Ford Escort Mexico Mk1
1972 Earls Court Motor Show Car, earliest Special Build Vehicle, SB003
The Ford Escort is no stranger to modification by an enthusiastic owner for racing or, as it was most famous for, Rallying. However, back in 1972, the factory would do it for you!
Ford’s AVO factory was Ford’s old-school hooligan division, equivalent to the BMW M-cars or AMG of today. It operated as an entirely separate entity, initially producing only 12 cars per day shift. Later, Ford further distilled the racing essence of AVO into the Special Build Area, capable of housing only 10 bespoke cars at any time.
The Special Build area produced only the rarest, most bespoke Fords of the era, which is why Majestic Motors were honoured to welcome Special Build Vehicle 003 to their workshop.
This 1972 Mk1 Ford Escort Mexico is the third to go through the Special Build department SB001 & 002 were Ford development vehicles, making this the earliest Special Build Vehicle still in existence. This particular car was built specifically for the 1972 British International Motor Show in Earls Court. As you would expect of a flagship model built for a show, the car was fitted with every imaginable optional extra: bucket driver’s seat, bubble arches, centre console, spot lamps, wood interior, heated rear screen, sunroof, map light, six pod instrument binnacle and RS Sport Alloys to name a few. The current owner has incredibly traced back ownership of the car right back to the original purchaser, who bought the car right off the stand. The car has had a exhilarating past, going on to follow its roots as an amateur rally competitor before the current owner took possession in 1988.
Due to various work commitments and moving around the country the car fell into disuse and was left standing idle for all too long. Initially Majestic Motors were asked to re-commission the car and get it back to roadworthy usable condition. However, closer inspection revealed that corrosion and poor previous repairs had taken their toll and, with the owners consent, the light restoration quickly escalated to a full restoration.
The Ford Escort is no stranger to modification by an enthusiastic owner for racing or, as it was most famous for, Rallying. However, back in 1972, the factory would do it for you!
Ford’s AVO factory was Ford’s old-school hooligan division, equivalent to the BMW M-cars or AMG of today. It operated as an entirely separate entity, initially producing only 12 cars per day shift. Later, Ford further distilled the racing essence of AVO into the Special Build Area, capable of housing only 10 bespoke cars at any time.
The Special Build area produced only the rarest, most bespoke Fords of the era, which is why Majestic Motors were honoured to welcome Special Build Vehicle 003 to their workshop.
This 1972 Mk1 Ford Escort Mexico is the third to go through the Special Build department SB001 & 002 were Ford development vehicles, making this the earliest Special Build Vehicle still in existence. This particular car was built specifically for the 1972 British International Motor Show in Earls Court. As you would expect of a flagship model built for a show, the car was fitted with every imaginable optional extra: bucket driver’s seat, bubble arches, centre console, spot lamps, wood interior, heated rear screen, sunroof, map light, six pod instrument binnacle and RS Sport Alloys to name a few. The current owner has incredibly traced back ownership of the car right back to the original purchaser, who bought the car right off the stand. The car has had a exhilarating past, going on to follow its roots as an amateur rally competitor before the current owner took possession in 1988.
Due to various work commitments and moving around the country the car fell into disuse and was left standing idle for all too long. Initially Majestic Motors were asked to re-commission the car and get it back to roadworthy usable condition. However, closer inspection revealed that corrosion and poor previous repairs had taken their toll and, with the owners consent, the light restoration quickly escalated to a full restoration.
Once back to bare shell, the Escorts’ challenging and chequered past was revealed. The door panels were wrinkled and creased from theft damage, repaired with excess filler. Grit and salt from the car’s stint in the Scottish highlands had prematurely aged and corroded the floor panels, which had in-turn been repaired with badly formed thick steel plate. The bubble arches had at some time been replaced poorly, the outers barely held in place with a few tack welds and copious amounts of filler whilst the inner arches were just not joined at all. A previous Rally incident had also likely put the car on its roof at some point as it was found the LH A-pillar had shifted in position and the scuttle panel had been re-shaped with several KG of Lead.
The client requested a sympathetic restoration resulting in a period-correct car, but one that he could use, which would start at the turn of a key and wouldn’t overheat when driven in the period-correct manner.
The Majestic Motors team descended on the car, completing a host of repairs and replacing panels. New floors, and door skins were installed. The front wings were replaced and all the bubble arches were grafted back on, properly this time, fully welded and lead loaded to blend the repairs seamlessly into the surrounding metal. The LH A-pillar was reconstructed, (in the right place) and the door gaps fine tuned to exacting tolerances and show standard.
Away from the body shop, the 1600 cross flow engine was rebored to maximum oversize making it 1710 CC, fitted with uprated oil and water pumps and a duplex timing chain conversion. The head was ported and polished to match the lairy pipercross cam. Finally the engine was fitted with a new inlet manifold paired with twin Dellorto carbs and tubular, four branch ceramic coated exhaust manifold. All in an effort to meet the clients aim of improved performance but solid reliability.
Whilst the restoration work was starting to bring the body back to life, meanwhile a set of original Cibie spot lamps was sourced to replace the long lost set. Original lamps are now sadly few and far between and beggars can’t be choosers. The replacement set were tired, the chrome reflector bowls were heavily corroded, the lamp backs were scratched and dented and generally they were looking very sad. The rarity of the parts meant reverse-engineering and re-manufacture was the only option. The lamps were fully disassembled and the back of the lamps paint colour matched before they were stripped. The outer bowls were then stripped, e-coated and then painted in period correct grey. The chrome reflector bowls were beyond repair, therefore a wooden form tool was machine to the exact dimensions of the original parts. New reflectors were then spun in steel using the forming tool and then chromed. The finished lamps were assembled using the newly painted backs, remanufactured chromed reflectors and fully refurbished glass lens.
A common corrosion point on the Mk1 Escort is along the front scuttle panel where it meets the front wing. The original Ford design dictated that the wings be spot-welded to the scuttle panel along a folded metal seam. This forms a valley, easily penetrated and trapping water ingress and thereby, providing optimum conditions for corrosion to take hold. To prevent this from happening in the future, the team at MM lead loaded this joint. This has two benefits, firstly it solders the welded joint together making it stronger, but secondly it fully seals the seam preventing the potential corrosion trap. The panel joint is then carefully etched back into the lead in order to maintain the correct cosmetic appearance.
Various other minor upgrades were added to the restoration to fully realise the project brief or reliability, without compromising the cosmetic authenticity of the car. For example, discrete electronic ignition was installed under the distributor cap, coupled with sealed electrical connectors in concealed locations.
The end result is a rejuvenated British icon of exceptional rarity. A classic with 70’s heritage and modern-day reliability; carefully restored, reverse-engineered and upgraded to promise the lucky owner worry-free miles for years to come.
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