1975 Ford Escort Mk1 Mexico

It seems likely that Ford already had plans to produce a high performance Escort to fit in the range between the 1300GT and the Twin Cam/RS1600, but their victory in the World Cup Rally, finishing 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 bodyshell, as used in the Twin Cam and RS1600, with the 1,600cc Kent 'crossflow' engine and 2000E gearbox. So effectively, the Mexico was basically a re-engined Twin Cam/RS1600. The Mexico became AVO's most successful and numerous of the 'Rally Sport Escorts' and had a number of advantages on the road in that it had excellent performance, was easy to maintain, relatively easy to insure and above all, it was great to drive, something which is still true today. Mk1 Escort Mexico production ended in January 1975 when Ford closed its AVO plant at Aveley.

The car presented here is a UK-supplied 1975 Ford Escort Mk1 Mexico, making it a very late-production example. With an interesting backstory, this Mexico is now in superb, fully restored condition. The car spent its first ten years being enjoyed as intended but by 1984/1985, it needed a new front wing as an aftermarket aerial had been installed. With the wing sourced but not yet fitted, the owner became busy with other projects and the car got 'put away for a bit', which ended up being for 20 years or so! During this time, it was meticulously stripped, with all the original parts being logged and boxed, as the intention was always to get it back on the road 'one day'. Time passed and eventually the decision was made to sell the car – but, always to the right person.

The right person was found and the car went on to become what you now see here. It was fully restored over 14 months, with the bodywork expert (described as properly 'old-school' and who had been offered the job as the restorer on the show Pimp My Ride but declined the opportunity) saying that its Type 49 bodyshell was preserved in 'exceptional condition', reckoning that it was 'the cleanest Escort shell that he’d ever worked on'. The boxed and logged original parts were carefully reinstated, including the original interior, with brand new OEM bits substituting some age-perished items like the headlights, indicator units and window rubbers. The engine, gearbox and drivetrain were all reconditioned and brought up to standard to match the newly painted bodyshell. At this time, some non-standard items were also added, including AVO dampers, twin Weber carburettors on a high lift manifold (utilised to clear the servo), a stainless steel exhaust, poly bushes, and period 'bullet' mirrors.

The completed car was subsequently sold to our vendor’s late brother, who treasured it for the last 17 years, ensuring its continued mechanical health by having his rally car-building friend (Keith), a life-long mechanic and who, again, vouches strongly for the veracity of the whole car, service/maintain it, and in recent years fit an LSD, a new steering rack, and twin 40 Weber carburettors, plus rebuilding the gearbox. The car has always been garaged and mainly just used at shows and weekend drive-outs, covering only c.5,000 miles since its restoration and is now ready for its next custodian. This striking Mexico is maybe not Factory-original, but easily could be made so, with the reassuring knowledge that the all-important AVO shell is in superbly well preserved condition.