Conrod's 1972 Mk1 V8

[conrod]

P.S. the fact that your Focus has HID headlights means it is probably a Titanium, ST or RS. I am a lot like you in spotting those little detail differences between same model cars Here is mine:

Nice Motor
Mine is the earlier (2012) Mk3 Focus TitaniumX estate, and my son has a Titanium saloon. Mine has the all singing Xenon HID + cornering lights + LED DRL's, and his has the standard Halogens, no cornering lights, and bulb DRL's.
When I looked into upgrading his lights, I was told that it wasn't an easy job, wiring was different, BCM 'may' have been different, and the price of the lights at nearly £600 each was a bit of a killer too.
I had to buy another light for mine because one of the DRL's stopped working, and you can't (apparently) replace that light on its own

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Interesting! I think what you have been told about upgrading the lights is correct. I have a 2018 Mondeo ST-Line estate, which has projector halogens (not very good!) and I recently bought a crashed 2018 Mondeo Titanium with the LED headlights with cornering and auto height adjust. I had plans to swap them over, but the Titanium has sensors on the front and rear suspension, for the auto height adjust. The ST-Line doesn't even have that wiring in place! So it looks like a major job to upgrade them.

And yes, those HID lights are really expensive from Ford. The RS above was an insurance writeoff, and Ford NZ wanted $2500 each ( £1250) for the headlights! I found a new pair on Ebay UK for about £300 each from memory, which I bought.

[Neil]

600 for a headlight i was thinking £80 was a bit steep for a pair on the mk 2

[conrod]

I thought it was time for an update. Been a bit busy on other things, so the Mk1 has not had a lot of attention lately. But just cracked into it a week or two ago, and it is nearing completion now. Lots of NOS parts being fitted, which is always fun. A few pics to show the progress.

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[Altransit]

As my son would say, B.E.A utiful

[conrod]

completed last week, and took it to an All Ford Day car show on Sunday

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[MinorMatt]

Looks amazing!

Personal opinion is that the white paint and the chrome wheels don't quite work together, its missing *something* but I can't put my finger on what... But still awesome as it is!

[Luke]

love the springalex too

[Altransit]

Not sure if that's amazingly awesome, or awesomely amazing



Anyway, it's quite nice

[conrod]

Looks amazing!

Personal opinion is that the white paint and the chrome wheels don't quite work together, its missing *something* but I can't put my finger on what... But still awesome as it is!

yep fair point, I was wondering about this myself. Was thinking of maybe doing a two-tone paint job, say green or dark blue from the waistline down, leaving the cream colour on top. And maybe a bit of hand painted signwriting on the side. Something like Transit Geoffs van, what do you reckon?

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8) love the springalex too

thanks, that was a nod to the vans history, as it was service/tow vehicle for a Group 4 Escort for many years.

Not sure if that's amazingly awesome, or awesomely amazing





Anyway, it's quite nice

thank you

[Altransit]

yep fair point, I was wondering about this myself. Was thinking of maybe doing a two-tone paint job, say green or dark blue from the waistline down, leaving the cream colour on top. And maybe a bit of hand painted signwriting on the side. Something like Transit Geoffs van, what do you reckon?

Nope, it would be a crime to cover up that beautiful cream paintwork, and not many vans of the era were two tone as I recall
A bit of hand drawn signwriting might do the job though

Like everything else, it's personal choice, and it is your van after all

[MinorMatt]

Honestly I think it would look better with a dark colour below - but when I see ones like that I always think someone has done a bodge job and couldn't be bothered to paint it properly. A dark stipe on the swage line might do the job without the full 2 tone?

I think some signwriting would definitely help too?

We need a photoshop expert to start playing

(And honestly - you don't need to listen to me )

[oldskooler]

this van has turned out absolutely gorgeous!

really enjoyed seeing it progress on here....

at first glance, id think it would look sweet sitting a bit lower, but thats getting away from the style of the slot wheels i guess....

either way it looks lush....

[conrod]

this van has turned out absolutely gorgeous!

really enjoyed seeing it progress on here....

at first glance, id think it would look sweet sitting a bit lower, but thats getting away from the style of the slot wheels i guess....

either way it looks lush....

thanks Declan, glad you enjoyed it! Yep lowering is the next job, not slammed mind you, but probably 40-50mm lower in the rear, and 20-30mm in the front. I have some Mk2 springs which will do the job, and are a touch softer in the rears, which should improve the bouncy ride.

[buxvan]

Bloody brilliant. I bet you are quite chuffed. & much better engine than my 1.6 pinto !

[Neil]

lovely finish, does look a tad jacked up with the wheels but its your van to do how you like it, maybe period alloys ?? or just standard steels its that line between stock or customised