The perfect match of engine and manual gearbox

[Retro_Jim]

The Lotus twin cam and a 2000e gearbox.

Ford really messed up the ratios for the base mk1 Cortina 1500/GT as 2nd gear is too short compared to 1st and 3rd. Plus the twin cam had twin DCOE Weber carburettors.

[anonymous-user]

Aged c 9 or 10, in c 1975, I took one of my Dad's client's cars (while client was having a lengthy tea) for a short sneaky spin down our rural (and thankfully mostly-deserted) back road. (It was the 1970s - everybody left their keys in the ignition ...). The car was a Escort; badged 'Mexico', may have been a rep. The thrill of the short-term illicit borrowing meant that the experience is etched on my mind ever since. The main thing I recall, funnily enough, is the quality of the gear shift. Snicky. Revelation after the front drive Renaults we had at that time (though the earlier '72 Renault 5 with the dash-mounted gear-stick was interesting). Maybe it wasn't that fantastic, but in my head the Mk I Escort's gear change was and remains superb.