1978 Ford Escort MK2 Van

1978 Ford Escort Mk2 Van – XUX7165

80,000 miles | Fresh 1600 Pinto | Historic Registered | V5 Present

Just imported from South Africa, this rust-free 1978 Ford Escort Mk2 Van is an excellent base for a classic van build — or enjoy it just as it is.

South African imports are highly sought after due to their dry climate history, and this example presents a solid, honest foundation.

🔧 Specification & Highlights:

Freshly installed 1600 Pinto engine

Fully running and driving

Front disc brakes / rear drums

Sport seats fitted

Alloy rims (colour coded to body)

V5 present

No UK owners yet

Registered as Historic

Underside rust-free (not concours, but no repairs or welding required)

Paintwork decent but not perfect

⚠️ Please Note:

This vehicle is being sold as a Part Project. It drives well but would benefit from further upgrades to bring it to its full potential.

Sold as seen.

A Bit of History – Early Ford Escort Vans

The Escort van lineage began with the Ford Escort Mk1 and continued with the much-loved Ford Escort Mk2.

Built primarily as light commercial vehicles, these vans became icons of 1970s Britain — used by tradesmen during the week and modified into street machines at the weekend.

The Mk2 van shared much of its DNA with the passenger Escort:

Rear-wheel drive layout

Simple mechanicals

Lightweight shell

Huge aftermarket support

Because of that, they became hugely popular for:

Pinto engine swaps

RS-style builds

Wide-arch customs

Period-correct street vans

Today, genuine solid examples are getting harder to find — especially rust-free shells. South African imports are particularly desirable for that reason.

Why This One Makes Sense

This isn't a rotten restoration case.
It's a solid, running, driving base with the hard work already started — fresh engine, discs up front, historic status sorted.

Whether you:

Build a subtle retro daily

Go full 70s custom van

Create an RS-style replica

Or just enjoy it as a usable classic

This is a genuinely strong starting point.