Launched in Ireland and the UK in 1967 and to the rest of the world at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1968, the MkI Ford Escort was an instant runaway sales success with in excess of 177,000 car being sold by the beginning of 1970. It ran for six generations for the next forty years, with the Mark I shipping 2,000,000 (yes, two million!) cars by the end of its run in June 1974.
Escorts destined for mainland Europe were different from those offered for sale in Ireland and the UK, in that the front suspension and steering gear was set up differently while dual hydraulic circuits were fitted to the braking system. Models for both markets shared a 4 speed manual or 3 speed automatic transmission powering a rear wheel drive configuration. MacPherson strut front suspension and a leaf-spring live axle rear suspension setup was linked to rack and pinion steering.
De Luxe model
Super model
Engine
1300GT / Sport / 1300E
Escort Mexico
The Escort Twin Cam was built for Group 2 International Rallying, with a Lotus-sourced 8 valve twin cam 1.5 litre engine. Originally developed for the Lotus Elan, this engine powered the Escort to a championship win in 1968 in the British Saloon Car series.
Successful also as rally cars, the Mk I Escorts were unbeatable in the late 1960s and early 1970s with their greatest win being attained in the 1970 London to Mexico World Cup Rally. Hannu Mikkola and Gunnar Palm’s winning drive prompted Ford to release 10,352 Escort Mexico models, powered by the 1.6 litre crossflow engine and sporting strengthened bodyshells.
Other models were made before the Mk I was retired in 1974. The RS1600 used a Cosworth BDA 1.6 litre crossflow engine with a 16v Cosworth cylinder head, while the RS2000 model was less troublesome than the RS1600, using a 2.0 litre OHC Pinto engine.
Ford Escort Mexico Mk1 (1973) – Vital Statistics
| Power | 73 kW (98 bhp) @ 6000rpm | |
| Torque | 125 Nm (92 lb/ft) @ 4000rpm | |
| 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) | 11.1 seconds | |
| Maximum speed | 166 km/h (103 mph) | |
| Fuel consumption (average) | 10.4 l/100km (27.1 mpg) | |
| Fuel type, tank capacity | Petrol, 41 litres | |
| Weight | 891 kg | |
| **** | **** | |
| Engine | Ford Kent Crossflow A711M, Overhead valve, Cast iron cylinder head and block, Square main bearing caps, Large diameter cam followers and wider cam lobes, Weber 32/36 DGV carburetor | |
| Displacement | 1599 cc | |
| Cylinders and valves | Inline 4, 8v | |
| Transmission | 4 speed manual | |
| Drivetrain | RWD |