Page 107 - Fast Car (March 2020)

FORD ESCORT MK2

“ Trimmed in brown

Alcantara and leather, the
eff ect is stunning
”

ABOVE: RS-inspired interior is arguably the car’s crowning glory, with Ashley’s insistence on clean and
rear trim panels and dash top, and along with the
simple take to the extreme – like the ‘straight’ steering column
additional carbon i bre trim panels, the i nished effect is
truly stunning.
Not being a fan of the “ugly” Mk2 steering column
shroud and wiper/indicator stalks, Ashley decided to
take them out of the equation entirely, settling for a
simple hot rod steering column instead. “Then I noticed
that the standard column was offset to the right slightly,
and I didn’t want that, I wanted the column to be
absolutely straight. So we had to come up with a series
of UJs to make it all work.”
And all that switchgear? It now lives in a special
panel in-between the seats and linked to the DTA
digital dash. Ashley admits it was all a nightmare to
wire up and make work with the original Ford loom.
You’ll notice there’s no handbrake lever as well. Ashley
doesn’t like them. Luckily, HiSpec produce a rear calliper
with a built-in electronic handbrake – one of the easier
of Ashley’s requirements to resolve.

PERFEKT PAINT

Finally though, the car was ready to be stripped down
to a shell again and taken over to Oakcroft Garage
for prep and paintwork. And you won’t be surprised

Defining car culture 105