Thanks, I have toughed out some hard times...Front wheel drive cars are not the best scapmobiles since the rear suspensions are not designed for overloads..they can burn up the rear bearings fast. Watch your manufacturers weight limits on those. A rear wheel drive 4 banger can take lots of abuse..Pinto's, old Datsuns, etc. Of course these are hard to find these days. I also used a 69 VW Bug that got hit hard on the passenger side, the pan was fine.. so I removed the door and cut out the quarter to the fender, then I made a 1 piece 1/2 moon shaped door that folded down ( instant ramp) out of 3/4" plywood covered with galvanized tin. It was a great little hauler, but after 1 year it got hit again, that was the end of that scrapmoblie. Ford Escorts can take quite a beating and sometimes you can get wagons that have some life left for a few hundred $$. Make that car earn its keep and insurance!!