Lot 150: Ford Escort Mexico (Replica)

1970 was a very important year for the Ford Motor Company of GB. This was the year in which the Ford Advanced Vehicle Operations (AVO), and the Ford Rallye Sport (RS) dealer network were set-up: AVO to build performance versions of the Ford range of cars and manufacture tuning equipment. The Rallye Sport dealer network to merchandise the AVO products to the public. 1970 was also the year of the Daily Mirror World Cup Rally - won by Hannu Mikkola driving a Ford Escort. In fact Escort took not only 1st but 3rd, 5th, 6th positions. The Escort Mk 1 Mexico was produced to celebrate the London-Mexico world cup rally victory for the Escort, which was, again, driven by Hannu Mikkola in 1970. These road going version of the most successful rally car of all time, were hugely popular in their day and have now become highly collectable. Offered here is a 1972 Mexico replica, which has recently been the subject of a major restoration and conversion to FIA race car specification, rather than rally. There is a photographic record of the works and the car is said to be in excellent order throughout. Equipped with a fuel injected, 2.0 Ford Pinto engine and 5 speed transmission, the car offers spirited performance. To cope with the extra power, it has uprated disc brakes, with 4 pot calipers and coil-over-shocks suspension. The car is fitted with a full roll-cage, drilled alloy pedals and Perspex side window. An inexpensive entry into Classic Saloon Car racing, which is road legal and tax exempt.