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.....factory. The rear axle, drums, master cylinder, bearings, discs and hoses were all brand-new, while everything else was reconditioned wherever possible - originality is one thing, but making sure your car stops and goes right is another.
The interior was another giant headache. Two solid weekends just cleaning it was required to undo six years of living in a barn. A hired carpet cleaner did the job, revealing a remarkably tidy pair of seats and, given the circumstances, the interior looks scarily original.
Aaron admits that there was still a lot of work to do at this point, but going to the trouble of undersealing the wings and painting the wishbones means it looks better in the end and has a greater chance of surviving the next 20 years. The engine got the same treatment: a complete rebuild with new rings, valve stem seals and reground valves, although Aaron's expecting the original alternator and water pump to pack up at any minute - there's always another job around the corner.
The final job was the dreaded MoT. The electrics were the biggest problem, requiring plenty of head scratching and fiddling, though for someone who deals with the national grid, a 1984 Fiesta should present only minor issues... or so you would think.
"I pulled the heater matrix out because it was leaking, and it had a running problem with the carb. I misread the instructions for setting the float levels, but that sorted, I've had it on the road for six months and I haven't had to do anything to it - although I'm off to do the water pump now!" Aaron says.
That's a minor fiddle compared with what he has in mind for the future. A Burton 1760cc racing engine has already been selected as the ideal transplant, as well as a pair of twin Webers in the shed to go on it, and Aaron's getting the cash together to buy the new motor before he turns the XR2 into a proper Saxo-killer.
"I'm going to take it up Ford Fair and do some 0-60 mph runs!" he grins. "I just love 'em to pieces, and I love the Supersports as well. They're like little pocket rockets, proper retro cars." It's fair to say that, in this condition, there are plenty of people who'd agree with him.
tech spec
BODY
Full strip down and respray, new side decal kit.
ENGINE
1599cc Cross Flow, gas-flowed head, Weber 34 DFTA carb, K6N filter, custom Ashley exhaust system.
TRANSMISSION
Standard four-speed. SUSPENSION Lowe red 60 mm front and rear. BRAKES Standard discs and drums front and rear.
WHEELS AND TYRES
13-inch pepperpots, 185/60R13 tyres all round.
Captions -
Top-Left - After a few years in a barn the XR2's interior needed a proper going over with an industrial carpet cleaner to getting looking like this.
Middle - The electrics were the biggest problem, requiring plenty of head scratching and fiddling, but for someone of Aaron's ability a 1984 Fiesta should present only minor difficulties... or so you'd think
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