Ford Escort - America’s favorite car in the 1980’s

The Ford Escort was to be Ford’s first World Car, one car for the entire Planet. It didn’t quite work out that way. In this video we take a look at the 1st generation North American Escort in depth. We cover the history the model changes and options of this inexpensive to own and operate automobile.


Never be in the dark! Get an Odelfi Head Lamp! Use the link and enter the code TonysFords to save 10% off your order

Thanks for watching and a HUGE thank you to my subscribers. It's nice when someone appreciates your work!

[TheREALOC]

My childhood friend bought a 1990 Escort GT brand new with his enlistment bonus. Right after High School I went in the Army and Richard went into the Marines, and he bought it as a left over year when he got to his first duty at Camp Pendelton. After his 4 years in the Marines he moved back home and became a Police Officer with our hometown PD while I stayed in Army. In 96 he was killed by a drunk driver while he was performing a traffic stop, His wife ended up moving back to San Diego where she was from a couple years later and his Escort was his daughters first car when she turned 16, I still talk to his wife and daughter a couple times a month and in Janaury his son and law called me and told me that they were rebuilding the Escort for their daughter to have as a first car and asked me if I would come to San Diego and paint it for her. I live in Northwest Arizona now and Memorial day weekend I'm going to drive down there and shoot the paint on it.

[dmandman]

Fun fact: the they’d originally planned to make the base engine a 1.3 engine. But when it was equipped with emissions and tested, Ford realized it couldn’t keep up with traffic. So they decided not to ever install it in production units. The 1981 Chilton repair manual listed the 1.3 engine since it was produced before the cars were actually released.

[surreallife]

Just found your Channel. It's great. I've been into Fords since the late 1970s specifically high performance fords. Currently I own Ford Cosworth 4 cylinder turbo cars from the UK. I wrote a letter to Bill and Edsel Ford about 10 years ago and both of them responded back to me personally. These are both busy people high ups in the Ford organization and they took the time to write back to me which says something how about their character.

Ford has an amazing history in terms of high performance cars and racing as well as a wide range of very impressive engines. The Ford engines from the 1960s can compete with modern engines today.

[michaeldemarco]

A red 1981 Escort GL 4-speed was my first car.

[bryanmchugh]

I remember these things! Used to be everywhere. They were actually good cars.

[timothyforce]

I had a white '89 Escort GT. Drove it for 7 years, 186k miles. Never had any troubles. I never had any overheating issues, nor any oil sludge like some people had. Changing oil every 3k miles back them was a must. It was a great little car.

[EffequalsMA]

My second wife bought a 1995 Escort LX with the 1.9, at my recommendation. Incredibly dependable car That drove well, even with the rather gutless 1.9. 250K when she sold it for a Gen 1 Mazda 3. I did quite like that thing.

[mtrgv]

I really miss my Escort GT, I should've never traded it in for an Escort wagon, ugh!!

[eugenegilleno]

The European XR3’s and Escort RS’s were much different had a few ! 😁 several Fiestas, and the Euro Granada was miles ahead of the American ‘Granada’.

[highwayman]

Oh man.... As a 16 year old new driver, I absolutely drooled over the new gen Escort GT in 86... I later had a girlfriend in 90 that owned a 88 Escort GT. Underpowered and hated the era auto belts, but it was cool to drive. It still has a place in my heart seeing it today.

[RoadRunnergarage]

I have built a 1/32 scale 82 Escort Racer kit and an 1/32 EXP kit ..

[eticket]

What flash from the past…my first car was a 1988 Escort GT, black! Drove it for 9 straight years…great memories in my GT!!

[truckercowboyed]

I remember those Escorts in that gray color being everywhere in my were so popular and also usually good cars for new drivers in highschool...

[chuckselvage]

I'm from Australia my dad owned a 1970 Escort. He gave it to me and I learnt to drive on it, took it paddock bashing had heaps of fun in it. One person here put a blown 351 in one. Lol.

[buildurtruckurway]

Man I've watched almost half your videos. I really miss the days pre 2000, I truly felt cars were better people were better innovation was a thing they had perfected.
The nostalgia is real watching the same commercials I watched as a kid or read in magazines in school through the 90s.

Thanks for the Trip, less and less does that these days.

My family owned 2 escorts growing up a 80s wagon and a 1995gt.

[jimlafreeda]

Another hone run video! While in college at Penn State Berks I became friends with a guy who had a white 1988/89 Escort GT. He drove the hell out of that car! I have never gone faster in a car, he pegged that thing on a lunch break run from the former ski slope near Bernville back to PSB... the doors were shaking !! Well over 100 mph I am sure. But that car was bullet proof and never let him down and somehow he never got a ticket....

[jamesmcintire]

My dad had an 88 or 89 Escort GT 5-speed that he bought as wreck around 93 or so. He managed a body shop at the time so was able to have it repaired fairly cheap. It was a lot of fun to drive. My sisters first new car was a 95 Escort LX 2-door hatch. It was a really good car for her and lasted up until her first daughter was born and then suddenly became too small. I drove it many times myself and it was a good handling car! The Escort as a model may have had some faults but overall they were decent cars.

[gilabear]

I had a 1998 Escort. It lasted until 2013 with over 239, 000 miles when it finally dropped a valve seat. Great car!

[joeturbo]

My wife had a 1990 Escort GT. It was a fun little car, not fast by any means but definitely fun in the corners. Another great video Tony! Keep 'em coming!

[PorkyHontas]

Got my mom's former boss's 1982 Escort when I was 16 years old in '86 for helping him move to San Francisco. Had over 250K miles on it when I traded it off for a new '93 Escort. Put about 200k on that one until I bought a an Escort GT from my brother. Got my last Escort, which was a 2000. In short, I loved the Escort.

Btw, never knew of head gasket issues on the 1.6L, but their wasn't any valve interference in the head thus bending valves if the timing belt broke. Was supposed to be changed at 60, 000 miles, and if that was done the little engine was very reliable. Heck, I even towed my uncle's '79 Ford F-150 home after he blew his engine up with my '82 Escort with its 4 speed manual transmission.