The Escort was the budget front-wheel drive subcompact that Ford used to replace the aging rear-wheel drive Pinto in the 1981 model year, just in time for the second Fuel Crisis.
There was much hype about the new Escort being a "world car" designed jointly between Ford of North America and Ford of Europe. Indeed, the "Escort" nameplate had been in use on little European Fords since the Sixties. There were even little badges on the car with the Escort name on a stylized globe for a background.
In actuality, all they shared was the name, the little cam-in-head 8-valve four cylinder motor, and the same automatic transmission on cars so equipped. (The cam-in-head design is still, technically an OHV engine, but the cam is in the head, operating the rocker arms via hydraulic lash adjusters, sans pushrods.)
These were the cars that Ford sent out to do battle with the Civics, Corollas, and Sentras that were devouring the North American marketplace
The one in the pictures is an '87 model, after the first major upgrade. The hemi-head 1.6L engine had been bored and stroked to 1.9L, becoming notably undersquare in the process. With throttle body fuel injection it put out 90 SAE net horsepower. In coupe or hatchback form, and with a manual transmission, this was enough motor to nudge the Escort under the 10-second barrier in the 0-60 sprint. In a wagon with an automatic? LOL. LMAO, even.
This Oxford White 1987 Escort GL wagon has somehow managed to avoid oxidizing away to nothing over the last thirty-seven years, despite obviously not leading a pampered existence. However either they're smuggling a crate of lead bars or the rear suspension has packed it in.
My dad had an '86 two-door Escort with a manual transmission. You could hear the gas sloshing in the tank as you drove it. He eventually replaced it with a '91 Escort -- it was leagues better.
ReplyDeleteThe first generation Escorts never stopped reminding you how much money you’d saved. ;-)
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