1973 Ford Escort Mk1 Mexico

Exactingly restored over 8 years after being stored /many original features

Correct /original AVO shell in its original striking Monza Blue

Genuine Custom interior re-trimmed by renowned specialists, Aldridge Trimmers

The Ford Escort Mexico was introduced in November 1970 and was so named because of Ford Motor Company's victory in the World Cup Rally. This rally started in London on 19th April 1970 and finished some 16,000 miles later in Mexico. Originally Ford intended to use Escorts with the Twin Cam or BDA engine, but after reconnaissance work, it was decided that high speeds and high power were less important than reliability and ease of servicing, and therefore the 'Kent' pushrod engine was used in the Escort shell.

It seems likely that Ford already had plans to introduce a high-performance Escort to fit in the range between the 1300GT and the Twin Cam / RS1600, but their victory in Mexico provided an ideal platform to launch such a model. The engineers at the newly formed AVO (Advanced Vehicles Operations) quickly developed the 'Mexico', marrying the Type 49 body-shell as used in the Twin Cam and RS1600 with the 1600cc Kent 'crossflow' engine and 2000E gearbox. So, effectively, the Mexico was basically a re-engined Twin Cam / RS1600. The Mexico was AVO's most successful and numerous of the 'Rally Sport Escorts,' and it had a number of advantages on the road, in that it had good performance, was easy to maintain, relatively easy to insure and above all it was great to drive, something which is still very true today.

The car presented here is a Ford Escort Mexico which was first registered on the 16th July 1973. It is a matching-numbers example (confirmed by inspection and research), having both chassis and engine numbers that fit perfectly into the prescribed range for its year and type. Having known of the car for a number of years, and being aware of its integrity and originality, our vendor thought it a worthy restoration candidate. Reassuringly it retained its original AVO shell plus many 'Custom' interior features (gear stick surround, ice scraper, heated rear screen, passenger flexible reading light etc.).

Our vendor has just completed working on it, a process that has been lengthy and exacting. The car is now fully restored to a simply superb level and looks fabulous in its original colour of Monza Blue which was particularly rare in period. The bodywork and mechanicals have been given the best possible treatment, whilst the interior benefits from re-trimmed Beta cloth Contour seats by renowned "Aldridge Trimmers".

Nobody can have failed to notice the swell of interest in Classic Fords, particularly the quick ones, and it doesn't look like abating any time soon. This Mexico must surely be one of the best examples available - it is absolutely ready to go and would be an asset to any owner.