Welcome to the site, Roy. That sounds like an interesting car. Was the engine from a Sierra, do you know? What is its current status, roadworthy or a project? Any photos would be good because they usually prompt discussion.

Hi folks - thanks for the welcome! Site looks great, can see it being very handy! Right, a little on the car. I've not picked it up yet as the owner is overseas until easter weekend, but I've been and seen it and poked around and agreed the deal. Plus, I've got a mate going halves so it's basically pennies spent so far.

The car has sat for three years and doesn't run. When it did run, according to the owner it blew out more oil than exhaust fumes. It does, however, come with an (allegedly) 18,000 mile replacement engine from an Aberdeen Airport staff car. So I'll get that swapped in for now. The owner also says the carb is suffering from water ingress which is the main reason it doesn't run. It has a few other bits that will need sorting, two flat tyres and the usual re-commissioning works required.

But on the plus side it has a hardtop, the bodywork looks reasonably straight (as straight as a black car viewed in the dark can look!) and looks reasonably tidily built. The plan will be to get it running / MoT'd again and go Autotesting, and treat it as a rolling project, i.e. dealing with any little foibles as we go. It's not a megabucks restoration, just a cheap motor for a couple of lads brought up on shopping trolley FWD cars to learn the joys of RWD Autotesting.

Longer term, thinking maybe Zetec or Ford V6...

Yeah, you can blame/thank Martin for bringing me here, it's all his fault! I said on PH that it's a 1985 kit so I think that puts it in S3/S4 territory.

Don't worry Daryl, I may be a Scot but I can at least bring myself to part with some two pence pieces! Especially if it'll save me cash on GRP repairs down the line. I'll consider it an investment... ha ha!

So... lets have a link to the thread and let 'em 'ave it... I'm on there too just too lazy (or forgetful) to go and search for it when I'm actually in front of a PC.

Roy, a belated welcome from a fellow Scot, if I can be of any assistance to you and your mate just give me a shout

Ah right. I know it's a 1985 kit built on a 1974 Escort donor. But if the Phaeton models weren't linked to the year then it could indeed be any of them. There is a very comprehensive history file with the car so the info will be in there somewhere! Is there a register anywhere that I can identify it from the vehicle reg number?

The reg is XNK 628M. 

I called it a database but it's more like just a big gallery at the moment, its growing along with the other records.

DVLA records show the following.

• Vehicle make DUTTON PHAETON
• Date of first registration 12 June 1974
• Cylinder capacity (cc) 1989cc
• CO₂Emissions Not available
• Fuel type PETROL
• Export marker No
• Vehicle status SORN in place
• Vehicle colour BLACK
• Vehicle type approval Not available
• Wheelplan 2 AXLE RIGID BODY
• Revenue weight Not available

This means it can be declared as historic and is now tax exempt. As usual its not listed as MAKE Dutton , MODEL Phaeton, due to DVLA data entry issues when the converted to computerised record.

Club records indicate it to be a series 3 but i'm guessing you already knew that :)

Thanks for the digging Adrian - it's interesting that it's registered as a two litre engine. Apparently the owner previous to the seller used it for drag racing with a Zetec. I guess it's still logged as having that motor. 

Ah well folks, today's the day! Cleared some space in the lockup last night so I'm off to collect the Dutton shortly. And hopefully get stuck straight into the engine swap. Will take lots of photos!

So this is it guys. Been stood for three years so needs some re-commissioning, not to mention a damned good wash and de-mossing! Already started getting the knackered engine out but the lighting in the workshop is rubbish, so had to call a halt for today. Hopefully more fun this weekend.

Hi! Roy nice to see another car up hear, what's the plan?

Roy has the short hardtop for the S3/4, the other type is a 'shooting brake/estate' which makes it into a hatchback by dispensing with the bootlid and covering the space with a rear lift back.

Looks a fair buy  Roy, Nick, down here in God's country, does a fair bit of auto testing in his Dutton's, with a fair degree of success,

Nick Carlin's page...Nicks Video