Description
This is lot number 172 in the Bonhams Goodwood Revival Auction on September 7th, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Raced by Colin Chapman in the Jack Brabham Trophy Race at Brands Hatch, 1971
One of only 17 built by Ford's AVO
1971 Tour de France Automobile participant
One of only a handful of survivors
Built in July 1971 and first registered on 1st August 1971, the Ford Escort Mexico we offer is one of 17 fleet cars built by Ford's Advanced Vehicle Operations (AVO) department and then race prepared at Boreham for loan to Ford France to support the Tour de France Automobile in September 1971. The Mexicos ran at a number of circuits in a challenge series, 'La Coupe Escort Mexico', each car being allocated to a French regional newspaper and crewed by a professional driver and a journalist, most likely as a Ford marketing exercise. Finished in yellow, 'HLA 208K' was driven by José Albertini with René Cipriani in the passenger's seat.
After the Tour was complete, the Mexicos were returned to the UK and used for the famous one-off Jack Brabham Trophy Race for Formula 1 Team Managers at Brands Hatch on 24th October 1971. 'HLA 208K' was driven by none other than Lotus boss Colin Chapman. Other luminaries taking part were Jack Brabham, John Surtees, Max Mosley, Frank Williams, Mike Costin, Eric Broadly, Jackie Epstein, Ken Tyrell, Alan Rees and Tim Parnell. Brabham was on pole with Chapman beside him.
Once the flag dropped, the event highlight was a no-holds-barred scrap between Brabham, who had grabbed the lead at the start, and Chapman. According to Motoring News: "It was naturally the lead battle which commanded everyone's attention, for Brabham was up to all his old tricks as Chapman desperately tried to find a way through. Whichever side Chapman chose, somehow when he came to draw alongside, that particular bit of road was full of red Escort." On the last lap Chapman managed to squeeze past on the drop down from Paddock Bend: "But it was not to be. Pounding through Clearways, Chapman tried to grab top gear, only to find that there was nothing there... and Brabham scrambled past on the outside." A bitterly disconsolate Chapman coasted over the finish line in third place behind winner Brabham and John Surtees. By way of consolation, Chapman was credited with the fastest lap of 65. 2s. However, Brabham decided that he could hardly win his own trophy, so Chapman was presented with the winner's garland!
Following the Brands race, the Mexico fleet was sold, some of the cars appearing in the Mexico Challenge in 1972 or competing in rallies, which may well explain why so few remain now; indeed, it is believed that only three others have survived. Copies of the entry list and race reports are on file together with aforementioned material from Alain Beauchef. Offered from a private vendor in fantastic condition, with it unique history it would certainly grace any worldwide collection.
