Made You Look

The exterior may scream ‘classic’ but there are enough details and custom touches on Paul Wood’s ST170 powered Mk1 Escort to keep you guessing for days. No wonder it took him 10 years to build.

- Simon Woolley

We love it when a plan doesn’t always come together — for all the right reasons, of course. Back in 2008, Paul Wood bought a Mk1 Escort with the intention of turning it into something along the lines of the rather-incredible car you see before you. Only he got distracted and a year later, bought another Mk1 — initially to sell on to help fund the rebuild of that first Mk1.

“I thought it was a good one, but the more I poked at it, the more I found wrong with it,” he groans, “so I decided I may as well rebuild this one while I was at it. In the meantime, I started doing some research on the other car, and found out it was a genuine 1300 Sport. Thank God I didn’t start ripping into it!”

That was 10 years ago, and while the 1300 Sport is still patiently awaiting its turn with the welding torch, we can categorically state that the second car is now finished to an outstanding level, fully on the road and is at the mercy of Paul’s rather heavy right foot.

Old’s cool

Looking at the Mk1 with its seemingly oldschool exterior treatment, you may be surprised to hear that Paul doesn’t come from a traditional classic Ford background. In fact, prior to buying that first Mk1 he was a fully paid-up member of the Max Power-era showcar scene. “I’d always fancied owning a Mk1 Escort though,” he admits, “I just love the shape. When my last showcar was written off in 2007 I decided to put the insurance payout to good use.”