Looking to buy a good/decent 1981 or 1982 Escort. Please help.

Hello all. I am new here and native from Minneapolis, Minnesota. I want to find a good 81 or 82 Escort. I prefer the 1982 mid blue with white pin stripe, or the dark red/maroon. But any color would be nice. No electric Escorts. Tradition gas engine cars only please. I think a must have are the high one piece front bucket seats. I always loved the look of those, but was never a fan of the adjustable head rest. That was uncomfortable, and to me, just looked bad. I owned two Escorts. A 1981 turquoise blue wagon, and a 1981/82 two tone cream and darker metallic brown 2 door hatchback. I will leave with one theory I have though. I never thought these cars were terrible, but they had engine problems. I think it may be the wrong type of gas put in them. I use mid grade unleaded in my cars and have never had problems. Low grade is best for yard equipment like lawn mowers, but people get it because it's cheap. You do get what you pay for. Premium fuel is clean, but too clean for a daily driver, like an Escort. Premium gas is high performance fuel , meant for high performance cars, like Chevy Corvettes, Camaros, or Ford Mustangs. Just a thought, but I would really appreciate the help in finding and buying an early 81 or 82 Escort. I would consider an 83, but no newer. Thank you.

Check your local Craigslist , offer up or face book market place?

I am in the process of doing that, but I am also willing to expand my options. I am looking without much luck. What I do find, I get no response. I will keep trying, but I will keep my eyes out here too. Barnfinds is another one I like.

Cars rust out there. He needs to look someplace where that doesn't happen.

I’m in so cal and I haven’t seen any for sale.

That's why I'm searching nationwide, and I'm ready to have the car shipped. I did find a red 1982 Escort L 4 door hatchback, with 4 speed manual, in Wisconsin. I also keep seeing that 1981 black L model 2 door hatchback, with automatic transmission, that is in Connecticut and Massachusetts. I also found a 1982 blue GL automatic, 2 door hatchback in New Hampshire. That one needs some work to get started. The trouble is contacting these people. I will keep looking, and place a request in the want ads. I will find something, and watching for possible scams at the same time.

I may end up going up the coast, say Washington or Oregon. People have things in barns, or other storage places. I'll just keep looking. I don't know what it really is, but I love the 1981 and 82 Escorts with the one piece backs on the front bucket seats. I never liked the short seat with the adjustable head rest. I probably don't like fiddling with things , like that, while I'm trying to drive.