Two years ago we used the phrase “Old Fords don’t die, they just get faster”. Looking at the dimensions of some of the Escorts at Ford Fair this year it might be more apt to replace faster with fatter. X-Pack, bubble, forest or tarmac, there are many ways to make your ‘scort wider. Such an increase requires wider wheels and many of these old cars sport new wheels, wrapped in the latest grippy rubber. 40 years of tyre technology to help the rear end stay stuck, and 40 years of engine technology to ensure enough ponies to make sure it’s as tail happy as ever.

To my eyes, the Mk1, especially in bubble arch form, is the most visually perfect of the first two generation of Escort, although my pick of this bunch is the Nitron liveried white Mk2. More on that in a later gallery.

It’s not all Escorts though with the odd Mk1 Transit, GT40 replica and a white Cortina complete with (I presume) the owner sat on a folding chair catching some rays. Ignoring the background the pair of them could be transposed straight onto Southend seafront circa 1982.