I know a few of us like Cars, and a few of us like Old Cars.

I’m not usually YouTube vids, but this series is lovely.

In short, Gordon Murray (legendary designer of a lot of McLaren’s most dominant F1 race cars and the McLaren F1 road car) fancies a Mk1 Escort, but not just any Mk 1 Escort. A completely ground up restored Escort with the ‘feel’ of the original car but at the same time modern, a ‘RestoMod’ as the Americans call it – so, a Cosworth build Duratech engine, independent rear suspension and modern heating and ventilation system – I shudder to think what it would cost, but I’m sure it would have been cheaper to walk into McLaren and buy one of their 720S Cars, but still…

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSiG7oNXC6w[/video]

Oh, fair warning, it’s an on-going job so if you’re the type to rush ahead to the end, don’t bother, it’s not finshed yet – only 3 eps so far.

Thanks, have added that to my playlist for later.

Cool. Added to watch later. I hope it gets used and not just stored (may mention is video)

Had one as a 19 year old rep for Findus Frozen Food ..41 years ago ..loved it at the time !
Haven’t watched the video yet ..

Enjoyed that, will need to keep an eye out for episode 4.

Love it in some ways a dream job those guys have. That this is for GM is just awesome. No pressure. 😆

I have so many “lottery win” projects I could get them to do and a good restomod escort is on my wish list. Can’t wait to see this finished.

Bookmarked.

Duratec? pah, needs a nice little Millington engine surely!

What, you know better than Murray? 🙂

Fantastic. And I’ll take the W108 with the Corvette engine too (although in a different colour).

There were so many nice cars in that garage! that Stratos..mmmmm, and the Jag, and the Chevette and and and 😳

Thanks for that OP, hopefully these episodes will fit nicely in between Project Binky episodes to cut down on the waiting time for each.

As a lad a remember MK1’s going through Dalby, Hannu Mikkola at his best !
Can’t beat a Mk1 or Mk2 on full chat with a BDA in it, never owned a mk1 but was very fortunate to have a Mk2 mexico and a RS2000, would dearly love to own the mexico again FHD 595S, diamond white 5 1/2 RS alloys totally un modified.

Thanks OP. What a great find. I love stuff like this. Looking forward to further episodes. Only downside is waiting for more…it’s frustrating enough waitIng for more Binky!

Really good – thanks, I enjoyed that.

Can’t wait for Episode 4!
Really good watch Listen (cos I’m at work obvs!)

pondo
What, you know better than Murray?

I know a pukka Millington is better than a duratec, even one that’s been breathed upon by Cosworth.

Thanks for that, made really good viewing. A friend and I have a body/restoring shop and currently have one of those Pagoda mercs in for a complete rebuild. The rear wings are £8k a piece!

I’d love to know how much he paid for the Mk1 though, they’re mental money..

@pondo – Murray always knows best!

I know a pukka Millington is better than a duratec, even one that’s been breathed upon by Cosworth.

Isn’t a Millington Diamond a redesigned Cosworth YB/BDA engine?

Maybe overly simplistic, but I’m sure Cosworth could produce a better engine than one based on a design they came up with at the end of the 60s? They’re sort of good at that sort of thing.

I know a pukka Millington is better than a duratec, even one that’s been breathed upon by Cosworth.

Personally, I can’t believe he didn’t ask you beforehand.

Murray – Member

@pondo – Murray always knows best!

Proper LOL – loved your Brabhams, sir! 🙂

Nothing wrong with a duratec, nice light efficient modern engine, should make minimum 200bhp standard on throttle bodies with exhaust and if it goes bang, £500 gets you another one, that’s what I am putting in my mk2 escort money pit.

Thanks OP. What a great find. I love stuff like this. Looking forward to further episodes. Only downside is waiting for more…it’s frustrating enough waitIng for more Binky!

Glad I’m not the only project Binky fan 😀

great find, enjoyed those! thanks for the heads up.

Really enjoyed those episodes. Can’t wait to see the finished car.

Millington engines, i thought Mary Millington died a few years ago she was a luvvie actress can anyone else remember her ?

I had a ’74 Sebring Red Mk1 Mexico, thats where my handle on here come from

Millingtons are highly strung race engines, modern duratec can be tuned to 300bhp naturally asperated (though close to race spec) amazed no one said BDA..

Have started the series twice and not made it through an episone yet, constantly panning camera and more waffle than a hope promo.

Just been chatting to a bloke darn the pub I have vaguely known for a couple of years. Turns out he hasn’t always been an antiques valuer . He started as a metallurgist and at one point worked for a military vehicle operation at Chobham but he had his most fun working with Ford in the 70s at Advanced Vehicle Operations in Essex. He had loads of great stories. I used to work for British Non Ferous Metals so everyone else was a bit bored as we got a bit technical but sod that, he was fascinating. Until chatting to him I didn’t realise my Escort Mexico wasn’t fully seam welded but actually was the normal spot welded shell that was delivered to them and then brazed.

I enjoyed the programmes – yes a bit more actual content would be good, but let’s face it – it’s free niche content.

I would like to have seen someone me things conceived differently – not sure what issues anyone can have with a normal backseat?

74 Sebring Red Mk1 Mexico

Had?  Had?  Please tell me you didn’t get rid of it through choice!

Edit. Oops. Not addressed to me.

Just watched them, it’s an interesting concept for sure.

However, I’m more interested in the GT Junior … I’d like to,see that project.

Did you ever see the mk2 that DJM built for Colin McRae, basically an updated grp4 car to grpA standards.  If only Boreham was still in operation today…….

Will watch this tomorrow night with my Friday vino, thanks.

More Binky uploaded today.

Episode 4 is up.

cheers!

Thanks for the heads up!

Handy link to episode 4

Enjoyed that, it’s going to take ages but at least ‘we’re’ moving forward now and not repairing rot (well mostly).

I do wish the suspension guy learned to listen though, it was driving me nuts (it’s a real bugbear of mine) it seems when he’s nervous he can’t stop talking.

Fairly clam (and very interesting on his own) – mentioned that he doesn’t know nearly as much about it as Murray, holds off on the decision until Murray has seen AND THEN TALKS ALL OVER HIM WHILST HE TRIES TO EXPLAIN IT TO HIM 3 TIMES!!!

If I was in his shoes, I’d shut the **** up until spoken to, takes notes and say thank you at the end ha ha.

@P-Jay – I agree, there’s a time to talk and a time to listen. Being nervous doesn’t help though.

Looking forward to the next update

It will be interesting to see if this ends up on a “Q” plate.  I bet you £100 it doesn’t and is kept on it’s original age related plate, despite the Law being very clear (cut the shell sheet metal in any way, and it’s IVA time……)

‘Like’ Thanks for the pointer 👍