1989 Orion, RS Factory Bodykit

[orioncrazycarl]

Hi all, newbie here, please done shoot me down for having a orion
Ive had about 30 in all, as well as 4 cossies, a T5R, CRX, preludes, but I have a deep love for my orions ;D
here she is when I picked her up, excuse the geek of a missus


she was a 1.6GL, with 40k on the clock, mint as it was in 1988, I had to have it!



first one with the wheels, and stainless system



I was so worried about putting the RS kit, on, but now I'm so glad I did!



drop skirts on,ghia interior fitted and recaros, also I fitted K jet injection, love the induction noise!



this is her now at a recent track day





I hope you like her ;D

I also have a MK1 orion that I'm fitting a 2.2 VTEC in it, if anyone is interested will put some pics up ;D

[orioncrazycarl]

I did think about not kitting....but the mk1 is gonna be standard bar a 1600I splitter and series 1 rims slammed, so nice to have a bit of both

[pabblo]

Nothing wrong with the old Onion, as for the RS kit very 90's style just how i remember them as a teenager!! Really nice, like it alot

[lukeherbert]

very nice, would be great to see some pics of the 2.2 vtec orion mk1

[Lawsy]

not sure on the kit either myself, always saw the orion as a striaght line car and in standard form worked so well, the kit seems to take away that nice shape

Good on ya tho, nice to see some of that styling still being used and getting our their enjoying it too

nice one

[orioncrazycarl]

cheers for the comments, i wanted it to look like it was still the 80s, the kit is all genuine ford stuff, so its all original, least they aint some fibre glass cosworth ones lol,
this is how the mk1 looked when I picked it up:



here she is at the mo, been lots of works, new inner wings, new front panel, new wings, new sills, new arches, new rear corner sections, new rear valance!


heres the donor car, just about ready to trial fit for mounts welding ect, its a tight fit, less then a inch each side!

[craig1010cc]

I do love mk1 and mk2 onions I'm also in the non kit camp, but nice to see one that has been well done, fitted and painted properly. Is the 1600E in the background one of yours as well?

[hamps]

Love it mate, love it

[MrSpeedy]

90's tastic mate

Reminds me of my yoof. Had one as a company motor for a few months. Not a bad motor tbh

[andyf]

I`m also a non kit man usually, but I actually like yours, its done properly.

[vivapower]

Nice car mate looks good with that RS kit on,
I like the orions and am tempted to buy my mates lx when he sells it. I've got a very early 1986 mk4 escort as a daily driver and it's great fun even in almost standard spec.

[Brigsy]

Looks tidy! It needs an rs turbo lump dropping in to be the ultimate 90's tuned orion

[Chris™]

I like the kit on that, suits it I think! Hope to see more of that VTEC'd one too, looks like a cool project ;D

[nofrills]

I have deep love for the orions, first car was mk1 1.6gl, loved it and the second was a mk2 89 1.6 ghia (non injection), now i am in the non kit camp but your one looks very nice but saying that back in the 90's i fitted a 90 spec front bumper on my 1.6 and dropped a few coils lol

Is the engine standard in the mk2?

[jimspolicev8sd1]

I also had a mk 2 onion 1.6 ghia carb, in met blue with rs alloys and front spot lamps. I loved it, my mates loved it for its beer carrying capacity and comfy seats. Its the only car ive had that had a heated windscreen!

[trigger]

I nearly bought this Orion myself, I had a long chat with the old boy who owned it (It was his brothers before that) The trouble was I didn't really have any need for it at the time but for £750 it was a bit of a bargain.


1988 Ford Orion 1.6 GL by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr


1988 Ford Orion 1.6 GL by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

I didn't realise yours was the same car, I've seen it a few times in town recently plus last weekend at Foxhall.


1988 Ford Orion 1.6i Ghia by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr


1988 Ford Orion 1.6i Ghia by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

Funny enough I know of a Orion 1.6i Ghia with nearly the same number plate and the full RS bodykit that's laid up in a barn since 2000 with only 40k on the clock.

[Rob M]

I have to confess a liking for these. They are much better looking than the Escort, the boot seems to give the shape a better proportion.
Bodykit? Its not my kind of thing, however, this is supposed to be a Retro car themed forum and your car is nearly 25 years old and wearing a body kit of the same era.....get the drift?
Actually, the more i look at the pics of it on the move, the more i like the kit, it suits it. In 1989 I would have given my right and my left testicle for a new Orion with a body kit ( I had to rough it with a MK3 Tina 2.0 XL... )
Good stuff fella!

[Dez]

you must be doing something right, cos i don't like RS smooth spokes, bodykits or orions, yet i really like this!

[psychophil]

looks spot on to me.remember loads of these floating around in their day covered in tiger stripes.

[stealthstylz]

I love that, the kit looks great.