Readly RF Feb 20

MK2 ESCORT
We often ask the owners of
featured cars here at RetroFord
towers, what is the fascination
with them? What drives them to
hunt down these cars that can
sometimes need a full nut and bolt restoration or
mild makeovers. Travelling long distances to view
something described as mint, only to find that it’s
a wreck. The long hard search for obscure parts
enabling them to return ‘said car’ to its original
former glory or for modifying. Sometimes paying
a hefty price for parts. Why do they do it? There
are several reasons for this ‘display of passion and
dedication’. Some would say it’s because they
wanted to relive their youth. Others, to build the
car they always promised themselves. Or, to see
another piece of Ford motor history saved to fight
another day. Well, one of the thousands of old
Ford fanatics who fall under the above category is
Kevin Swann, the man with the keys to the sleek
Mk2 you see here.
Kevin’s passion for cars started at a young
age as he now tells us. “I have been into them
ever since I can remember,” he smiles. “A lot
of that is thanks to my Dad as they were a big
part of his life, so he held a real passion towards
them.” He says, and at a mere 12 years of age,
he had his first taste of what driving an old Ford
felt like. “I got my first car, an Anglia 105e which
I drove on private land and the fun I had in that
has stayed with me since and as well as building
the Escort I’m in the process of building an Anglia.
It’s heading at being a proper beast and is a lot
different to my first, but it will be great to be
behind the wheel of one again.”
If being responsible for these isn’t enough,
Kevin can also be found welding the spanners in
the Swann’s home workshop. He enjoys helping
his son Jake put together more retro Fords in the
shape of a Mk5 Cortina powered by a 2.1 Pinto.
Plus the recent completion of a very tasty Mk2
Escort build. There’s no messing around here,
the Swann boys certainly know how to turn out a
wicked motor or two.
Back to the Escort in question and Kevin’s
desire to build it. “I’ve had an array of models over
the years,” he tells us. “Escorts to Capris, Fiestas
to Sierras plus a few others in between but, as
great as each of those was, a fast road Escort was
always at the top of my wish list!”
Another reason for wanting a road-going car to
go like the clappers comes from Kevin spending
time behind the wheel of others that did go like
the preverbal off a shovel. “I used to race a Mk2
back in the day, but only off-road in oval and
stock car racing, and I wanted that same thrill and
excitement for the road.”
With the urge to find the perfect candidate
to fulfil his vision, the hunt began and six years
ago this car flagged up on eBay. “It’s a 1600
Sport imported over from South Africa and came
complete and in roadworthy condition,” he recalls,
“I was over the moon as it was the ideal blank
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