Lot Ended
Description
Fully rebuilt for competition use about five years ago and only 400
miles since; Lotus Twin-Cam engine; recently converted for more comfortable fast
road use; a fine-looking two-door Fast Ford with lots of potential
First registered in Berkshire in
May 1969, this Ford Escort Mk1 has been extensively restored and modified to
create a road legal race car. Although there are no invoices to show exactly
what was done, documents with the car state that the work was carried out by a
previous engineer owner over a three-year period (c.2018 –
2021).
The bodywork was restored as required and painted in gleaming Ermine
White with competition-style Aerocatch bonnet fasteners, while the bumpers, door
handles and bullet-style mirrors all look virtually new. The underside looks to be in equally good
order, as do the floors and inside the boot where the battery has been
relocated.
Under the bonnet is a fully
rebuilt and race-tuned 1,558cc Lotus Twin-Cam engine with twin Weber carbs which
reputedly delivers around 165bhp. This is mated to a rebuilt four-speed
transmission and a rebuilt limited slip diff.
The brakes have been
uprated (discs at the front, drums at the back), with a brake bias switch to
allow adjustment for different surfaces and road conditions. Lotus Cortina
single leaf springs and GAZ shocks are fitted at the back, while coilovers take
care of damping at the front.
When our vendor acquired the car
in September 2023, the interior had been completely stripped out for competition
use with a bolted in roll-cage, racing bucket seats and race harnesses but he
has removed these items and fitted new Lotus-style seats more suitable for road
use. It also had no carpets or headlining and was fitted with aluminium door
cards and perspex side windows. Again, he has fitted new carpets, headlining and
door cards and fitted glass side windows to make it more
habitable.
The dash retains all the race
instruments and the quick-release Alcantara steering wheel has also been left in
place, along with the plumbed-in fire extinguisher system and the racing fuel
tank in the boot.
Originally fitted with Ultralight
13” alloy wheels, these have been replaced with Lotus-style deep-dish steel
wheels fitted with a new set of hubcaps and a new set of Yokohama A539 tyres. It
also had a racing clutch fitted but this proved too hardcore for road use so it
was replaced with a new one that is lighter and smoother to
use.
Recorded as a 1969 Escort Super 1600 on the V5C, with Historic tax
status, it has only covered 416 miles since the rebuild was completed, as
indicated on the digital speedo.
As
you can see in the photos, this a great-looking Twin-Cam replica which has been
starting promptly and running well as we have moved it around on site. Given
that it has covered so few miles since the engine rebuild, it will require a
gentle running-in period and some fine tuning before the performance is
exploited to the full.
Consigned by James Dennison –
07970 309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com