Machine Mad - Alex Parkin

Name: Alex

Where are you from: Auckland.

What is your local BurgerFuel Store: Westgate

Favourite burger on the menu: Bacon Backfire

A bit about yourself (where did you grow up, how did you get into machines, do you do it solo or with mates etc.):

Grew up in west Auckland. Growing up my family was big into Rallying, and we would also spectate at Western Springs. As time went on, I made friends with people who had motorsport interests, travelling all around NZ and Internationally competing myself within Rally and helping mates over various forms of motorsport. Also ended up doing some work at Western Springs for then promoter Bill Buckley. Over the years mates have helped me with my cars and bikes as well as I helping them. Plenty of them have or had some pretty neat vehicles over the years, plus the occasion rust bucket haha. Today I still tinker with cars and bikes but don’t compete much in motorsport anymore due to working in Aus.

Now, your pride and joy…  

Make/Model/Year: 1980 Ford Escort, Mk2 1600 Sport

Engine: Numbers matching standard with a fresh rebuild

Driveline: All standard, including the 4-speed box still

Interior: Currently stripped, to be reconditioned.

Exterior: Full bare shell repaint, handblock, the works. Every panel was unstitched to allow us to access the inside preventing any future rust developments. The paint colour is Roman Bronze, or Poo brown as my mates describe it.

Suspension: Standard

Wheels/Tyres: Rostyles as standard

What is unique or interesting about the car or how did you become to own it?

My uncle bought the car second hand in 1982 with approx. 16000kms on the clock. He daily drove it until the mid-2000s where it became more of a shed pony with occasional weekend drives. This particular car is well known across Northland, attending various Northland Car Club events for years. Often, I am asked where it is and when it be driving again. Around 2017 I started to do some work to it due to a misfire and a small bit of rust developing. Unfortunately, before the works could be completed my uncle passed away, never getting that “final drive” as such. At that point I decided to start a full nut and bolt resto insuring the car will see out my lifetime when I can then pass it on to someone else in the family.

What’s your dream machine if it’s not this one:

Great question, if we are going old school probably an Audi Quattro S1E2 (Group B WRC) or more sensibly probably be an RS6 Audi, however I do have a soft spot for my Series 1 Rx7 tucked away in the shed.

Anything else you wish to share (fun facts, hours worked/spent on the machine, plans for the future etc.):

I’d hate to know how many hours have gone into this car, thousands. So far it has cost me a house deposit for the works I couldn’t complete. The car is literally in “Showcar” condition, fortunately I think I’ve spent everything I need to. Now I just have to pull finger and reassemble the whole car. I’m sure plenty of mates will offer their hands to assist over a couple tins, great music and of course a delicious feed from BurgerFuel.

On that I owe a huge thanks to the many people far and wide who have helped me with this car, without their help, advise and expertise there is no way the car would have turned out this stunning.