1972 Ford Escort 1300 XL (Mk1) |

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1972 Ford Escort 1300 XL (Mk1)

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Sold Price

£8,796

Mileage~34,946
TransmissionManual
Engine1.3L
LocationSawbridgeworth

SOLD

1972 Ford Escort 1300 XL (Mk1)

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy

Consigner and Editor

A rare opportunity to obtain an original and low-mileage family favourite.

Ford had high ambitions for the Escort when it was first released in 1968. An all-new pan-European design, using existing engines, it was an entry-level model to appeal to an everyman market. Mechanically orthodox, most of the ~2 million or so MK1 Escorts produced were standard everyday models, created to serve their owner with dependability and peace of mind. Sales were buoyed by Ford's effective marketing strategy, promoting the Escorts motorsports pedigree which did much to encourage showroom sales.

Ford retained their showroom appeal by incremental model upgrades and a vast number of options which helped to keep the Escort fresh over its 7-year production run. These first trim changes came in late 1970, with notable interior and exterior improvements and a little more power. As a result, it became the first Ford to see off British Leyland as Britain’s best-selling car and established the brand as sales leaders.

First registered in November 1972, this is a unique opportunity to obtain a highly original 1300 XL 4-door saloon. Finished with an eye-catching "Tawny Gold Metallic" paint, it has just ~34,942 miles and is believed to have never seen a welder's torch. Featuring several features unique to the XL trim level, including a GT-style binnacle combined with a blacked-out rear panel, it was owned by a lady owner for almost 3 decades and has been owned by a handful of meticulous collectors and enthusiasts ever since. On top of its careful upkeep and maintenance, it has also amassed a considerable amount of attention in the press and media, demonstrating its charms as an example of a ‘bread and butter’ example of one of Ford's best-loved cars. Regularly maintained and preserved, this superb example comes with 5 decades' worth of MOTs, its original owner's pack and 2 keys and will have a fresh MOT carried out before being handed over to its new owner.

This listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Danny the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

A genuine time warp car, it has been kept largely original and is believed to have never needed welding.

Danny has an eye for solid and well-looked-after cars and came across this well-known example recently. There are some notes which document the maintenance of the Escort over the last few years, with reference to the former keepers. The impressive history of MOT certification and recent online, TV and magazine appearances, strongly support this car's authenticity and original mileage.

The former keeper had the car for ~3 years, and as mentioned previously, a lady owner had the car for some 3 decades. There are just 4 previous keepers registered on the logbook, and the car has featured in some road tests over the years including on the HubNut Youtube channel, and also featured on the TV show, Heartbeat, as pictured in the history section. Danny will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.

Danny

Trade Seller

Danny saved £1,440* when they
sold their Ford with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

In sparkling condition, the car is authentically original and seems to attract more attention than a supercar!

Wheels and Tyres

The 13” steel wheels have a deeper dish than the originals. They’re in excellent condition, the original chrome hubcaps have been used on the new wheels. The original style wheels will also be part of the sale.

Fitted with a full set of Yokohama tyres, they are all under three years old and therefore show plenty of life.

Bodywork

The panel fit is flush and the panel gaps are even, the doors all open and close with ease. The decent door seals add credence to the solidity of the car. The panels are in good shape and didn’t reveal any exterior corrosion, although some mild bubbling was spotted on the off-side front wing and there are light signs of age on the inner wheel arch lips. There are also a handful of minor dents spotted on the car, most seem to be confined to the offside panels and roof - all look treatable and add to the originality of the car.

The car's structure is solid throughout, the chassis rails, boot floor, wheel wells, engine bay and suspension mounts look very impressive. The floor pan was treated with an inhibitor in 2021.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

Finished in the wonderfully named "Tawny Gold Metallic" paint, the car has a consistent hue and an impressive lustre. There are signs of patina on the car, mostly on the boot lid, and around the fuel cap and a few minor marks elsewhere, but it certainly doesn’t detract from its very original presentation. Some of these areas have small touch-ups like on the front and rear valances, lower nearside wing, and scuttle.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The glass is in decent order, with no significant signs of damage. Their rubbers are in good shape, appearing to offer a positive seal. All lights and lenses are in good order, and free of cracks or fading. Danny told us he believes the wing mirrors were added by the previous owner, the mirrors and wheels appear to be the only non-original parts on the car.

The trim is believed to be exactly as it should have been when the car first left the showroom, retaining its XL trim chrome embellishments and rear black panel. The brightwork has lasted well, with well-mounted chrome fittings in good shape. The rear bumper shows mild signs of pitting.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

The interior is a joyous vision of simplicity and is exceptionally well presented.

Seats and Carpets

The seats are in excellent shape, with very little wear aside from the odd mark here and there.

The carpets are decent, all free of wear and no signs of dampness. The boot retains its floor lining and appears to have been spared any heavy use over the years.

Dashboard

The dashboard and facia are in great shape free of damage or wear. They house an impressive array of additional standard-fit dials which all function as they should. The car is also fitted with a Ford radio, the original owner bought the Escort without one but returned to the dealer to install it early in its life. The switchgear shows mild signs of age but otherwise, they have lasted well and more importantly all original.

The trim is clean with no significant marks, complementing the headlining and door cards which are all pleasingly tidy. The offside rear door window winder is not operational, but all other winders function as they should.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel is in decent shape with mild signs of age. The gearstick and rubber gaiter are tidy.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Smooth and reliable, the engine is beautifully presented and has been well maintained.

Engine and Gearbox

The 1.3-litre OHV engine visual presentation supports the car's low mileage, with a great deal of care and attention spent on retaining its originality. The engine fires up immediately, smoothly idling without undulations or unwanted noises. All warning lights remained off as it was on tick-over. No signs of engine temperature or oil pressure issues were observed.

The gear change is slick and smooth, engaging without crunching or grinding. The clutch has a positive biting point, with a little grab. Watch the video to see the car in action.

Suspension and Brakes

The suspension is compliant with no reports of negative feedback and the brakes are effective, slowing the car down without any squeals or wobbles. The visual presentation of those components are positive.

The Drive

Ford engines are known for their reliability, and the strong Crossflow unit offers an added dimension for upgrades. However, this one has been kept standard retaining its smoothness and is absurdly quiet on tick-over. We were treated to a 10-minute run up to speeds of 30-40mph, and it sweetly carried us with no hiccups or undulations, although a mild tune-up would be beneficial to bring out the best of this well-maintained example.

The car’s near-silent running was matched by its trouble-free road holding, pulling well during the precise and smooth gear changes. The road-holding felt safe, with no unwanted mechanical noises from the wheels. The steering was light and direct, with no excessive play. The tyres and slightly wider wheels go some way into making the car quite a grippy performer, but its real talent is the delight of its charming demeanour at urban speeds. There are no reports of oil pressure or engine temperature, the engine was left running to no ill effects and we noted that the car remained leak-free throughout our visit.

Electrics and Other

Danny told us all the electrics are working to his knowledge. The engine has been left standard with the exception of a recently fitted electric ignition.

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History and Paperwork

With almost every MOT certificate since 1976, the mileage can be considered verified as original, this car was previously in ~3 year ownership and has just 4 former keepers on the logbook.

Originally registered by Ford Main dealer Vick Brothers of Aldershot, it was sold to a lady owner who kept the car for almost 3 decades until it passed into the hands of several enthusiasts. Since then, it has become something of a star, having appeared several times in classic car magazines. In addition, it is a featured car on the YouTube Hubnut channel and has also appeared on the TV drama Heartbeat.

A document has been supplied listing the work carried out on the car since 2021, which covers maintenance, upkeep and new engine parts. The most recent work has been the fitting of new front brake shoes, an oil and filter change, a new head gasket, a front crankshaft oil seal replacement and new points. The cooling system was overhauled in 2022, and in the same year it saw a new fuel tank and rear shocks. The steering rack was replaced in 2023.

It also comes with an impressive number of MOT certificates, the first one dating from 1976 which helps verify the accuracy of the current mileage reading, a fresh MOT will be carried out before the new owner takes the car away. Also included is the car's original owner's wallet, with its handbook, unstamped service book, radio warranty, a period sales brochure and its tool kit. It comes with two keys, and while road tax and MOT exempt, it passed its most recent MOT in July 2024 with no advisories.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment of the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bids, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house. This is an auction on behalf of a trade seller and normal auction rules apply, i.e. there is no warranty, no return policy and bids are binding with more info in our terms and conditions.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
26-07-2023	MOT	33,315
14-03-2022	MOT	30,129
14-09-2017	MOT	28,997
19-09-2016	MOT	28,981
01-09-2015	MOT	28,858
09-07-2014	MOT	28,716
25-06-2013	MOT	28,617
20-06-2012	MOT	28,543
30-06-2011	MOT	28,073
24-06-2010	MOT	27,816
25-06-2009	MOT	27,358
26-06-2008	MOT	27,049
02-07-2007	MOT	25,719
15-06-2006	MOT	24,427
28-06-2005	MOT	23,487
20-05-2004	MOT	22,524
28-05-2003	MOT	21,153
22-05-2002	MOT	18,183
23-10-1995	MOT	11,788
17-05-1994	MOT	9,464
18-11-1992	MOT	9,409
25-09-1991	MOT	9,371
28-09-1990	MOT	9,325
12-10-1989	MOT	9,250
18-10-1988	MOT	8,693
16-08-1987	MOT	8,631
30-08-1986	MOT	8,300
04-09-1985	MOT	7,791
28-03-1984	MOT	7,680
15-01-1983	MOT	7,295
04-12-1981	MOT	7,067
30-12-1980	MOT	6,841
03-12-1979	MOT	5,895
18-10-1978	MOT	4,009
04-11-1977	MOT	1,688
10-09-1976	MOT	1,547

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Key Details

ModelEscort 1300 XL (Mk1)
Transmission4-speed manual
Reg. Date01-11-1972
CC1,300
Mileage~34,946
HistoryMOTs back to 1976
ColourTawny Gold Metallic
Interior ColourTan
Interior TrimVinyl
Chassis #BBAFMY49309
Engine #MY49309
RestoredNo
Engine RebuildNo
MOT25-07-2024
MOT ExemptYes
Road Tax ExemptYes
HPi ClearYes - all clear
Former Keepers4
Tyre BrandYokohama
Tyre Age2021
# of Keys2
LHD or RHDRHD
VisitedYes
Sale TypeTrade - No warranty
Key FeatureTime warp example with low-miles
Auction ID2241

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Vehicle Sold

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Ask Questions

Seller : DannyBe Sale Date 21.11.2024

Post a comment or ask the owner a question about the car.

3 Comments

Kulraj Salh

Admin

1 month ago

Auction Update – The seller DannyBe has removed the reserve on this auction, meaning it is on sale with “no reserve”. It will sell to the highest closing bid this evening. Good luck if you’re involved in the bidding. Best, Kulraj – Trade Classics

VaughanC

1 month ago

Hi there. Can you please advise what service history documentation is available for the car. Also why there are no MOT records between 1995 and 2002. Thank you.

DannyBe

Seller

VaughanC

1 month ago

Hi, all the documentation has been photographed and I am unsure why there are no records for the time span you mentioned.

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Sawbridgeworth

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