1973 Ford Escort MK1 V8

Originally introduced in 1967, the Ford Escort was a success in many parts of Western Europe. In the UK it was the highest selling car of the whole of the 1960s and In 1974, less than six years after the car's UK introduction, Ford announced the completion of the two millionth Ford Escort, a milestone unmatched by any Ford model outside the USA.

This MK1 Escort has been built to race specification, but not any ordinary MK1 race specification. Steve Howard, who used to build cars for the Clarkson 'Top Gear' team such as the BMW M3 that they famously drove in the 'Britcar 24 Hours', created this car as a labour of love. It's not clear whether the car was built to a set of championship regs for 'Super Saloons' or Castle Combe, or was simply an exercise in producing the 'wildest' Mark 1 Escort they could, but the result is spectacular and the car is road-legal with a V5.

The spec sheet is too long to list here but will be available with the car at the auction. Under the bonnet is a TVR 4.5 AJP V8 running a flat plane billet crank, steel rods and billet cams. Engine management is by MBE with TVR throttle bodies and we understand that the result is a reported 500 bhp and 316lb ft of torque.

All this grunt is handled by a Borg-Warner five-speed box with a straight cut fifth gear and racing clutch. Gaz 'Gold' coil overs are used for the front suspension, Gaz adjustable telescopic dampers on the rear and the whole car is 'rose-jointed'. The brakes are AP racing, four-pot calipers with 320mm vented and drilled discs up front and a setup from a 2WD Sierra Cosworth at the rear. The car is accompanied by an interesting article in 'Fast Ford' magazine detailing its history.

Finished in Ford Focus 'ST' Orange with Black 'Mexico' stripes, this car looks great sat on Silver Minilites and it wouldn't take a lot of detailing to turn it into a 'Paddock Queen', however, it's the quality of components and sheer engineering integrity that is the essence of this Ford, and whether you chose to continue to use it on the circuits, for Sprints and Hill Climbs, or put it through an MOT test and rumble round town, 500bhp in a Mark 1 Escort has to be addictive!