I have owned 12 brand new cars in my life time (being 70 now). I bought, in South Africa, a new Ford Escort 1600 GL Auto in 1976 and held on to it until 1996 because me and the wife just loved it from the day we bought it. Never had a moment's trouble with it over just more than 200 000 km. One or two notes: in South Africa our cars are right-hand drive, my Escort had small centre hub caps painted white like the car and the small front door windows were fixed. Thinking back, the Escort was one of the best, if not the best, car I've ever owned. Thank you, I really enjoyed this video.
Lovely car, thats a great find. In 1980 I bought a four year old Datsun 120y and by 1986 it was a rust bucket, should have got one of these instead. Hello from Ireland.
Beautiful little car, very lucky to find such a gem. You think it was a 1600 Gl having the 32/36 weber, 4 branch, and servo assisted brakes. Be lovely driving around France 🇫🇷
Nice find! My first car was a 1979 mk2 Escort 11 popular plus, two door. I had the bumpers and centre console from a GL on mine and the little black rubber spoiler on the boot. I loved that car. 🙂
@@johncrichton4341 Nice. Mine was Rosso red, though it looked pink when I first got it. A bit of T-cut, Turtle wax and elbow grease soon got it back to it's original colour. 😄
What a little beauty, i can't believe that a car that's just nine years younger than me is in such good condition, it looks like with a good clean and a polish it will look like its practically new, there's no way that I'd sell it, I'd keep it a garage and use it at the weekends. Great video, love your channel. 👌
OMG she's amazing! Wonderful color! She was the family car when I was born and raised (ours was blue). Years ago I found a similar one (except for the color: bronze/gold) and I bought her. Now she's waiting for her turn to rise from the garage!😍
My first car was a mk 2 escot 1.3gl r. reg the same colour roman bronze metallic. Still remember it was like yesterday a great car. Nice to see yours in such great condition.
Absolutely loved that video , the car was a fantastic find . Early spec GL although I’ve never seen a GL on those wheels . Would love to see an update video with the car all cleaned and running totally perfectly with new rad etc . Thank you for sharing
Thanks for the nice comment. Seems the euro specs were quite different to the UK ones indeed. I've cleaned and polished it so another video due when the weather improves enough..
Wow, not only does it have the Twin choke weber, it also has a four branch manifold. Very strange seeing that on an 1100 as it all looks original (I know it's probably not). On the inside, full length door cards too! Great buy!
I remember a rival brand of radiator additive that had all those pellets in it from the early 80's, I thought ethylene glycol ( green ) was far superior, those four stud wheels look so dated today, great video 📹 a real survivor😊
I saw⚽️ big Steph the other day from " I drive a classic" , with a Proton barnfind, shed biught , which hadn't been started for 10 yrs and it flicked on the button ...sounded sweet as nut .. unbelievable?!
people love to give ford a hard time, but here in the states you still see a model T putting around at car shows. I have always been a Ford guy and finding out Ford had such a successful European history has been fascinating.
Sounds and looks great! Go a bit easier on the revs, though!😎 We had a 2 door blue Escort (RBY 332R) - was shattered when my dad sold it, I was 3 nearly 4 at the time!
I was cringing when you were trying to start it first time !. These engines needed plenty of choke even in a warm climate, so without that you would crank it over into oblivion and it’s difficult to start. I rebuilt one of these engines for a kit car - yes I’m afraid it was many years ago and I broke up two MK2 escorts at the time due to their scrap value. The engines are simple enough, timing chain driven, which can go sloppy after about 80,000 miles. The later engines had a carburettor bypass for emissions purposes and any leak in that will make idling the engine difficult. The electric valve that manages the bypass is deactivated when ignition off. Very good luck with your find, it looks a very good example. The Webber carb you have was the better one rather than the cheap Ford equivalent.
I bought a brand new 1.3GL in Oyster Gold on a T plate in 1978. It was a good car, but used to run on for a pastime, sometimes you had to stall it to stop it. Went back to the dealer several times, but eventually they fitted it with an anti dieseling solenoid. Problem was when you switched it off and the solenoid opened, it sounded like lorry air brakes. Only had it for a year and then bought a mk 5 Cortina 1.6 LS in December 1979.
There should be 3 letters on the block on exhaust manifold side towards rear BA was Deffinatley 1.6 and AA AAA OR AB was 1.1 or 1.3 The first mk2 I had was 1.1 which didn't have servo assisted brakes and only drum on the front. Soon uprated those after fitting the 1.6 Kent engine. Lovely car you have there, I'd like it myself 😉
We used to have thousands of Mk2 Escorts in Roman Bronze in my native New Zealand in RHD form, so Brittany is a LHD territory like the Benelux nations ? Splendid example, yes Marcus Hayes would like to catch wind of it, loved your video 📹 looks like the Halogen AC light in the background detracted us viewers, take care, thanks. 😊
I didn't know Europe got a better spec than us in the UK.... I had many 1.1 Escorts back in the day, no servos, drum brakes, small carbs, 3 branch exhaust manifold.... did you ever find out the CC on this one? seemed to have plenty of pull in your test drive for a 1100.
bit odd, 1.1 with a servo, gt exhaust, and a twin choke carb, I had a 1300 GL auto, but didn't have any of those things. 1978. 1100 was not fitted with a rev counter, but the 1300 GL was. as was all 1600 GL and GT. Sport, Mexico. i reckon it's a 1.1 car with a 1600 engine change and some extras. ie servo.
Just get No1 TDC and both valves closed loosen the dizzy and stick a skin between the points turn the dizzy until the skin lets go knock it back a bit good for six months - you cant break these engines, Posh motor with the four branch manifold - they were cast from factory - stay safe
Damn watching this video immediately made me searched in marketplace any ford escort for sale in Malaysia and there was none! Sad coz at one time in the 70's and early 80's there were abudance of Escorts Mk1 and Mk2 on the road here. It was available in 1.1 similar to this car here, 1.3 and 1.6 Ghia. Plus at one time there was 2 doors version. Unfortunately in early 80's Ford Malaysia decided to sell rebadged Mazda 323 as Ford Laser. This car to me is really in pristine condition. One of our family friends bought one and he let me drove it and as a 10 yo boy I was grinning 😁😁😁
Being French spec, the GL was available in 1.1, which wasn’t in the UK. To all that have said the engine is not original, it is, so don’t compare it to UK spec. French /Italian /Greek spec had the twin choke Weber, manifold and brake servo as standard. The wheels are correct for a European spec GL, also has the opening quarter lights.
how lovely, nice to hear it running too... where abouts in Brittany are you from? my family are from Roscoff, a small island just off called I'le De Batz
Don't think in the UK we got the 1100 in GL I know we did in 1300 as my mum had a V reg 1.3GL which was followed by a Y reg MK3 1.6 Ghia then a D reg XR2 followed by a G reg XR3i that was her last ford .
European spec escorts were different to uk.. that is a 1.1 GT engine as fitted to many a euro spec escort.. car was likely to have been built in Germany (saarlouis plant). Being a GT engine, hence the brake booster(servo) again, uk 1.1 cars didn't have this, the 4 branch manifold and the twin choke 32/36 dgas carb. The uk also never got the GL in 1.1.. only from 1.3 upwards.. It was quite annoying sometimes, that mainland Europe often got better models of fords than the uk.. especially when it came to the sportier models.. Very nice find though.
@@JazzFunkNobby1964 Erm.. we left the EU.. Mate.. Also, vehicles from the same manufacturer do differ from those built for or in different countries.. Do some research.. it might make things clearer for you.
That's a great find....but a very odd spec, the UK spec escorts (I know that's not a UK spec car) never had an 1100 GL, they were either 1.3 or 1.6, judging by the twin choke weber and the 4 branch manifold.....and the way that the car accelerated on the test drive, I'd be inclined to say that it's a 1.6 Kent engine, an 1100 valencia engine would never accelerate like that, plus Ford never fitted a twin choke weber or a 4 branch manifold to the 1100 engine from the factory, great video and car 👍
Hi, apparently the twin choke and exhaust was a France and Italy only option. Pretty sure it is 1100 looking at the block height. I think the good acceleration is thanks to low gearing on the axle ....
@@alaboutcars7426 Easiest way to verify the cc is to write down the vin plate number and get in touch with a good Ford club on the internet, they could tell you straight away, the block would be the same for the 1100, 1300 1600 only difference would be the cylinder bore and crankshaft stroke.
It’s a standard car for Europe. That’s a 1.1GT engine which was not available in the UK. the Weber and the manifold and brake servo were standard equipment in Europe. This spec was for France/Italy/Greece.
Was there a 1100 gl most were popular or popular plus with L being the highest trim option sold in 1100 form in the UK but noticed not UK car never seen an 1100 with four branch manifold and weber carb
gt manifold, twin choke weber, could be 1300cc not often found on a 1100cc could even be 1600cc u can tell by the block height, top of the water pump to the bottom of the thermostat housing if you can get 3 fingers in that gap its 1600 if only a tight 2 fingers it's 1300, not sure how u can tell 1300 from 1100.
Owned two Mark2 escorts my first was a blue 1300 popular four door which my first. car age 17 in 1992 reg number TUY 85R followed by a red with black vynil in 1994 1600 sport two door reg was NKX 800V both long gone as disappeared off database
nice vid...cut my teeth on 70's cars, but watching this some things dont add up...firstly to set the points you need to put it on the cam so the points should then be in an open position...and 20 thou will be there abouts, and the carb pic is showing a twin choke.....never fitted on a 1.1 ,
dump the carb for a correct one and it will most likely run sweet as a nut it wasnt a powerfull engine new so why threy put that on it god only knows i had several versions inc 1.6 with burton cam and tuned weber carb used to eat points go out of time regular
It's a lovely original thing. Please don't sell it to someone who'll turn it into a hotrod, and stick a stupid non original engine in it? Or worse a 'drift car'!
My mum had a beige one of these back in the day and weirdly I can remember the registration number.. ( EDX83Y) I can remember my dad spending many hours under the bonnet of it 🤣there was always something that needed attention...
I have owned 12 brand new cars in my life time (being 70 now). I bought, in South Africa, a new Ford Escort 1600 GL Auto in 1976 and held on to it until 1996 because me and the wife just loved it from the day we bought it. Never had a moment's trouble with it over just more than 200 000 km. One or two notes: in South Africa our cars are right-hand drive, my Escort had small centre hub caps painted white like the car and the small front door windows were fixed. Thinking back, the Escort was one of the best, if not the best, car I've ever owned. Thank you, I really enjoyed this video.
What a nice find ! I passed my test in one of these in 1978 !
I m 56 and never been under a hood.
This video has really helped 👍👍
Lovely car, thats a great find. In 1980 I bought a four year old Datsun 120y and by 1986 it was a rust bucket, should have got one of these instead. Hello from Ireland.
Beautiful little car, very lucky to find such a gem. You think it was a 1600 Gl having the 32/36 weber, 4 branch, and servo assisted brakes.
Be lovely driving around France 🇫🇷
Nice find! My first car was a 1979 mk2 Escort 11 popular plus, two door. I had the bumpers and centre console from a GL on mine and the little black rubber spoiler on the boot. I loved that car. 🙂
Mine was an orange 74 1.6 Ghia - with that same twin choke weber which was great! Loved that car.....
@@johncrichton4341 Nice. Mine was Rosso red, though it looked pink when I first got it. A bit of T-cut, Turtle wax and elbow grease soon got it back to it's original colour. 😄
Mine was a '78 1.3L which I put a 1.6ltr engine into with high lift cam, Spax adjustable shocks on the back. RS alloys.
This one is a nice spec well done will be nice car again
What a little beauty, i can't believe that a car that's just nine years younger than me is in such good condition, it looks like with a good clean and a polish it will look like its practically new, there's no way that I'd sell it, I'd keep it a garage and use it at the weekends.
Great video, love your channel. 👌
Well done, great result. Thank you for sharing.
OMG she's amazing! Wonderful color! She was the family car when I was born and raised (ours was blue). Years ago I found a similar one (except for the color: bronze/gold) and I bought her. Now she's waiting for her turn to rise from the garage!😍
My first car was a mk 2 escot 1.3gl r. reg the same colour roman bronze metallic.
Still remember it was like yesterday a great car.
Nice to see yours in such great condition.
Yes, not enough brown cars these days!
Absolutely loved that video , the car was a fantastic find . Early spec GL although I’ve never seen a GL on those wheels . Would love to see an update video with the car all cleaned and running totally perfectly with new rad etc . Thank you for sharing
Thanks for the nice comment. Seems the euro specs were quite different to the UK ones indeed. I've cleaned and polished it so another video due when the weather improves enough..
@@alaboutcars7426 can’t wait to see it . What’s your plan for it ? Are you keeping it , modifying it or freshening it for resale ?
@@declanmurray8173 originally I planned to keep for a while but as it needs so little work I'll probably sell..
@@alaboutcars7426 someone is going to get an absolute blank canvas gem
Wow, not only does it have the Twin choke weber, it also has a four branch manifold. Very strange seeing that on an 1100 as it all looks original (I know it's probably not).
On the inside, full length door cards too! Great buy!
Hi, it's original, that configuration only being available for french and Italian markets...
This really put a smile on my face. I thank you. Need to see more of this. Loads more.
well done finding that wee gem, I dont recon theres any left in Scotland, Rusted away years ago or were raced
Marcus Hayes would love this old ford fantastic condition.
I remember a rival brand of radiator additive that had all those pellets in it from the early 80's, I thought ethylene glycol ( green ) was far superior, those four stud wheels look so dated today, great video 📹 a real survivor😊
what a result,passed my test in 1980 in a beige one,great little cars!Sadly, i think a gallon of radweld will be of no use to that radiator!
Looks like Roman Bronze, my dad had a Mk1 Fiesta in that colour.
Yes it is…I had a 2.3 ghia cortina in Roman Bronze
Absolutely incredible, what a find
Hello. Lovely car that seems to be well specified for a 1100. Would love to see an update on the car 👍
I saw⚽️ big Steph the other day from " I drive a classic" , with a Proton barnfind, shed biught , which hadn't been started for 10 yrs and it flicked on the button ...sounded sweet as nut .. unbelievable?!
people love to give ford a hard time, but here in the states you still see a model T putting around at car shows. I have always been a Ford guy and finding out Ford had such a successful European history has been fascinating.
I had a 1979 1.3 L in NZ. Copper bronze in colour. It was a great car.
These were very handsome cars, especially the L and GL models..
215 subs watch this rise with the quality you have produced. Simple and calm
WOW what a find , great car I think the colour was bronze, but not sure. Very interesting great video
Sounds and looks great! Go a bit easier on the revs, though!😎 We had a 2 door blue Escort (RBY 332R) - was shattered when my dad sold it, I was 3 nearly 4 at the time!
Looks to me like a 1.3 -16 Cross flow engine give it some choke that will start it sounds very strong 💪
The colour of your Escort is Roman Bronze my mate....
Not only is it spotless it is an early car too. And a GL! That is very cool.
I learnt to drive in one. My next door neighbour had a Cortina Ghia in the same colour paint and seats.
I was cringing when you were trying to start it first time !. These engines needed plenty of choke even in a warm climate, so without that you would crank it over into oblivion and it’s difficult to start. I rebuilt one of these engines for a kit car - yes I’m afraid it was many years ago and I broke up two MK2 escorts at the time due to their scrap value. The engines are simple enough, timing chain driven, which can go sloppy after about 80,000 miles. The later engines had a carburettor bypass for emissions purposes and any leak in that will make idling the engine difficult. The electric valve that manages the bypass is deactivated when ignition off. Very good luck with your find, it looks a very good example. The Webber carb you have was the better one rather than the cheap Ford equivalent.
I bought a brand new 1.3GL in Oyster Gold on a T plate in 1978. It was a good car, but used to run on for a pastime, sometimes you had to stall it to stop it. Went back to the dealer several times, but eventually they fitted it with an anti dieseling solenoid. Problem was when you switched it off and the solenoid opened, it sounded like lorry air brakes. Only had it for a year and then bought a mk 5 Cortina 1.6 LS in December 1979.
There should be 3 letters on the block on exhaust manifold side towards rear BA was Deffinatley 1.6 and AA AAA OR AB was 1.1 or 1.3 The first mk2 I had was 1.1 which didn't have servo assisted brakes and only drum on the front. Soon uprated those after fitting the 1.6 Kent engine. Lovely car you have there, I'd like it myself 😉
This is the first time I see this beautiful car on UA-cam
Excellent find
Nice car you have more jam than Hartleys 👍thanks for sharing.
It's now living happily in ireland
Thanks again to alex and glen for there help
Very nice and awesome car indeed.
We used to have thousands of Mk2 Escorts in Roman Bronze in my native New Zealand in RHD form, so Brittany is a LHD territory like the Benelux nations ?
Splendid example, yes Marcus Hayes would like to catch wind of it, loved your video 📹 looks like the Halogen AC light in the background detracted us viewers, take care, thanks. 😊
I didn't know Europe got a better spec than us in the UK.... I had many 1.1 Escorts back in the day, no servos, drum brakes, small carbs, 3 branch exhaust manifold....
did you ever find out the CC on this one? seemed to have plenty of pull in your test drive for a 1100.
bit odd, 1.1 with a servo, gt exhaust, and a twin choke carb, I had a 1300 GL auto, but didn't have any of those things. 1978. 1100 was not fitted with a rev counter, but the 1300 GL was. as was all 1600 GL and GT. Sport, Mexico. i reckon it's a 1.1 car with a 1600 engine change and some extras. ie servo.
Just get No1 TDC and both valves closed loosen the dizzy and stick a skin between the points turn the dizzy until the skin lets go knock it back a bit good for six months - you cant break these engines, Posh motor with the four branch manifold - they were cast from factory - stay safe
Nice find 👌
Damn watching this video immediately made me searched in marketplace any ford escort for sale in Malaysia and there was none! Sad coz at one time in the 70's and early 80's there were abudance of Escorts Mk1 and Mk2 on the road here. It was available in 1.1 similar to this car here, 1.3 and 1.6 Ghia. Plus at one time there was 2 doors version. Unfortunately in early 80's Ford Malaysia decided to sell rebadged Mazda 323 as Ford Laser. This car to me is really in pristine condition. One of our family friends bought one and he let me drove it and as a 10 yo boy I was grinning 😁😁😁
Good memories!
Being French spec, the GL was available in 1.1, which wasn’t in the UK. To all that have said the engine is not original, it is, so don’t compare it to UK spec.
French /Italian /Greek spec had the twin choke Weber, manifold and brake servo as standard. The wheels are correct for a European spec GL, also has the opening quarter lights.
@@Another-U-Tube-User I had a ‘79 MK2 Ghia, UK spec but German manufactured that had the wood trim on the doors
how lovely, nice to hear it running too... where abouts in Brittany are you from? my family are from Roscoff, a small island just off called I'le De Batz
Could be an 1.3 GT with the carb and exhaust header setup or an 1.6 ❤
Don't think in the UK we got the 1100 in GL I know we did in 1300 as my mum had a V reg 1.3GL which was followed by a Y reg MK3 1.6 Ghia then a D reg XR2 followed by a G reg XR3i that was her last ford .
European spec escorts were different to uk.. that is a 1.1 GT engine as fitted to many a euro spec escort.. car was likely to have been built in Germany (saarlouis plant).
Being a GT engine, hence the brake booster(servo) again, uk 1.1 cars didn't have this, the 4 branch manifold and the twin choke 32/36 dgas carb. The uk also never got the GL in 1.1.. only from 1.3 upwards.. It was quite annoying sometimes, that mainland Europe often got better models of fords than the uk.. especially when it came to the sportier models.. Very nice find though.
You are spot on right down to it having been built in Saarlouis.
UK is in Europe mate.
@@JazzFunkNobby1964 Erm.. we left the EU.. Mate.. Also, vehicles from the same manufacturer do differ from those built for or in different countries.. Do some research.. it might make things clearer for you.
@@artfulbodger78 Erm... yes we left the EU mate but the UK is still in Europe duh.
I had the 1600 sport in the exact same colour which was Roman Bronze metallic if I remember correctly
That's a great find....but a very odd spec, the UK spec escorts (I know that's not a UK spec car) never had an 1100 GL, they were either 1.3 or 1.6, judging by the twin choke weber and the 4 branch manifold.....and the way that the car accelerated on the test drive, I'd be inclined to say that it's a 1.6 Kent engine, an 1100 valencia engine would never accelerate like that, plus Ford never fitted a twin choke weber or a 4 branch manifold to the 1100 engine from the factory, great video and car 👍
Hi, apparently the twin choke and exhaust was a France and Italy only option. Pretty sure it is 1100 looking at the block height. I think the good acceleration is thanks to low gearing on the axle ....
Yes Paul i was thinking the same thing about the carb and manifold, l thought the 1100 was fitted with a single choke motorcraft carb.
@@alaboutcars7426 Easiest way to verify the cc is to write down the vin plate number and get in touch with a good Ford club on the internet, they could tell you straight away, the block would be the same for the 1100, 1300 1600 only difference would be the cylinder bore and crankshaft stroke.
Not a 1600 - they had about 1" of block between the top of the water pump and the underside of the cylinder head
It’s a standard car for Europe. That’s a 1.1GT engine which was not available in the UK.
the Weber and the manifold and brake servo were standard equipment in Europe. This spec was for France/Italy/Greece.
Was there a 1100 gl most were popular or popular plus with L being the highest trim option sold in 1100 form in the UK but noticed not UK car never seen an 1100 with four branch manifold and weber carb
Hello, the 1.1 with weber and four branch was an italy and france only option.
gt manifold, twin choke weber, could be 1300cc not often found on a 1100cc could even be 1600cc u can tell by the block height, top of the water pump to the bottom of the thermostat housing if you can get 3 fingers in that gap its 1600 if only a tight 2 fingers it's 1300, not sure how u can tell 1300 from 1100.
Think it's actually 1300 got square lights but then having said that all the gl ones did
Nice find mate but painful to watch you struggle to start without putting the choke on !
Hmmm, it was lacking compression more than fuel, but maybe more choke would have helped.... Or flooded it, we'll never know
How much did you pay for it ? Must have been at least £9000
it's quick, I think it's 1600, 1100 didn't go that well, or its a very good 1300?
Pretty sure it's an 1100, it seems quick but the diff gearing is very short
Owned two Mark2 escorts my first was a blue 1300 popular four door which my first. car age 17 in 1992 reg number TUY 85R followed by a red with black vynil in 1994 1600 sport two door reg was NKX 800V both long gone as disappeared off database
Does the block stamp say 711m6015AA or 711m6015BA??
That does not sound like the original MK2 starter. It must have been changed at some point in the car's life.
Could be, also sounds off because of low compression
Strange it's not gl wheels on it or are they think Ford changed to the what they called the sports road wheel in about 1978
and the dwell angle ?
Good car🇫🇮
would it be run ok on the new fuel like E10
I think all petrol has at least 5% ethanol in France now. It's not caused me any real issues yet.
You’d hear a roar and my rs2000 79 go past
Difficult one, sell or keep.
Next step Goodwood festival🙂
Put more feul in the carb
Classic
The fact it has a servo and twin Webber four branch manifold don't think it's a 1.1
It’s a 1.1 GT engine fitted in Europe, all the parts are standard.
Who ever bought it new had it spec Ed3
nice vid...cut my teeth on 70's cars, but watching this some things dont add up...firstly to set the points you need to put it on the cam so the points should then be in an open position...and 20 thou will be there abouts, and the carb pic is showing a twin choke.....never fitted on a 1.1 ,
Hello how much did you pay gor this Ford?
yes it would be good to understand
Definitely not a standard exhaust manifold along with the webers
Definitely a 1.1GT engine which was not available in the UK. All the parts are standard
Aero start
The colour is Roman bronze
20k car that done right
Could be a death trap if it's not been driven since the mid 90s . Car surely needs recommissioning.
Of course, the aim of this video was just to make it run and drive a short distance in order to see what works and what doesn't
looks like it has 1.3 or 1.6 sport engine in it
no need to put the choke on and give it trottle
First thing to do is get rid of the gutless 1600 Kent engine and bang in a warm pinto
dump the carb for a correct one and it will most likely run sweet as a nut it wasnt a powerfull engine new so why threy put that on it god only knows i had several versions inc 1.6 with burton cam and tuned weber carb used to eat points go out of time regular
The engine is a 1.1GT which was not available in the UK, all the parts are standard
How can you check for spark rite under carburettor how silly of you
It's a lovely original thing. Please don't sell it to someone who'll turn it into a hotrod, and stick a stupid non original engine in it? Or worse a 'drift car'!
I agree, I'd like it to stay original
Seriously rare find that. Looks solid too. Probably enjoyed a warmer climate in it's day than the salty cold/wet UK
It's absolutely mint underneath, no rust at all
Our MK2 was more plastic padding than steel by the time we got shot of it.
My mum had a beige one of these back in the day and weirdly I can remember the registration number.. ( EDX83Y) I can remember my dad spending many hours under the bonnet of it 🤣there was always something that needed attention...
TAKE THE RADIATOR OFF, clean it, see condition than change it if necessary, and then change thermostat for the new one ,big mechanic!
The only motor you could get in those was a 1300 1600 in OZ n of course the 2L Pinto crap motor that ate cam lobes.