Bojan Vrbnjak
August 1968: While high-tech work is underway in the US for the first manned flight to the Moon, Ford in Germany promotes low technology: “The functional beauty of the successful bodywork made the Escort a hit in England and export markets,” he tells reporters. On the hotel stage Hilton in what was still western Berlin at the time, there is a slightly oddly designed limousine: the new Ford Escort.
Just a show for the public? No way. Production Ford Escort started in the UK November 1967, and the car made its debut January 1968. The idea for this came from the headquarters of the American company in order to create more synergies in Europe. Until then, Great Britain and Germany had it completely independent model ranges. More cooperation – this later proved to be the case with the model Capri. However it is Escort as the first European child very much like his British mother. He was there Escort designed as a successor to the unusual England. By the way, at the request of the Germans, the name was changed to Escort just before the start of series production. Otherwise, it is Ford in Cologne participated in the development only to a lesser extent.
The Germans are at least somewhat cumbersome design with a slight slope of the sides intended for an additional version with a rear door. The farm chassis becomes a point of contention: the wheels are in front individually hung on levers with integrated springs. At the back, there is only a rigid axle with leaf springs. Ford Germany always installed a transverse stabilizer at the front. The chassis was years 1969 changed again in 1970 Ford Germany added two trailing arms to the rear axle.
Basic engine he was in Germany 1100 cm3 s 40 BAM, and even an asthmatic displacement four-cylinder engine was available for some markets, such as Italy 950 cm3. At the time, this was still quite rare in the beetle class: In this case, it was 1,3 liter Escort with 57 hp optionally available with a three-speed automatic transmission. In the UK, simple technology doesn't seem to bother anyone - after all, it also ensures good prices. It's here Escort under attack: just five months after the start of sales on the market, the production line v Halewood near Liverpool drove 100.000. model. Ford Germany produces the Escort v Genku in Belgium and later in Saarlouis.
Ford in the middle of the year 1974 already made two million Escort models. At the same time, a new one came on the market VW Golf with front-wheel drive and a practical hatchback body. Second generation Escort, which was introduced in 1975, is therefore having a hard time, especially since it is still technically based on the previous model. June 1974, six years after the vehicle went on sale in the UK, Ford announced that they had reached the milestone two million Ford Escorts, which was a milestone that no Ford model outside the US had ever achieved. 60 percent of the two million Escorts were built in the UK. In West Germany, they produce approx 150.000 cars, and this number was in 1974, which was the last full year for the model Escort Mk1, decreased to 78.604.
V motorsport was the first Escort big winner: Victory of the Finnish legend Hannu Mikkola and a Swedish passenger Gunnar Palm on the rally for the world championship from London to Mexico at the 1970 World Cup was probably Escort's biggest win. Ford presented a special edition model in honor of the rally car Escort Mexico (1 598 cm3 "Crossflow" engine) for road use. In total, they were produced 10.352 copies the Mexico model, introduced in November 1970, whose bodywork was equipped with additional reinforced panels in particularly stressed areas to make it more suitable for competitions.
In addition Mexican model je RS1600 made with Cosworth BDA engine, which uses a crossflow block and a 16-valve Cosworth cylinder head. Both Mexico and RS1600 manufactured in the plant Ford Advanced Vehicle Operations (AVO) at the factory Aveley in the south Essex (United kingdom). In addition to more powerful engines and sports suspension, these models have, just like Mexico, also a reinforced body. Ford produced a very rare model even now RS2000 as an alternative to the RS1600 model, which was equipped with 2,0-liter Pinto engine (OHC). This model also scored several rally and race victories and heralded the hot hatch market, almost Ford Golf GTI. Like the Mexico and the RS1600, this car was factory built Aveley using a reinforced body.
Ford Escort Mk1
