Ford Escort Twin Cam Mk1 1968
By motoring writer – Daniel Matthews
Introduced at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1968, the Mk1 Ford Escort was a revelation. In an era when the Austin/Morris 1100 was ageing, and the Cortina was growing large and expensive, the Escort was exactly what the market needed. After just six years being sold in the UK, Ford produced their two millionth Escort – a milestone then unmatched by any Ford model outside of the United States. Production ranged from Dagenham in England to Homebush, Australia, with cars being exported to various markets all around the world, but it somewhat struggled behind the Opel Kadett in mainland Europe.
The Escort used a rear-wheel drive layout with a four-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmission, and a range of trim levels was offered. The suspension was by MacPherson struts in the front and a live axle in the rear, but the simplicity, low weight and driving feel were a recipe for competition success. The ordinary 1.1- and 1.3-litre cars weren’t the fastest by any means, but when it came to world rallying, Ford brought out their big guns with the Twin Cam.
Built for Group 2 rallying, the Twin Cam used Lotus’ eight-valve twin-cam head fitted a 1.5-litre non-crossflow cylinder block, with an enlarged capacity of 1558cc – the engine had originally been developed for the Lotus Elan. Twin Cam production was phased out with the introduction of the RS1600, but its impact on motorsport was undeniable. The most famous example was raced by Alan Mann Racing in the British Saloon Car Championship in 1968 and ’69 but with a Formula 2 Ford FVC 16-valve engine with over 200 bhp. The ‘base’ Twin Cam produced 105 bhp and was produced from 1968 to 1971.
The Mk1 Escort is still one of the most common sights at historic rallying events, be it authentic Twin Cams and RS’ or cars converted to resemble such. Few other cars will get car enthusiasts fired up with tales of ‘the good ol’ days’ and rekindle a racing spirit in their hearts. As with the majority of the UK car scene, I love the Escort Mk1 and am so glad they are still used in the way Ford intended. Another icon of motoring. …
– Acknowledgment – I would like to acknowledge and thank motoring writer Daniel Matthews for this post. His life-long passion for cars and combined automotive knowledge are both reflected in his fresh and informative style of writing. Dan’s articles and internet blogs are always interesting to read and easy to absorb, that’s why I’m so grateful to him for allowing me to share some of his work on this website. You can see more of Dan’s blogs on this website (link below) – |