| F O R D has owned the Escort name for many years: it first popped up on an estate version of its Popular. To most car buffs in most of the world, the Ford Escort saga began in 1968 with the release of Ford of Britain's replacement for the Anglia.
Initially considered too conventional and un-advanced for production in Germany, Ford of Europe management persisted and dual production was set up. The car quickly topped the sales and production charts (2,155,301 built between 1968 and 1975; 18M to date) - its proven formula was a hit. By 1969 it had helped Ford of Germany recover 2.2 per cent of the domestic market. In Britain, it overtook the BMC 1100/1300 series as the second top-selling car in 1972. Ford soon became Britain's number one manufacturer, and the only one to show a profit in 1975. When the Escort was launched, Ford prepared a rallying version, which was later marketed as the Escort Mexico, commemorating the car's victory in the London to Mexico Rally of 1970. A 1600 cc engine in a car whose standard model came with an 1100 was astonishing, and the car caught the youth market's imagination. Thus was born the Escort's reputation as the Essex lad's car, with the RS 2000 model following in 1974. This was the model for which furry dice were essentials. |
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| THE FORD ESCORT MEXICO MK1 |
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| In the late 60's I joined Ray Harris as a partner in his already successful tuning and race shop in Eastleigh near Southampton. (Ray had been working at Richmond Engineering and was probably there when we had the Herald modified, although I did not know him at that time and did not meet him until many years later). We used to modify road cars to make them go and stop quicker, and we also built a few race cars for customers. One speciality we were noted for was to put large engines into small cars. My Father became interested in the idea so we decided on a MK 1 1100 Escort to be modified in all departments including fitting a V6 Ford 3 litre. So the existing engine, gearbox, suspension, brakes were all ditched. We bought a new 3 litre engine from Ford complete with five speed gearbox and fitted them into the now empty shell of the Escort. Uprated suspension and breaks were also fitted. The finished car was thoroughly tested and approved by Father. The car was very easy to drive, very tractable with good handling. We put a discreet badge on the boot lid '3 litre V6' which was the only give-away to hint that the car was not a standard 1100 Escort. On closer inspection the wider wheels and tyres were also a sign of 'a wolf in sheep's clothing'. At this time I was doing some hill climbing with my Gordon keeble special (see details in the race section) and Father decided that it would be fun to take the Escort up the hill. So he got himself a competition licence and entered the car in the next hill climb at Gurston Down, only about three miles away from where we lived at Coombe Bissett. As Father by now was well into his sixties I was a little worried, but all went well and he put up a grand performance and thoroughly enjoyed the experience! |
| NEXT CAME THE 1100/3000 ESCORT MK 1 |
| ESCORT MK 1 3000 V6 |
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