1973 Ford Escort 1600 Mexico

• An original 1600 Mexico correctly finished in Monza Blue with white stripes
• A combination of the Type 49 body-shell, the 1600cc Kent 'crossflow' and the 2000E gearbox
• Clearly restored to the highest standards. Full engine rebuild in 2015 (invoice in file)
• Bought by our vendor in 2016 and offered from his private collection
• A very fine example offered at a sensible guide

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 some local reconnaissance, 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 produce 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 A.V.O (Advanced Vehicles Operations) quickly developed the 'Mexico', marrying the Type 49 bodyshell 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 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 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.

Offered here is an original, UK-supplied 1600 Mexico correctly finished in Monza Blue with White stripes. Purchased by our vendor in 2016, it has remained in his private collection since but he is in the fortunate position of being able to shuffle his collection around every few years and has only used the little blue Ford occasionally.

The car has clearly been fully restored to a very high standard and within the car's history file is an invoice for a full engine rebuild dating from 2015. Also in the file is a communication from the DVLA detailing the car's nine former owners.

The Mk1 Escort Mexico remains high on most enthusiast's 'wish list' and this is a very fine example offered at a sensible guide.