Wednesday 22nd February 2012

Spotted: Ford Escort Twin Cam

Nice, sure, but there are other Rally-tastic Escorts that should whet your appetite just as much

---

An advert whose headline reads 'Ford Escort Twin Cam ex-works rally car' is going to pique the interest of most fuel-blooded PHers, more so when the vendor asserts that it was campaigned by both Roger Clark and Hannu Mikkola.

Unfortunately, the advert is - how to put this politely? - somewhat short on detail, so we'll have to a) assume that it is indeed a pukka works car and b) remain ignorant of exactly when and where the legendary Mikkola and Clark got their respective bums on the business-like bucket seats.

What we do know, however, is that the Twin Cam - any Twin Cam - is a pretty special car, the forerunner of decades of legendary fast Escorts.

Beneath that distinctive shape lies the running gear of a Lotus Cortina, albeit with the 1,558cc 112hp motor mounted at an angle to allow room for the carburettors to squeeze around the wheel arch, and with the battery relocated in the boot.

It's a pretty rare beast, too. In order to homologate the car for competition, Ford needed to build 1,000 Twin Cams to satisfy the FIA, but Ford motorsport boss Henry Taylor managed to convince the authorities that the requisite number had been built by May 1968, when in fact fewer than 100 examples existed. There's some argument as to how many were eventually made, but it's probably safe to say that the final tally was somewhere south of 1,000.

There have been faster and perhaps more exciting Escorts since, but this is the one that started it all. And with that history it's easy to see the £65K price tag as not completely ridiculous.

If you're not convinced and yet still fancy an early sporty Escort, how about a Mk1 Mexico like this? Finished in a fetching bright green, it's not as lairy as a Twin Cam (only 86hp, you see) and it doesn't have the same provenance, but it still reeks of 60s rallying cool and, come on, it's only £14,000.

If you want a more full-on rallying experience, however, how about this pretty faithful rep of a Group 4 Mk2 Escort rally car. Completed in 2005 and with just four hours of tarmac stage miles under its wheels, its spec reads like a Ford rally fan's wet dream: 245hp 2.0-litre BDG engine, Quaife 4-speed dog-box, truly juicy suspension (follow the link to the ad for the full details), proper brakes, and everything you'd want from a rally car in the cabin.

At 'just' £46,500 it's a lot cheaper than that Twin Cam, too. Dribble. Then again, if you simply must have the original, we wouldn't think you crazy if you preferred that Mk1.

 

---

FORD ESCORT MK1 TWIN CAM
Engine:1,558cc four-cylinder
Power (hp):112@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft):107@4,500rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
First registered: March 2010
Recorded mileage: 30,300
Price new: £1,123
Yours for: £65,000

See the original advert here

[ian_touring]

A pretty trio. I'll take all three thanks.

[stevenr]

Mk2 2 for me please,i was never a fan of the mk1 and at 65k it's a bit pricey IMO

[dave stew]

I can't believe how much RWD RS Escorts go for these days! I was around these cars for years in the mid 80s to mid 90s with the RSOC and even a concours, genuine RS1800 struggled to crack £10 - £12,000.

In my opinion, these cars are great historic competition cars or track tools, they are pretty basic as road cars.

I remember too, around 1990 onwards when a few of the lads started putting Sierra Cosworth engines and boxes into Mk2 RS2000s - a wonderful beast!

[long time lurker]

£65k isn't that bad when you consider the motorsport history the mk1 and mk2 has, much better than some exotics which sell for millions after winning a few races in the 60's & 70's

(b.t.w I sold my very tidy Mk1 (not twin cam/rs) in the early 90's and struggled to get near £800 for it!)

[sprinter1050]

That twin cam one looks remarkably "showroom" for an Ex-works Rally car ?? Externally & internally too. Even under-bonnet where there's no sign of the almost compulsory strut brace.
Doesn't seem to say anything about rebuild or re-furb in the ad.

[Riggers]

sprinter1050 said:

That twin cam one looks remarkably "showroom" for an Ex-works Rally car ?? Externally & internally too.
Doesn't seem to say anything about rebuild or re-furb in the ad.

In fairness it doesn't really say anything in the ad full stop.

[Turbobanana]

dave stew said:

I can't believe how much RWD RS Escorts go for these days! I was around these cars for years in the mid 80s to mid 90s with the RSOC and even a concours, genuine RS1800 struggled to crack £10 - £12,000.

In my opinion, these cars are great historic competition cars or track tools, they are pretty basic as road cars.

I remember too, around 1990 onwards when a few of the lads started putting Sierra Cosworth engines and boxes into Mk2 RS2000s - a wonderful beast!

I must be older than you.

I remember buying my first car, a MkI 1300 2 door, for £80 when I was 15. Solid old thing with MoT and Tax, my Dad used it as a hack and I learned to drive in it on the beach. I reckoned I did well to sell it for £180 6 months later after some, err, "interesting" drives on the beach. NGR822H, where are you now? (Probably an historic race / rally car I guess).

[Nors]

RS1600i type topic again?

Ok, I'll chip in first, NO WAY a mk1 Escort is worth £65k!!! (Well, not to me anyway)

As per 16i topic though, will all the publicity draw someone from the shadows to snap it up?

[quantum_man]

My grandad was a design engineer for Ford at Dunton in the 60’s and 70’s and dad remembers being taken to school in an early prototype of the Escort Twin Cam! Wonder if it still exists anywhere?

[rtz62]

So,
It'll be 'Triggers Brush' then? Original but had 3 re-shells, 4 engines etc etc.
How have the holes for the roll cage and strut brace been removed or plated? What about the original seats, Halda etc
Hmmmn.
Wouldn't touch it with a barge pole in all honesty.....

[M666 EVO]

Nors said:

RS1600i type topic again?

Ok, I'll chip in first, NO WAY a mk1 Escort is worth £65k!!! (Well, not to me anyway)

As per 16i topic though, will all the publicity draw someone from the shadows to snap it up?

I am with you on this one. First a mk 3 Escort for 25k, then an EVO 3 (???) for 85k now a mk1 Escort for £65k???

Seriously, how much are you guys getting on the side for this extra advertising?

What next, an Austin Maxi for 50k because velour is suddenly shabby chic or a Vauxhall Viva for 75k because a slidey speedo is SOOOO in right now, just look at Wonga.com!!!

Jesus

[Riggers]

M666 EVO said:

I am with you on this one. First a mk 3 Escort for 25k, then an EVO 3 (???) for 85k now a mk1 Escort for £65k???

Seriously, how much are you guys getting on the side for this extra advertising?

What next, an Austin Maxi for 50k because velour is suddenly shabby chic or a Vauxhall Viva for 75k because a slidey speedo is SOOOO in right now, just look at Wonga.com!!!

Jesus

So what do you think of the Mexico, then?

[Johnboy Mac]

I turned down a £1000 Mexico (popped core plugs) many moons ago. So, I'd pass on this too, twin cam and all.

[Just want a v8]

sprinter1050 said:

That twin cam one looks remarkably "showroom" for an Ex-works Rally car ?? Externally & internally too. Even under-bonnet where there's no sign of the almost compulsory strut brace.
Doesn't seem to say anything about rebuild or re-furb in the ad.

Has the strut tops been plated though? Looks like there is an additional plate on top of it. Been a while since I have seen inside the bonnet of one of these though so I could be wrong.

Fabulous car though and very rare indeed and the one I would buy if I could waste 65K.

M666 EVO said:

Vauxhall Viva for 75k because a slidey speedo is SOOOO in right now, just look at Wonga.com!!!

Jesus

Come on, I had a viva and that slidey speedo was seriously awesome!

Edited by Just want a v8 on Wednesday 22 February 15:02

Edited by Just want a v8 on Wednesday 22 February 15:03

[garypotter]

I do love thes old bangers but they are fetching serious money!!

Is there people out there paying £65k for a mk1 escort??

Can anyone on here see mint XR3I going for £65k in 30 yrs time??

[cookie1600]

First registered: March 2010

What's that all about then?

[dave stew]

Turbobanana said:

dave stew said:

I can't believe how much RWD RS Escorts go for these days! I was around these cars for years in the mid 80s to mid 90s with the RSOC and even a concours, genuine RS1800 struggled to crack £10 - £12,000.

In my opinion, these cars are great historic competition cars or track tools, they are pretty basic as road cars.

I remember too, around 1990 onwards when a few of the lads started putting Sierra Cosworth engines and boxes into Mk2 RS2000s - a wonderful beast!

I must be older than you.

I remember buying my first car, a MkI 1300 2 door, for £80 when I was 15. Solid old thing with MoT and Tax, my Dad used it as a hack and I learned to drive in it on the beach. I reckoned I did well to sell it for £180 6 months later after some, err, "interesting" drives on the beach. NGR822H, where are you now? (Probably an historic race / rally car I guess).

I'm 46, so maybe? Anyway, I too bought a Capri Mk1.5 (facelift) M reg in 1983 for £60 but it was rotten as a pear and needed loads of welding.

[M666 EVO]

Riggers said:

M666 EVO said:

I am with you on this one. First a mk 3 Escort for 25k, then an EVO 3 (???) for 85k now a mk1 Escort for £65k???

Seriously, how much are you guys getting on the side for this extra advertising?

What next, an Austin Maxi for 50k because velour is suddenly shabby chic or a Vauxhall Viva for 75k because a slidey speedo is SOOOO in right now, just look at Wonga.com!!!

Jesus

So what do you think of the Mexico, then?

I actually like the Mexico. A lot. Be nice to get a story about one too. Not just an advert for someones car...

[KIG1971]

Guys,

Is this the same car, or just similar?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2094303/Ra...



Cheers,

Ian

[theJT]

Is it just me or do the rear wheels on a Mk1 look disproportionately small somehow?