Ford Ka Restoration 1

First part of 1997 Ka3 restoration.

[timewilltella]

Those little endura e engins are bulletproof
I found a clean one myself 22000 and jt was solid so first thing i did was take everything off and sprayed the life out of it with lanoguard
It should keep it from rotting like a apple
Nice job by the way great little car IMHO and the endura engine will outlive the bodywork everytime

[jamesfurz]

LOVE IT!!!! I own, what I believe to be the UK's least rusty Ka (A very bold claim!). A 1997 Ka1 owned by our family from new. Heavily modified through the early 2000's with a Fiesta RS turbo engine. I took it off the road in 2010, sent the shell to be restored in 2014 as I was not able to do the extensive body work required (very similar to yours). 5k+ of welding and paint it now sits, fully nut and bolt rebuilt in the garage where it has been untouched for at least 5 years... It needs a day or twos work and sent off for an MOT but I never find the inspiration. Maybe 2023 will be the year!!!!

[dylanmajoos]

Well done on saving a classic! As a non-UK viewer. I am always amazed at how severe your cars' rust! I would have had a heart attack if I was working on that!

[SJR]

Wow, what a labour of love, it just shows that these were built for a price and no consideration to longevity….i admire your persistence, If it wasn’t a passion project it wouldn’t be economically viable which is such a shame for an early Ka! ❤

[chrissy]

I bought one yesterday...just love it 1 owner from new 35k on clock full ford trim 2007.

[deanprosser]

Very nice work Mark, scary where the hidden rust appears.

[MP-pofj]

Must be great to see new solid panels go back on the old girl.
Definitely saved that we car

[markussteinmann]

I own 2 Ford Ka Collection's. I just love them. The one has 380 000 km on the clock. I live in South Africa so luckily cars don't rust easily here .

[Stratixss]

Lovely to see how you've been able to track down the car via google street view and that you invest all the effort to preserve it now!

[bigsquatchsasfoot]

Blimey you must love that car 😂 super job though well done for saving it to . I just bought a tired old streetka it’s ugly but not rusty unbelievable as that may seem but the lacquers falling of it ! I do love it though it’s got so much character and it’s a bit different so I’m gonna paint it and keep it 👍

[justaskingstoke]

nice mk1 love these well done on the saveing of it

[paulpobsanderson]

I really enjoyed that. My dads partner has a S reg Ka from new with 14k miles on it. Always garaged, in Maroon.

[axsrka]

I love it, I have 2 one streetka and a rusty old not loved ford ka He has a lot of Rost Both sills, both inner wheel arches, underbody and I don't give up on him he had some motor problems to like head gasket but already fixed it

[davidyates]

Nice work Mark. We love a Ka too, we've had three of them. They're a really cool design and all Ford has done since the original shape is to make it more bland! It looks like this one is going to give you lots of practice making patch repairs!

[GathersNoMoss]

Will there ever be a part 2? I know it's a marmite design for many people, but I think the Ford Ka is one of the best cars that Ford will ever make. I remember seeing a a dark green model on display in Woking, in the Peacocks shopping centre. There was nothing else like it in 1996!

[enescelik]

Do you have a video for removing the front fender

[briansaiditsoitmustbetrue]

These ALWAYS rust around the fuel filler ...
I have had many "Somehow MOTed" cars before in the past.
They tend to cost a bit more money for the test, however. Cough Cough.
You can still buy Ford Ka's 1996-2008 fairly cheaply Mark. I have just had a quick look on eBay. They are still fairly cheap to buy.
Getting the central locking fixed on Thursday on my 1993-1999 Generation Celica ... Going to risk it for a biscuit on the cam-belt /water pump until I get my next/next pay. May 2022.
The key is to keep on top of the repairs and maintenance on a car.
I always say..Look after your car and it will look after you.
They can get very frustrating when expensive things go wrong with them.
My Celica has done 208K miles on the original engine/gearbox...The original clutch went 4 years ago.
Can I ask you a question, please?
How will I know for sure if the car garage has definitely changed the cam-belt when I book it in for a new belt?
The car has a cambelt cover over the belt and there is no way I can see if the belt has been changed... It is 4.5 hours of labor...The best price I can find is around £230

[aamer]

Does anyone know of a way lace they would restore these

[boyracer]

Had 2008 red one as a first car in 2016 people wondered how I fit in it being 6”3 had no guts to it always sounded like she was going to blow up at 70 had to knock it down a few gears just to get up a hill 😂 but done me for the first 3 years still see her around too

[robertholden]

I wouldn't waste my time on a ford their rustboxes and this KA was the worst of the lot ford don't galvanise their cars thats why they rust so badly.