A few years back I had a 2002 Ford Ute. I bought it when it was only 18 months old and still under warranty. I didn't know much about this one at the time, I just liked the look of it.
After driving it and enjoying it I learned a bit more about what I had. It was a Pursuit 250. These were fitted with the running gear from Tickfords TE50. This was fords last gasp for the old windsor motor as next year they were going with the Modular motor and the windsor would be gone.
Well Ford Australia gave the windsor 5.0 V8 to their performance division (Tickford) for a work over. When they were finished there weren't a lot of the original bits in there. The motors were stroked out to 342 cubes. They got billet rods and lightweight pistons. The motor also got a girdle for the bottom end to strengthen the block. The heads were CNC ported by Yella Terra and roller rockers added. A bigger cam went in too. Up top the whole intake was replaced with a Tickford designed unit that also ran an 82mm T/B and larger MAF. Ceramic coated headers went on the exhaust side. The end result was 250KW and a stomping 500NM of torque. This made it Fords most powerful factory Windsor motor.
Here's a little video of what went into these motors
There were only 248 of the Pursuit 250s built which makes them quite a rare bird.
I got it into my head that I wanted a 4x4 so I sold it. In recent years I've regretted that decision.
A few weeks back I found another one. It was original and reasonably tidy. It was located in Coffs Harbour about 1600KM from me. I bought it sight unseen and flew up and drove it back. A 1600KM drive is a good way to get reaquainted with a car. I ended up doing it pretty much all in one hit only stopping for a few hours sleep in Gundagai.
It brought back memories. The motor is muscular and unrefined. it sits at the lights burbling with a lumpy idle and rocking the car. It's a muscle car in every sense. Stand on the gas and it leaps forward with that flat wall of torque pushing into your back. I love it.
The car was not without it's problems. Ten year old front suspension was a bit lacklustre and made some nasty noises. The Big Tickford brake package displayed it usual trait of warping front discs. I went through 2 sets of front rotors in my old one in 60,000Ks. The 6 stacker CD was gone and replaced with an after market unit. The head unit itself was OK but the install sucked. The cradle was bonded in with body filler??
Not a big deal. An afternoon in the shed and the head unit was reinstalled with the correct facia and rewired. Radio sorted.
The front end... Initially I was thinking I'd just replace the worn components but when I started checking parts prices I figured I may as well replace everything. Urethane bushes, new ball joints, tie rod ends, rack boots, new wheel hubs, sway bar links etc. A completely reco front end for $570. I'm loving the price of domestic car parts .
The front brakes were fairly easily fixed. The rotors still had plenty of material on them so I did a quick skim on the lathe and then slotted them. They will warp again as they always do but they will be OK for a while. Later I might find some Brembo brakes that were a factory option on these.
So tell us your one that got away story (and hopefully got it back).
Cheers
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Mike Murphy
Melbourne Australia
Last edited by Aussie Mike; 05-15-2012 at 08:24 PM..
Reason: spelling
I bought and sold these while I was in High School back in 1971-1973. I would buy cars, detail them and resell them. I purchased and resold over 60 cars, trucks, and motorcycles before I was 20.
I had a 1971 Holden Monaro Coupe back in 1990. I regret getting rid of that too but it's long gone. The Monaro is the roughly Aussie equivalent of a Camaro.
I also had a 1970 Holden Torana I built into an XU-1 replica. It was a rocket at the time.
Both cars are worth big bucks now. A good XU-1 replica will go for more than $20K and the Monaro is probably worth $30K I sold both for about $2K each.
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Mike Murphy
Melbourne Australia
Multiple 67 & 68 Camaros & 64 thru 69 Chevelles even a 1947 Plymouth businessmans coupe. I even had a 65 GTO convertible like John. Mine was a factory 389, 3 deuces, 4 speed & 12 bolt posi. I think that I actually liked that one the best
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Terry
"I may be paranoid, but that doesn't mean they are not watching me"
Cobra Make, Engine: G-Force Mk I, 5L Windsor, TKO 600, enhanced Jag / Koni suspension & LSD Diff.
Posts: 2,300
Not Ranked
Whilst in my auto machining apprenticeship phase (late 70's), so not sure how I funded it, but I bought a Triumph TR2 or TR3 in bits from a wreckers in Mordialloc for $1000. It was a bitza but I do remember searching out the chassis code to confirm which series it was, just don't recall the result now.
It really didn't get much further assembled when I ended up selling it about 4 or 5 years later.
Even back then I should have sent it to the right resto mob for the chassis rework but it never happened.
1969 HT Monaro with a factory 186 that I converted to a 350 Chev, 9" tank Fairlane diff and HQ brakes. I rebuilt it in my driveway on a student budget (lots of graveyard shifts) and it took every spare cent I had at the time. I bought the shell freshly painted and it wasn't done very well so the rust came back pretty quickly. Over time the front guard was damaged in a minor collision, the TH350 trans was on it's last legs and a bloke offered me $3000 "as is" (barely running) so I took the money. Ten years ago that was decent coin for a molested wreck. There's something about the shape of the early Monaros, nothing comes close for me - except maybe the 427 Cobra.
Way too many to list, but a few:
SuperFormance Cobra
2000 Cobra R
1967 Mustang GT with a 390/4 speed
1960 VW 23 window bus
Yamaha RD350 (I know, not a car, but still fun)
Cobra Make, Engine: Classic revival kit (CR3181), gen III engine, T56 6 speed box, AU XR8 lsd diff
Posts: 5,699
Not Ranked
Never regretted anything I have sold, at the time it was the right decission.
Most sentimental would be my first car, a 180B SSS, sadly I dont have many pics of it as it was pre digital.
But here is one of the net.
Ran a stroked 2.1 litre, twin 45mm webbers, 5 speed, LSD, lowerd 2 inches all around (including modified rear carrier to prevent excessive neg camber), Mum could hear the webbers roaring from about 2 kls away when I was on my way home.
Many firsts happened with that car.
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Cruising in 5th
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Never be afraid to do something new, Remember, Amateurs built the Ark: Professionals built the Titanic.
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Ever had a car you regretted selling?
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