and the like and the horrible condition they are in is so sad. Anyways, I'll been spending more time here gleening info.

garyeanderson · Post by **garyeanderson** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 5:22 am

I have always liked the Escort Estate and thought it would be kool to put the 107e crossmember in so that it would except the later 1500 pre-crossflow as a bolt in. That along with a decent 4 speed out of a Cortina GT. But these wagons are so rare now I think that I would leave the flathead four and hop it up. Its your car so you need to do what you want to but with a dozen or so left (a guess), I would be hesitant to do much to change its character. There are plenty of other interesting project that are crying for mods, I just don't think that anything so clean needs a Toyota, Nissan, Mazda drivetrain. Maybe some retro speed equipment from,

http://www.ford-aquaplane.co.uk/parts.phtml?Category=/

they have an adapter bellhousing to get a enfo 4 speed from the Anglia/Cortina that will bolt up to the flathead to give you another gear.

http://www.ford-aquaplane.co.uk/part.phtml?PartID=3472

If you want to see som modified cars you need to go and join

http://www.oldskoolford.co.uk

and spend some time looking around at all of the interesting rides, but remember they are bringing dead cars back from the grave, your find might need an oil change and new gas to run around with.

morspeed · Post by **morspeed** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 7:16 am

I have to agree these are so rare and in this condition almost impossible to find. I was thinking the same route with the 1500 pre-crossflow, that way you have plenty of power to enjoy it and have all the parts if you wanted to make it stock again some day.

Anyway when you do start working on it keep us posted with the progress.

Tony