This episode of CarPervert is one I've wanted to make for a long time, because it is born of car obsession.
The car story of London jeweller Russell Lord is a rather unique one. So passionate is Russ about early rwd Escorts, is that he decided to combine his decades of skill as a jeweller and objet d’art maker (he has worked on pieces for so many celebrities but sadly I am not allowed to mention any of them) to create the most detailed scale mk2 Ford Escort rally car ornament using nothing but precious metals (gold, silver, platinum), precious stones (diamonds, sapphires, rubies) and thousands of painstaking hours.
And to think it could have all never happened if the Hatton Garden robbers had taken a different safety deposit box. In this video we study Russell’s hand made Mk2 Ari Vatinen WRC Escort, a solid gold and silver scale model of a Millington race engine and also his latest project – the mk1 1968 Escort, which will be a Lotus twin cam engined car. Please subscribe and tap the bell icon so that when I release the part 2 of this item (where we explore Russell’s collection of real rare Escorts) you will be alerted immediately. In the meantime here is the full spec so far of both Escort expensive ornaments: Mk1 Escort aka Bubble 1968 wide arch twin-cam car 208mm long 92mm wide (rear arches) 57mm (without wheels) 90% 925 pure silver, 10% platinum and gold (rear axle) 17 months of work so far (every evening 2hrs and 6hrs+ every saturday) and appropriately 2 years of work left!
Cost of materials so far is Weight so far… 1.46kg and counting (Average male wedding is 6 grams!). 5000 man hours to finish (estimated). Mk2 Escort aka Rascal Based on Ari Vatanen’s LHD works rally car – DKP191T Ford badge – blue Ceylon Sapphire shaped a cavisham oval. Rear brake lights – rubies. Reversing lights – baguette diamonds Indicators – orange sapphires Arch protectors and mudflaps – fine black Russian diamonds (approx 650!) In gearstick knob – round diamond Headlights (x2) – 70-point diamonds 0.07cts Bottom spotlights (x2) – diamonds 0.90cts Top spotlights (x2) – diamonds 1.50cts Weight approx 1.2kg. Gearstick is platinum, Steering rack and track rods yellow 18ct gold Springs are 18ct pink gold (stronger resistance) Glass in car is real curved glass diamond cut down from ornamental vases! VIN plate hand engraved.
Approx £31,000 worth of diamonds alone on the car! Approx material value in total £80,000 Over 2500 man hours approx. Huge thanks to Russell Lord (and family) of Lord of London.
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