classic fords restored: escort 1300gt
To be strictly accurate, Kevin McDermid’s Mk1 Escort is a 1300Sport with a Pinto that looks like an RS1600. But we’re here for the other car in his life; a virtually stock 1973 Escort 1300GT. “The GT belongs to my wife Maria,” explains Kevin, “it was her birthday present that I restored with help from various friends.” Maria and Kevin are very much a Ford family: “We’ve had Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts, Capris, a Sierra 4x4, an RS2000… and Maria wanted a Mk1 to take to shows.
The GT had sat outside the workshop I share with my mate Gary Cook, it looked solid so I bought it from him in 2018.”
For much of its life the Escort was a one-owner car. “A retired army major bought it at Mayne’s Garage in Redruth, Cornwall on August 1, 1973 as one of a pair of 1300GTs,” continues Kevin, “the other one was red and became his
