This 1984 Ford Escort has under 30,000 original miles and has been garaged since almost new, claims the seller. It does look quite nice, far better than most cheap econoboxes from the early 80s tend to look by this point. Of course, that’s if you can even find one on the road, as most went to the scrap heap eons ago. The seller claims it is fully serviced and up to date on maintenance, and that it could either be driven or be parked in a museum – it’s that good. The Escort is equipped with an automatic transmission and located in Westminster, Maryland. Find it here on eBay with bidding to $1,000 and the reserve unmet.
While it seems funny to me to see an Escort with a reserve price yet to be met, I suppose it makes a little more sense in the case of a car that’s in time-warp condition like this one is. The simple fact is cheap cars tend to have the highest attrition rate among vintage vehicles as they were disposable practically from the day they left the showroom. Few people cared enough to keep them in good running condition. Elderly owners were the best caretakers of such specimens, as they at least had the perspective of being appreciative of simply having a running car with good heat and A/C – both of which still work in this example.
The interior is in beautiful shape, with a surprisingly sporty steering wheel and matching red door panels and dashboard all showing minimal signs of wear. The carpets are clean and the seats reveal no tears. The automatic transmission is a buzzkill, but it’s not like an Escort is any more enjoyable with a manual transmission. The seller notes that the next owner will find a treasure trove of spares in the cargo hold, including extra trim panels, fender liners, an upgraded center console with armrest, new seat covers and many other Escort related items. Those are the kinds of parts only a true Escort enthusiast would seek out.
You love seeing details like this on any car, even a survivor-grade Escort. The details here point to a ton of TLC expended upon this lowly commuter car, and while we may not all understand it, this is the beauty of the car hobby: it’s up to us to lavish the vehicle of our choosing with as many new parts and fresh paint as we deem appropriate. Not everyone understands why I rescue vehicles out of junkyards, but I’m glad most readers at least get why I do this. By the same token, I wouldn’t make much of a fuss over an Escort, but I’m thrilled this seller has chosen to keep a nice one alive. As the saying goes, find a better one – and buy it.
This is actually a decent little car and very reliable I’ve had three or four over the years including a brand new 1983 GT. The automatic isn’t so bad and by the way the five Speed is more fun to drive. They made good company cars in the computer business I worked for Especially in wagon form. We took several of them up to 300,000 miles and they were always great in the snow.
I also had an Escort GT. But it was an 85 turbo. Used to smoke rusted year old, Japanese cars all day in that thing. Still be on the road except someone rear ended me with a Bronco and insurance totaled it out. 120 HP doesn’t seem like a lot nowadays, but back then it was like shooting ricers in a barrel.
Drive one of these, and you will realize how far compact cars have come since this was built in `84.
Like going from a pack mule to a lear jet…..
My Mom drive an 85 wagon for 11 years. Same color with beige interior and the steering wheel was different, more like the Tempo steering wheel. The head gasket blew at 60k but that was after many years of solid service. I can’t knock that little car as it was cheap and reliable transportation for a single Mom. I wonder how one of these would do on a highway on ramp now a days since the art of merging has been lost…at least in my neck of the woods (Massachusetts)
My grandfather had one of these in baby blue. The license plate said GRRRRRR
These were the ultimate “throwaway” cars of the 80s. Kind of like the early Falcons reborn.
A few times a year I had to rescue mother in law from a dead one of these. In a parking lot or windy spot the ignition cut off from car motion would trip. I’d have to reset it under the rear wheel well interior plastic cover. The car was traded for a Jetta in 2 years.
Nice car, but what’s with the black discoloring of the grille to the tight of the ford emblem, or am I seeing things? Possible overheat at some point?
If you look closely that is the reflection of the photographer. The grille is not discolored.
Escort enthusiast lol , awesome .
I remember trying to teach myself to drive a stick in an orange manual 2-door version of one of these little bleep boxes that belonged to my friend Denny. All alone. I wasn’t very successful! I couldn’t get it moving and kept stalling it.
@Super
I did the same thing in a tired and beat Toyota Tercel. It was a bad scene lol. There is something about driving a manual, once it clicks you got it.
Yup. It didn’t click for me until a few months later in a Camaro Z28. That poor little Escort. It had a really rough few hours there! I made up for my complete lack of skill with a lot of persistence and aggression.
It clicked for me in a rented Jeep in Aruba. I kept stalling it out with my new wife in the passenger seat. I think it clicked out of sheer embarrassment!
I told it before, I’ll tell it again. In 1983, my boss ordered me a new 1983 Escort LX. I quit.
While its nice to see one that has survived , these cars weren’t that great. I used to manage a salvage yard from 1985 -1988 and cant tell you how many of these cars were coming in. They usually went about 50,000 miles and the heads would always develop cracks between the valves seats , and since it wasn’t a cheap job to replace the head, they junked them – they weren’t even 10 years old ! They came in so often we didn’t even pay people for them and the only calls on them were for heads (which of course we never had ) , and a full size rim because no one liked the donut spare. The 1985 and up Escorts were a lot more durable and a much better car.
Bone, I agree, the 85s on up were much better, unless you had the automatic trans, as they were grenades waiting to explode. I bought a 87 wagon in 93 with 60k miles and a blown trans for $150. Thanks to an abundance of them being in the junk yard, I pulled everything I needed and swapped in a 5 speed, drove it for another 110k miles.
Our new 84 broke the camshaft at 24,100 miles. Had to fight to get warranty to cover it.
This is a rolling dumpster fire.
The Mazda based Escorts of 90-96 were light years better.
Nice looking Escort. I remember were these were first introduced. At the time, I didn’t find them to be very attractive, certainly not next to the Toyota Corolla, or the Subaru of the time. Today, you see very few of these, certainly not in this nice condition.
I worked at a Ford dealer when these were new. Wasn’t really impressed with them or other early 80’s American vehicles. Most of them were blah.
Trucks were cool though. That’s when they still made real trucks.
My ex bought an ’81 Mercury Lynx brand new, a 4-speed 2-door hatchback, and it was a good little car. We kept it for a few years and didn’t put a dime into it while we owned it. It was reliable and great on fuel but at 6′ 2” I found it a little cramped. The 4-speed made it a fun car to drive and the hatchback was a handy feature. While I have no desire to own another, it was a nice little car for what it was.
Our neighbor had a blue 1986 Mercury Lynx. I remember thinking how much more fancy it was than our Escort lol. I’m glad cars have come a long way.
I had a ’84 Lynx Station Wagon w/ a 4 speed. I drove the SH*T outta that thing. Finally piled it up when the head cracked.
Timing belt was changed 8 years ago and only 26.9 miles put on it since then. I wonder why.
My very first new car was a (leased) 1984 Lynx, 5 speed and air. After 4 years it was time to turn it in, it was also developing head trouble. In 1994, I found an Escort wagon on a dealer lot, 1 year old, under 7K miles, air and 5 speed. That was my commuter for the next few years. The car went to 333K (clutch replaced @100K) and was needing the water pump replaced when a deer hit me. The car was driveable, the deer was not. I waited a few months before having it repaired when my insurance company decided to total it.
I had a new 1993 Ford Escort 4 door automatic and was very pleased with it. It was easy to park and handle in the city, fuel efficient and drove on interstates from Ohio to Florida on vacation without a problem. If the car listed for sale is half as good as my Escort was new, then someone is going to get a great daily driver and collectible vehicle.
It wont be, the heads were terrible on these early Escorts ; I wonder if you can still get a new head for one ?
Awful cars. Tons of transmission and head issues, electrical. I recall an automatic wagon was my driving school car. What a Dog. I regularly Floored it.
I had an 86 L with pop up sunroof. Really found it wallowy.
Instead, I sold it (this was High School, 1990) and took my Dad’s 79 Accord. It was much more enjoyable to Drive.
Shocked so many had an early Turbo! Rare. I knew a guy that worked at Ford in the bay area around 1983. He had a red EXP Turbo.
My mom had an 87 EXP Sport Coupe in white. It was fun enough with manual. Handled pretty well. She bought it low mileage in 90. I was Sad it got Repossessed due to financial issues she had.
Then came an $800 orange and primer 72 Bug.
Interesting story. Hope the financial situation took an upturn for your mom.