“Ford was eager to erase the limitations of its Anglia and develop a platform that would be the basis of a range of performance models”
Ford had been enviously watching the runaway motor sport success of the Mini on racetracks and rallies, and how its close association with motor sport, such as constructor John Cooper, created spinoff models with healthy market results around the world. Ford was eager to erase the limitations of its Anglia and develop a platform that would be the basis of a range of performance models. Escort production began in earnest at its Halewood UK plant in late 1967.
Ford had already seen success through its association with Lotus and the Colin Chapman–developed Lotus Cortina Mark 1 in the formidable 0–1600cc racing class. It was fitted with Coventry Climax engineer Harry Mundy’s twin-camshaft cylinder head, mated to Ford’s 1558cc ‘Kent’ five-bearing block. Many other suspension and body modifications had been carried out by Lotus, and the cars were a major success in motor racing. Ford needed a multi-role car for both European circuit racing and rallying.
“The restoration went on for over six years, and it was expensive!”
HOMOLOGATING THE TWIN CAM
Driven by a line-up of motor racing stars such as Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill, Jackie Ickx, and Roger Clark, it was only a matter of time before Walter Hayes, Ford’s public relations officer and instigator of the Lotus Cortina project, talked his board into approving Ford Boreham competition department head Henry Taylor’s idea of fitting the twin-camshaft Lotus engine into an Escort.
Development of the
