Ep 1. 1. Mk1 Ford Escort Mexico

For The Love Of Cars is an exhilarating car restoration show, featuring renowned automobile designer and engineer Ant Anstead and British television presenter Philip Glenister. In the first episode of the show, the duo take on a classic car restoration project - a 1973 Mk1 Ford Escort Mexico.

The Ford Escort is an iconic car that was manufactured for almost four decades, starting from the 1960s. The first Ford Escorts were an instant hit with car enthusiasts, thanks to their stylish design and impressive performance. Among the most sought-after models was the Mk1 Ford Escort Mexico, which was built to commemorate the company's victory in the 1970 London-Mexico race.

The episode begins with Ant and Philip introducing the car and explaining why they chose this particular model. They point out the unique features of the Ford Escort Mexico, including its distinctive green paint job, black side stripes, and the 1600cc engine that produces 86 horsepower.

As they begin to work on the car, the hosts discuss the challenges they will face in restoring it. The car has been sitting in a garage for decades and is in a poor condition, with rusted body panels, worn-out tires, and many missing parts.

The duo starts the restoration process by dismantling the car and assessing the extent of the damage. They find that the car's engine is mostly intact, but the suspension and brakes need a complete overhaul. They also discover that the car has been in several accidents and has a poorly done paint job, which will need to be stripped off.

Ant and Philip then go about sourcing the parts they need to restore the car. They visit various car shows and scrapyards, looking for rare components that are no longer in production. Finding the required parts proves to be a task in itself, as some of them are extremely hard to come by.

With all the necessary parts in hand, the hosts begin the laborious process of restoring the car. They strip the old paint off the body of the car and repair the rust. They then begin the painstaking task of applying the new green paintjob, which they take pains to get just right.

As the restoration progresses, the duo also brings in experts to help with the more specialized tasks, such as rebuilding the engine and installing the new suspension. They also take the car out for a test drive and fine-tune the engine and the brakes to ensure that they are working properly.

At the end of the episode, the car is ready to be shown off to the world. Ant and Philip organize a special event to showcase the car to a group of car enthusiasts and collectors. The reaction to the Mk1 Ford Escort Mexico is overwhelmingly positive, and the hosts are pleased with the outcome of their restoration efforts.

Overall, the first episode of For The Love Of Cars is an entertaining and insightful look at the world of classic car restoration. With its fascinating subject matter and charismatic hosts, the show is a must-watch for car lovers everywhere.