As an observation: the coupe ECU - at least the 16v version - is simple enough to replicate if required. There's nothing exotic in it and I believe all the chips are still available. And of course the open ECUs like Megasquirt can be used, though they're unlikely to meet the emissions regs.

I'm not concerned with the actual electronics failing; there are plenty of examples of such stuff, if properly designed, lasting forty years and more. More of a concern is bit rot in the ECU proms... soluble by blowing a new eprom, of course.

Further to my earlier comments regarding classics being what men wanted when they were teenagers, it would appear that cars like the TRs, MGs etc are less sought after, as the new generation of middle aged men look at 80s motors. I stil think the lack of coupes in motorsport in it's heyday means it will never be a true collectors car.

I do know what you mean about motorsport adding kudos, such as the Lancia delta, however there are many cars that have no history but are classics, I realy believe it will fall to the owners of the coupe today to show they are worth investing in, not just money but time and love, we need to move the coupe away from the type of person looking for a £500 fast car, and to the more mature owner looking for a bit of class.

I am certainly a more mature owner currently looking for a bit of class (unsuccessfully so far).

Seriously, spot on with that post. My 3 Coupes probably stand me in at about £15K and I only bought my first one 2 years ago . I just love going out in the morning and thinking Moon, Scottie or Sprinty (depending on which of the three is running ).

Here here! (Hear hear?)
Duffy has done what the coupe deserves, a sympathetic, concourse restoration; no after market alloys, badge removal, lowering etc.
All that was fine back in the day but now an original coupe is hard to find and IS becoming a modern classic…Duffy, will you take 3k?..

Im clearly blazing a trail here. My coupe is a second car and is almost wholly as it left the factory. It will not be kitted. Its sills will remain defiantly black. Its staying as it is, cos that's how i like it.

And that is why i get a relatively high number of people at shows and elsewhere commenting on how good it is to see an original one.

And for the record, i wanted one because of how it looks, not despite it. I think its already a classic, just from the cheap end of the range.

We do need more members willing to support events though, particularly in the north. Attendances up here are appalling.

Personally I don't agree with modifying the coupe in any way so I'm with you on this one Bob .

LMAO

2 originals, but one undergoing internal surgery. One for show, one for go and one for WHOOSH

I never said there was anything wrong with modding, I was just saying how refreshing it is to see threads on tidying the cars up.

Many classic cars quite often cost more to restore than they will ever be worth. People still go ahead and restore them though. It would be nice to see the Coupé take steps in this direction rather than always seeming to be viewed as an economic asset.

A mate of mine has a Mk1 escort 1.3 four door. It is an absolute rot box but he plans to totally re-build the car back to standard. He knows it will never ever be that valuable and will cost him more than it will ever be worth when finished but he is still going to do it.

I've got a lovely unmolested coupe in my garage and I plan to tidy it up further in my own time on my limited budget. Hopefully I can learn things and improve the car too. Unlike the previous time when I had a SORN'd car, I adorned it with go-faster bits and then sold it for parts I was younger and less wise then. It's like that 'My name is Earl' show, I owe it to R736 AKE to preserve one.
I'll never sell this one, even if one day I'm bankrupt, they'll have to prise it from my cold, dead hands!

Bob in your oringinal post you say that the turnouts poor of the coupes.
I know that the London lads have some very tidy examples as do the Scottish lads.
Maybe some better marketing of these events would see a more vast turnout if its organised better.
Theres also a big void from the South to the North.
I only know a handful of folk from either and there only because i see them as customers not at events.
Perhaps pushing the organizers of these events to offer prizes or recognition would make more emphasis on travelling the distance.

Maybe this should be addressed as i dont think the current social events calendar pushes the events in the way it should.
My opinions only of course.

In regards to modding this is a vital part of keeping the coupe alive both in the press and word of mouth.

My coupe is a well known car now due to attending various track and social events,including various posts on the foreign Coupe forums.
The way i modify the cars isnt intrusive to the car in any way.And can be put back to standard at anytime without knowing what previously lied beneath.

95% of the cars i deal with are in stock form,and most of the big jobs i have undertaken involve restoring stock coupes.
The forum is littered with the modded coupes based on the knowledge needed to carry out such alterations properly on the cars.
This information also helps other vehicles and tuners who dont have the same widespread knowledge and experience as we do.
To further reiterate this point,i deal with other vehicles too and on numerous occasions i have used the internet to check for the best solutions and top of the search engine with a clear cut answer is Fccuk.
Most owners have been on here 5 years+ and have stuck with the cars despite financial ruin and slander.
In stock form we dont here many issues other than the odd post in the technical section.

And of course there's the nub of the problem: people on the whole post when they have an issue, when they're trying to do something interesting, or (in shock, usually) when they pass an MOT.

A forum full of fifteen hundred members posting 'car behaved as it should all week' might better represent the state of the car, but wouldn't be as much fun...

I'm sure Johnny would agree with me that a coupe in standard form rarely needs anything more than standard servicing and replacement of service items, and only occasionally more detailed work such as sorting out stuck rear brakes or rust repair.

(Paint correction applies equally to a ten-fifteen year old coupe or a six-month old Fiesta.)

Couldn't disagree more.

We all know that the club wants to push this ideal of having high quality coupes (modified or not) representing the club, up keeping the reputation gained

However, I don't think the organiser of events (external) should be responsible for this. (I think that's what you mean John)

I think the club should put its hand in its pocket and give back to the members. I organised SICD in 2008 as a concourse type event with prizes and trophies. Scottish and northern reps who attended that way remember it well. So much so I was asked when I returned to the club to do something similar again. I approached the club and was denied any funds to arrange this.

So I think the club is responsible for changing the mindset and habits of this club/forum. There is an event in hopetoun house later in the year and I'd be more than happy to do the concourse type event again, but last time i done it I was given £40 by the club and spent £70, so £30 of my own money to make it better.

When I asked this time I was given nothing.

If they club aren't going to drive its own ideals and the club funds are constantly increasing, the question about what the money is for long term needs to be addressed.

I love this car more than people fully appreciate (especially whilst it's in for repair recently) and don't want to see this place become a ghost town with no one posting no one interested and no one attending events.

Long winded but hopefully made my point. No offense to anyone intended.

Ross

JBT I do agree with you, there is nothing wrong with modding the coupe, there are plenty of MK2 Escorts out there that are not standard but I would give my right arm for, as said in other posts it's just nice to see someone restoring to standard for a change, and it would be nice to see someone pay the 8K for it.
As Barnacle says loads of post about my coupe not going wrong would be boring, but also when people look at this forum to see what owning a coupe would be like, it gives an impression of loads of problems and going bankrupt, we need to push the coupe into the light it deserves.

As a Board member and a Club Rep if people don't ask what they want they don't get. At the AGM meeting we ask what the members want but if no one asks or only 1 person asks then how do we consider that the best for all members?

I am currently in discussions with the rest of the board at looking at giving prices/trophies at events.

But we do need the input from members to keep this the best car club/forum out there.

I'm happy to help out in anyway with regards this. I would warn that judging (if done properly) can take all day.

Cheers

Ross

i agree with rewarding people who make the effort.

the club has done so much for me in the past.
the way certain people moved heaven and earth to get to to spa was just amazing.

i will also openly admit that ive been lazy with social meets (No shock there) and altho i some times happen to "Miss events" i still love this club for what it stands for.

so maybe the reps need ideas for social events up and coming?

im welcoming any one with an idea's to drop me a pm with some thing they want to do or want a hand planning!

Very long winded

Couldn't be bothered to read that.

I'm more interested to find out how we've all been socially engineered to think that spending lots of money on a car is actually enjoyable.

For fecks sake I just wanted a shiny car, didn't intend to start a revolution!

Reading the beginning of this thread is making me doubt whether i should be selling my Coupe.

The ONLY reason is due to the mileage that i travel, and the odd long trip i do, i find it very costly. This is only down to the rise in fuel prices. Switching to a 50mpg + diesel can same me nearly £2,000 a year, thats alot to me.

I'd love to take it off the road and store it, but i would always want to drive it, so thats not a viable option. The Coupe also loves to be driven, so i would hate to see it stand around.

Maintenance i find the same as any other car. Just regular items. I really look after my car, it's driven properly (not ragged from cold etc) and my Coupe has asked nothing of me whatsoever in the last 15 months!

There are some horror stores, mainly down to neglecting the car, or modding incorrectly etc. This can happen to any car.

I love the threads on here where owners just write about all the positives their car is giving them, drives on a summers day, restoration projects, etc etc.

The modding scene for internal modifications does interest me also and i don't think this should be pushed aside.

I'm open to both views, the Standard Coupe and the Modded Coupe.

I understand mods can bring an almost "classic" car into the modern world, but some of these mods are required and can improve the Coupe even as a standard item. Such as replacing rubbish Bosch Recirc Valves, better quality exhaust systems, better quality water and boost hoses etc.

I guess it all comes down to the reputation this can give the Coupe if it is put across as a "tuneable" car but then is forgotten for what it really is, a mid 90's Italian GT car.

Sorry if the post makes no sense, it's just a selection of random thoughts being processed as i was reading the thread.

It makes me realise what a special car we all have, which is why i'm doubting selling up. I can also see alot of owners care about the direction we go in, otherwise a big response to Bob's post wouldn't have happened.

Some times we need a revolution, it's treads like this that get people talking about the coupe and how they view it, this will help push the club and coupe scene foward.

I don't think we have been socially engineered to think spending lots of money on cars is enjoyable, it just is, how can a true red blooded petrol head not like spending all their hard earned cash on cars?

I bought a £2,000 Stilo diesel estate for my routine mileage and I think it paid for itself within 12 months - that's including the cost of road tax, servicing, repairs and insurance.
It's effectively free motoring plus you get to keep the coupe

You are the new messiah!

Couldn't agree more

I'd love to keep the Coupe as a second car, but I'd always end up driving the Coupe. :-/

You are the new messiah!

"I'm not the messiah, I'm just a very naughty boy!"

That'll have a few of the young ones scratching their heads!

Especially with you misquoting it