102 September 2019
On the outside, the Ghia was
differentiated from its poverty-spec
brethren by such additions as
chrome front and rear bumpers
with overriders, chrome side trim
and grille surround, tinted glass,
Sports road wheels with bright rim
embellishers, Ghia badging and a
vinyl roof. Inside there were such
goodies as cut-pile carpet, a dash
with real wood fascia, rev counter,
door panels trimmed in the same
material as the Cortina 2000E, full
reclining front seat backs, quartz
clock and remote control driver’s
door mirror.
Customers could choose from
two- and four-door saloon body
styles, with power being provided
by the familiar 1298cc Kent engine
or the new, enlarged 1598cc
engine. Fuelled by a 32/36 DGV
Weber twin-choke carburettor, theith Ghia versions of the
Capri and the Granada
already doing the
business in showrooms, Ford
ensured the availability of the
luxurious level of trim would be a
highlight of the January 1975
launch of its Mk2 Escort.
True to the Ghia’s upmarket
aspirations, customers would fi nd
there was nothing cheap about the
fl agship version. A host of extras
worked to give it a refi ned,
lavishly-equipped feel, while the
cost of opting for such heady
luxury pushed the price of the
Escort beyond £2000.
The price was too much for
many motorists, but those who
dug deep were reminded that
they’d made the right decision
every time they clapped eyes on the
Ghia or got behind the wheel.1600cc motor produced 84 bhp
— enough to push the Ghia from
0-60 mph in 13.5 seconds. To
counteract the increased harshness
created by the engine’s longer
stroke, 1600cc-engined versions
also received a two-piece propshaft.
With the larger Crossfl ow
under the bonnet, the Ghia
proved particularly attractive and,
despite its lofty price tag, the
fl agship version gained a
respectable slice of Mk2 sales.
Nearly 40 years after the last
example rolled off the production
line and it’s still a popular choice
with Escort buyers, being a
decent, well-equipped looker
that’s signifi cantly cheaper than
the Mexico or RS2000. Granted,
it’s not as desirable as the sportier
versions, but it’s a Ghia that’s
well worth moving up to.W
Withextrasaplenty,theluxuryversionoftheMk2
makesfora lavishbuy.Here’swhattolookoutfor.
SeanMcRoberts
After taking his 1980 Escort
Ghia off the road last year, there
was only one way that Sean
could still get his classic Ford fi x
— simply buy another. He
found this July 1979-registered,
75,000-mile example in the Isle
of Man and although it meant
placing a lot of trust in the
vendor’s description and two
days of travelling, the four-door
1.6-litre Ghia was well worth the
effort. So good was it that all it’s
needed is a bit of paint
(performed by friend Ross at
Car Remarket, Larkfi eld) and
new badges to look near factory
fresh. Dave at Dave Barnett
Motors in Maidstone also
helped Sean to elevate the
Escort to an even higher level
with a refreshed cylinder head.
“I’ve always wanted a Mk2
Escort and I really like how
refi ned and usable the Ghia is,”
says Sean, who often uses the
Escort for family outings. “I was
going to sell it when I fi nish my
other one, but it’s that nice and
original that I can’t let it go.”Words Christian Tilbury Photos Matt RichardsonESCORT MK2 GHIA
BUYER’S GUIDE