Chassis No.: BBATLP20485

Engine No.: UJ01480

Registration: SPX 822K

Sold £26,040 | Sold

There was, in the early days of the Ford Escort, a higher performance version for rallies and racing. The Mk. I Escorts became very successful as a rally car and eventually went on to become one of the most successful rally cars of all time. The Ford works team was practically unbeatable in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s; arguably the Escort's greatest victory was in the 1970 London to Mexico World Cup Rally being driven by Finnish legend Hannu Mikkola. This gave rise to the famous Escort Mexico special edition road versions in honour of the rally car. The Mexico was built at Ford's Advanced Vehicle Operations (AVO) facility located at the Aveley Plant in South Essex.

As well as higher performance engines and sports suspension, these models featured strengthened bodyshells, making them an ideal model for rallying. Today, Mk. I Escorts are still popular in the amateur rally scene. This lovely Ford Escort left the Ford factory in 1972 as an 1100L. Between 2010 and 2015 it was totally stripped down and rebuilt by Stephen Tilburn, the owner of Hilton Gott Volvo in Downham Market, Norfolk. The body was restored adding all the Type 49 additions bringing it up to Mexico specification and then resprayed Le Mans Green by the Hilton Gott Bodyshop.

Mechanically it has been fully uprated, the 1600cc crossflow engine has been lightened and balanced also to Mexico specification and fitted with a sports exhaust manifold and exhaust system. The suspension has been uprated and it has an English rear axle and anti-tramp bars. It has Ford RS style wheels with Yokohama AO48 low profile tyres. The black interior received the same treatment being fitted with Ford RS style Beta cloth contour seats, a RS steering wheel and RS six dial instrument clocks. With the rising prices of the original Escort RS’s and the Mexico, this is an opportunity to buy an Escort to the same specification at half the price.

https://www.historics.co.uk/auction/lot/?lot=3486&au=72