ST170 future potential

**Rallye Sport** · 08-05-2016, 03:23 PM

I've noticed a couple of ST170's on the market recently for around the 4-5k mark. To me it seems like they've almost hit rock bottom and would be a great fun for money.
Does anyone think they have any value as a collectable in the future? I know it'd be depend on the cars condition and would take twenty years or so...
I try not to speculate on cars, at the end of the day if I bought one, had some fun and sold it for the same money in a few years I'd be happy, it's a car I've always wanted to own...

P.S. anything to look out for when buying one? cheeRS...

Bossxr8 · 08-05-2016, 10:07 PM

I'd say no. No one knows what they are and they dont really have much of an attraction cause performance was not great. Definitely wont go down as a classic like an RS or even the later ST's.

b2tf · 08-05-2016, 10:11 PM

Try getting parts for one. Hard enough when they were new. They also had pretty big issues with the Getrag boxes in them.

spedwards · 09-05-2016, 08:45 AM

As a current owner I can completely back up b2tf's comment about parts. The engine was "enhanced" by Cosworth and what this means is that hardly anything in the engine bay is compatible with that standard focus of the era. Engine back is better as apart from the upholstery it's pretty much standard Focus.

As there was only 200 - 250 brought into the country wrecker parts are almost non-existent and Ford Australia doesn't have much stock of parts these days. Parts are more available over in the UK and US but with currency conversion and shipping can get expensive quick.

If I was looking to buy now I'd want to make sure that the clutch is still good as locally they are an expensive set of parts and from memory labour wise it was about an 8 - 10 hours install. The Getrag gearbox is also another expensive piece ($10K) so you'd need to make sure that's in good condition.

**Rallye Sport** · 15-05-2016, 11:00 AM

Great, thanks for the info guys, I know A bit more about what I'm looking at now... Looks like if I do decide to get one it'll be because I want to own it, not for future speculation. At least if the worst comes of it I could end up with a gnarly donor engine for the Escort

Thanks again...