The forgotten Ford Tickford conversion

[Neil]

In 1989, the Escort and Orion were coming to the end of their production run, and Ford wanted to send them off in style, as well as introduce a new halo model. Taking its inspiration from the Cortina Mk2 16ooE, and intended to sit in the range above the 1.6i Ghia, Ford turned to Tickford to build a limited run of specials.
The Ford Orion 1600E started out as a 1.6i Ghia built at Halewood, and from there they were shipped in batches to the Tickford site in Bedworth for their interior transformation. The Orion was originally available in only two colours Raven, a blue-black metallic and Mercury Grey. Later a small number became available in Diamond White.
Every car was trimmed in soft Shadow Grey leather, and came with front sports seats specially developed for the model from those fitted to the Escort XR3i. The standard Granada Scorpio steering wheel was treated to a leather rim, and the gear lever knob and gaiter were also leather.

More here

http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/cars/ford/escort/tickfords-ford-orion-1600e/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You learn something every day...

 

[quest63]

I remember these I didn't realise they were Tickford modified though

 

[PhilLew]

what he said^^^ :grin:

 

[Ian G]

Rumour has it there's a Raven one in my yard :lol:

 

[red]

I learnt to drive in a Diamond White 1.6i Ghia Orion :wub:

I wanted to use it as my first car but the insurance was prohibitive. I liked some of the features from the E model but I preferred the pepper pot style alloys, I also preferred the red inset in the bumpers over the chrome stuff :?

I've always been tempted to get one but I don't think my wife would like it much because the interior is of course now a bit dated.

Below is the same version I learnt in although our one didn't have the rear spoiler, which at the time I did quite fancy adding.

 

[oilburner]

I had a Ghia Injection, G reg and I thought it was great because it had a heated windscreen and the fuel computer in the dash, the old trick was fitting a Sapphire Cosworth rear spoiler

 

[quest63]

Had a mercury grey F reg orion ghia with rs turbo bonnet, late turbo front bumper, rs kit, lowered and boot spoiler
it was satisfactory :grin:

 

[gav.]

i love orions ...should always have been called an escort though ...mk1 escort =saloon-mk2 escort saloon...why all of a sudden make the escort a hatch and then call the saloon version an orion

 

[oilburner]

It was to keep up with its competitors, you only have to look at how many Escorts they sold compared to Orion's and you can see it was a justified decision

 

[slayllian]

Thanks for the info Neil, my first car was an Orion Ghia.....

on the lookout for one as my next project!! :grin:


20 Aug 2003 by Slayllian2, on Flickr