Del Boy
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Post by Del Boy on Feb 14, 2018 0:40:30 GMT
That's what I mean the 80s designs aren't quite as good as their predecessors. I class the Capri and the mk2 Granada as 70s designs.The mk3 Granada, Sierra and mk3 Escorts are the 80s fare to which I was alluding to. There's all that grey plastic for a start.
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Bojan Scores
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Terry you’re very devious when a bird’s involved...
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Post by Bojan Scores on Feb 14, 2018 3:27:56 GMT
That's what I mean the 80s designs aren't quite as good as their predecessors. I class the Capri and the mk2 Granada as 70s designs.The mk3 Granada, Sierra and mk3 Escorts are the 80s fare to which I was alluding to. There's all that grey plastic for a start. I prefer 70s classics myself. However, I have an admiration for MK2 Cavaliers that I’ve had since being a school boy. Surely, a sleeper classic?
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Cartman
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Post by Cartman on Feb 14, 2018 10:31:05 GMT
Loved the mark 1 and 2 Escorts, I learned to drive in, and later owned a mark 1. I lost interest in them after that and never liked any of the subsequent front drive ones. Bang on about Ford losing its way in the 80s, the Sierra was just awful, as was the big Sierra look alike which took over from the mark 2 Granada.
I think BMC led the way in the 60s with innovative designs like the Mini and 1100, then lost their way in the 70s, at which point Ford took the lead, with probably Vauxhall taking over from them in the 80s
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Post by D.C. Burtonshaw on Feb 14, 2018 13:28:26 GMT
Agree with many of the comments made so far;
On the Sierras launch in 1982, many ex Cortina drivers/buyers gave it the cold shoulder initially and went over to the Cavalier MK2, as it least you could get a saloon version which older buyers and fleet operators liked and it looked more conventional. Sales of Vauxhalls improved a lot in the 80's with them regularly fighting Ford in the top 10 sales charts, finally pushing Austin Rover/BL into 3rd place.
As for 80's Fords, they made some great models like the Cosworth Sierras and the Sierra came good in the end with the MK2 facelift from 1987 and the introduction of the Sapphire booted saloon. The Escort based Orion was a tidy little car too.
But yes the RWD Escorts, you couldn't beat, for style and rally heritage! FWD ones may have been more refined and roomy and efficient but somehow lost something although I do quite like the Ghia MK3 Escort and early White Hot MK3 RS Turbo.
I'd prefer many 80's Vauxhalls actually to the 80' Fords and the 70's Vauxhalls too are stylish and sadly a bit undervalued as well as being quite scarce now compared to the Fords of the era which are a bit overvalued now! But that's due to the legacy of the cars when new, with product placement, marketing and race/rally success.
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Post by Gene Hunt on Feb 14, 2018 14:37:38 GMT
I too loved the MkI & MkII Escorts - had them both back in the day but I also loved my MkIII XR3i. It was immaculate in and out until some knob head drove out of a side road while I was on a dual carriageway. They ploughed smack into the side of me and knocked me onto the opposite carriageway, where I was hit again by a Cavalier SRi travelling in the opposite direction. Just prior to the shunt... Gene.
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Post by Dirty Epic on Feb 14, 2018 15:43:53 GMT
Very nice that XR Gene. An example like that today would be worth ££££'s
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Post by Sam Tyler on Feb 14, 2018 15:55:27 GMT
Very nice that XR Gene. An example like that today would be worth ££££'s Like this one I saw at Brooklands on New Year's Day: The ad in the window was saying it was on the market for £6200 ono. Sam.
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Post by John Steed on Feb 19, 2018 21:37:29 GMT
I too loved the MkI & MkII Escorts - had them both back in the day but I also loved my MkIII XR3i. It was immaculate in and out until some knob head drove out of a side road while I was on a dual carriageway. They ploughed smack into the side of me and knocked me onto the opposite carriageway, where I was hit again by a Cavalier SRi travelling in the opposite direction. Just prior to the shunt... Gene. I have never owned an Escort but did have a C Reg Ford Orion 1.6 injection Ghia which was like having an XR3i with a boot! I also had an E Reg Orion 1.6 Ghia but prefer the look of the earlier XR3i's/Orions etc to the facelift or Mk4 Escort shape. Steed
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