1973 Ford Escort Mk1 Mexico
Highlights
- Older comprehensive restoration
- Carefully upgraded rebuilt 1,640cc engine
- Well-known in AVO and Ford circles
- Former RetroFord magazine star
- Huge history file of work
- Very good condition and desirable spec
The Appeal
Such was Ford’s utter dominance of the world rally stages that nobody needed to explain why its new fast Escort was named after a faraway South American country. Featuring the Type 49 shell and essentially a re-engined Twin Cam with the Kent 1.6L Crossflow motor, the Mexico was much more than a set of stylish cosmetic addenda - although it was that too.
Good, genuine Mexicos are in high demand. This one is believed to have been first campaigned by Motoring News between 1973 and 1975. It was acquired by the most recent registered keeper in 2000 and subsequently restored - twice: once in 2002 and again in 2009. Finished in stylish Olympic Blue with a Custom Pack Recaro interior, the specification is a testament to the owner’s detailed knowledge of these superlative cars.
The car’s quality is similarly impressive. This is a show-winning motor, RetroFord feature star and a Mexico that is well known in local and national Ford and AVO circles. With great provenance and superb condition, if you’re in the market for one of Ford’s best quick cars, this one deserves your attention.
The History and Paperwork
- First registered 19th October 1973
- Confirmed factory built September 1973 by AVO Club
- Extensive history folder including invoices
- Invoices from well regarded specialists such as Burton Power
- Old MOTs and print out of recent digital MOTs shown in photographs
- 12 keepers from new
- One registered keeper since March 2000
- Originally white with colour change recorded in February 2002
- HPI clear
- VIN number BFATNC00181
- Car rebuilt soon after March 2000 including stripping bodyshell and repainting
- Car repainted by Wee Eck Cooper
- Reassembled by most recent registered keeper and friends, including Merk and Forrest
- Engine rebuilt by JEM Engines to high specification with details in photographs and below
- Rebuilt again in 2009 over 109 days, including full strip down and rebuild
- AVO correspondence confirming chassis number, previous engagement with car and build date
- Featured in RetroFord magazine in January 2015 which appears in photographs
- Photographs of car, including those used in a magazine article
- Newspaper cuttings from Wee County featuring the car and most recent registered keeper
- Scottish 'Old Skool Escorts' calendar dated 2006 which features this car
- Vendor tells us that the car is believed to have been campaigned by Motoring News between 1973 and 1975
- Historic Vehicle that is MOT, tax and ULEZ exempt
- Last MOT expired May 2019 with 34,307 miles showing on test and no advisories
- Now showing 35,386 miles
- Old style V5
History highlights:
- Best Car of Show at Crail Raceway 2004
- Escort Club Stand at Bridge of Allan Show 2003 - Best Car
- North East Scotland Owners Club 2005 show - Best Car
- Voted one of the Top 10 Mexicos at AVO National 2008
- Best ¼ mile at Crail Raceway of 16.4secs
- Rolling road tested to 129bhp
- Used for trackday at Knockhill once per year for the last two decades
The Condition
- Refinished in Olympic Blue using Type 49 shell
- Paintwork in very good order with only light points to note in photos
- Bodywork presents very well with minor marks visible in photos
- Carefully detailed original and upgraded, factory-correct specification
- Uprated interior with Custom Pack features including a six dial display and RS seats
- Well-detailed cabin with Kienzle clock and original Ford radio
- Few signs of age or use across interior but some very minor points to note in photos
- Underside reported to be in good order with no issues reported
- Some minor light bubbling next to the headlight are visible, some minor paint imperfections visible here and there
Bodywork repairs during 2000 and 20090 restorations:
- Two front wings
- Front panel using early one with hole for starting handle
- Wing rails
- Strut top plates
- Radiator cross member
- A post pillars
- Floor pans front & rear
- Front chassis legs
- Middle chassis sections
- Inner & outer sills
- Rear wheel arches
- Inner & outer tank wells
- Inner & outer wheel wells
- Rear valance
- Ford Olympic Blue two pack paint & royal blue decal with Mexico decal
Interior and exterior specification:
- RS roll-top Recaro seats
- RS custom console, Kienzle clock, Ford period radio
- Twincam 140mph six dial dash clocks
- Springaflex three-spoke steering wheel
- Blue top tint front laminated windscreen
- Olympic Blue paint
- Black pinstripe decal kit
- Chrome front bumpers
- Early twin cam bonnet release catch
- Wingard ‘bullet’ chrome door mirrors
- RS window wiper aerofoil
- Magard alloy spot lamp brackets
- Cibie oscar spot lamps (2up/2 down)
- Ford Rallye Sport replica spot lamp covers
- Rear skid pan mud deflector
- 13" x 6"J Superlite alloy wheels
- 175/70/13 Yokahama tyres
In a modern era when ‘go faster’ means big wheels, vast spoilers and lots of red highlights, it is refreshing to see this stunning Mexico. It is both simply styled and carefully detailed to deliver a very purposeful car that strongly evokes those gravel-scrabbling rally winners.
The specification of this car reads like a Mexico buyer’s wish list. It is finished in Olympic Blue with an uprated Custom Pack interior and has been carefully enhanced, a fastidious Mexico enthusiast. You can read about that above and view the impressive results in the photos.
The car was originally restored by the seller in 2000 and then again in 2009. It has been used very sparingly since, picking up a run of awards as well as a magazine feature since completion. Today it presents exceptionally well and is amongst the best Mexicos we’ve seen recently.
The Mechanics
- 1,640cc Kent Crossflow 4cyl Ford engine rebuilt by JEM engines
- 4spd manual 2000E Mexico-correct manual gearbox
- 3.54:1 differential
- AVO suspension
- Superflex bushes
- Fully rewired during restoration
- Engine and mechanical specification shown in photos and summarised below
- No reported running or driving issues
Mechanical specification:
- 1640cc Crossflow JEM-built engine
- Lightened & balanced flywheel
- Kent BCF3 camshaft
- High pressure oil pump
- Big valve head & double valve springs
- Bronze valve guides
- H&H distriburator & coil pack
- Big header radiator
- Twin 40 DCOE Weber carburettors
- Twin throttle linkages
- Braided fuel lines
- Facet electric fuel pump & regulator
- Nine-gallon petrol tank
- 2000E three-rail gearbox
- Single-piece propshaft
- 3.77 ATB CWP rear English axle
- Rear 9" brake drums & brake shoes
- AVO adjustable rear shock absorbers
- 2" lowering blocks
- Multi-leaf springs
- Alloy strut top mounts & spacer kit
- 2½" front coil-over front gusseted struts
- 140lbs 10" front springs - 1"
- AVO top adjustable front strut inserts
- Vented & grooved front brake discs
- 2.8i Capri M16 front brake calipers
- Mintex front brake pads
- 2½ turn quick steering rack
- GRP 4 steering coupling
- Superflex bush kit
- Janspeed single box & branch manifold
Ford wanted to get its road and rally cars so right that it created a special division to develop them - Advanced Vehicle Operations. What AVO started, many owners of these cars have wisely sought to make even better.
This car follows that philosophy. It sticks closely to the original factory specification. There is a 1,640cc Kent Crossflow engine that has been rebuilt by JEM Engines to deliver 129bhp. The 2000E manual gearbox is factory-correct. Thereafter the list of improvements is a paean to the most recent registered keepers knowledge and enthusiasm. It is extensive and listed above, delivering a car that is arguably better to drive and certainly quicker than how it left the AVO works.
With very sparing use by the enthusiast keeper since completion, this car is in very fine mechanical order. It is clear from the history file that no expense has been spared to maintain what is clearly a labour of love and a very reluctant sale.
BEFORE YOU BUY
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✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.
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Vehicle specification
- Year 1973
- Make Ford
- Model Escort
- Colour Blue
- Odometer 35,386 Miles
- Engine size 1601
Listing Details
- Seller type Private
- Town Coventry
- Location West Midlands
- Country United Kingdom
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