Latest Updates on Mk1 Escort

The Complete History of the MK1 Ford Escort

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 11:59:05 +0000

The history of the MK1 Ford Escort: a revolutionary arrival in Ford’s 1968 lineup, carrying heritage and horsepower. Why did this model make history? We chart the course of the MK1 Ford Escort, from groundbreaking debut to motorsport heroics and cultural icon status. Dive into the article to uncover the engineering ingenuity, rally conquests, and community cult that define its legacy.

Mk1 RS1600 carving up the track at Spa 2015

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 04:46:52 +0000

Track Racing a Mk1 Escort RS1600

In this video we follow Joao Pina Cardoso in an escort RS1600 that starts off the back of the grid and progressively carves through the pack. Awesome in car footage with really good pure engine audio, it’s like you’re in the car too. Lot’s of expensive tin gets left in the dust as Joao catches and passes porsche after porsche - epic.

Best of Mk1 Ford Escort Rallying

Sat, 10 Apr 2021 10:16:41 +0000

This is a great video showing a variety of Mk1 Escorts being driven on the limit. The audio is amazing and so is the action.

Click the image below to play video

Mk1 Escort Rebuild – Retropower Gordon Murray Episode 16

Sat, 10 Apr 2021 10:05:03 +0000

It’s now September 2019 - The car is coming together, the Escort has gone through an IVA test to get it registered.

The paint gets a 40 hour buff and ceramic coat and then the Mk1 Escort gets a blast on the rolling road at Northhampton Motorsport and we see the process used to tune and map the engine for the best power and emissions. The sound when the durotech gets opened up is pretty impressive, but it’s no twin webbered BDA!

Mk1 Escort Rebuild – Retropower Gordon Murray Episode 15

Sat, 10 Apr 2021 09:47:31 +0000

It’s now June 2019 - we get to see the Car’s first public appearance at Goodwood Retro Rides weekender along with a bunch of other customer project cars, including a Chevette HSR, Audi Quattro and a millington powered Alfa. There’s also a nice green Mk2 Cortina with toyota engine - travesty!

Mk1 Escort Rebuild – Retropower Gordon Murray Episode 14

Sat, 10 Apr 2021 09:14:17 +0000

In this episode we get a catch up on progress with the Mk1 Escort in April 2019. We get a walk through BTB exhausts, who manufactured the exhaust system for the Mk1. Then the Retropower guys run through how the new dry sump tank was designed and manufactured from scratch and we see the tank being manufactured and welded. The interior also gets some attention, with the head lining, dash upholstery, some cool demist vents and door cards which are a plastic base that will get a leather finish. The guys 3d print custom surrounds for accessing the rear strut tops for adjustment and have fitted all new glass all round.

Mk1 Escort Rebuild – Retropower Gordon Murray Episode 13

Tue, 19 Mar 2019 06:16:17 +0000

In this episode we get a catch up on progress with the Mk1 Escort prior to it going in for exhaust fabrication.

Here’s Episode 13:

Video: Retropower on YouTube · watch “Gordon Murray's MK1 Escort - Retropower Build Episode 13” on YouTube

Mk1 Escort Rebuild – Retropower Gordon Murray Episode 12

Wed, 20 Feb 2019 20:34:00 +0000

In this episode of the restomod of Gordon Murray’s Mk1 Ford Escort by Lancs based Retropower,we get a look at the rolling shell complete with engine and gearbox in place.

Mk1 Escort Rebuild – Retropower Gordon Murray Episode 11

Tue, 19 Feb 2019 20:30:53 +0000

In this episode we get a look at the painted shell and the Retropower guys visit the Nitron factory to see how the custom struts are progressing. Some serious work has gone into the paint process, from a 2 pack acrylic base they progressively knocked back the finish with 1500 grit wet & dry, through to 3000 grit & mop cut and polish down to 3000 grit paste. Rumour has it, it will be followed up with a ceramic coating in a later episode.

Mk1 Escort Rebuild – Retropower Gordon Murray Episode 10

Tue, 19 Feb 2019 03:23:34 +0000

In this episode we get a look at some detailed paint prep on the newly modified Mk1 Escort shell.

Here’s Episode 10:

Video: Retropower on YouTube · watch “Gordon Murray's Mk1 Escort - Retropower Build Episode 10” on YouTube

Mk1 Escort Rebuild – Retropower Gordon Murray Episode 9

Sun, 17 Feb 2019 20:22:47 +0000

In this episode the Retropower guys complete the metalwork, strip the car back down to a shell, zinc spray ahead of the paint prep. We get a good look at the Escort on a rotisserie getting the seams sealed.

Mk1 Escort Rebuild – Retropower Gordon Murray Episode 8

Thu, 14 Feb 2019 20:49:28 +0000

In this episode the Retropower guys take a look at the car at the end of the dry build stage. Gordon gets a good look around the work that’s been done, checks out the driving position, new suspension and under body mods.

Mk1 Escort Rebuild – Retropower Gordon Murray Episode 7

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 20:47:53 +0000

In this episode the Retropower guys take a look at the progress on the metalwork and explain the dry build process. The Escort comes off the jig and onto a rotisserie so we get a good look at the work done on the underside.

Mk1 Escort Rebuild – Retropower Gordon Murray Episode 6

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 20:30:08 +0000

In this episode the Retropower guys take a look at the progress on the bodywork. Most of the outer panels are on and complete. The custom dash metalwork is in place and some extra cross braces and seat mounts have been welded in to give a bespoke driving position requested by Gordon. The pedals have been modified to allow the room for a clutch foot rest and the steering column swapped out for an Opel Mantra unit that has a crumple zone. We also get a look at the start of work on the rear suspension. A turret kit is going in, however they are converting to landrover freelander struts and coil over suspension with engineered camber adjustors - not sure how I feel about that, but it looks interesting.

Mk1 Escort Rebuild – Retropower Gordon Murray Episode 5

Mon, 11 Feb 2019 20:36:39 +0000

In this episode the Retropower guys visit the cosworth factory and take a stroll through history with the progressive display of cossie engines on display starting with the first Anglia 105e in 1964 through to the F1 DFV engines. They also get up close in the dyno bays where all the classic cosworth engines have been developed including the current durotech models.

Sills, Floor, Tunnel & Seat Fitting – Retropower Gordon Murray Mk1 Escort Ep 4

Sun, 10 Feb 2019 20:16:32 +0000

In Episode 4 of Retropower’s Gordon Murray Mk1 build, the sills, floor and transmission tunnel are rebuilt, the front end is reshaped around the cooling and dry-sump plumbing, and the independent rear suspension starts to take shape. Then Gordon himself drops in to sit in the car and set his driving position.

Jig, Rust Repair & Interior Design – Retropower Gordon Murray Mk1 Escort Ep 3

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 10:43:27 +0000

Episode 3 is the first proper metalwork episode. The Mk1 shell is bolted square on a jig, the rust and old accident damage are cut out, and a dummy Cosworth engine is offered up. Then Retropower’s designer walks through the second round of interior design for Gordon Murray.

Bare Shell Verdict & IRS Plan – Retropower Gordon Murray Mk1 Escort Ep 2

Thu, 07 Feb 2019 20:40:49 +0000

In Episode 2 the Escort shell comes back from blasting, and Retropower finds out whether the gamble they took buying a repainted car has paid off. The second half of the episode is the engineering plan: which panels get replaced, how the shell gets lighter, and why Gordon Murray’s Mk1 ends up with independent rear suspension.

The Brief & the Donor Car – Retropower Gordon Murray Mk1 Escort Ep 1

Thu, 07 Feb 2019 12:47:45 +0000

Episode 1 is where Retropower’s restomod of a Mk1 Escort for Gordon Murray, the engineer behind the McLaren F1, begins. Nothing gets welded yet. Instead we hear how the job landed in the workshop, what Gordon actually asked for, and how the team picked the shell that everything else would be built on.

Video – Cosworth Powered Mk1 Review

Sun, 03 Feb 2019 20:14:06 +0000

Jamie takes this beautiful Mk1 for a spin around the lanes on a soggy west country January day. Loads of custom work has gone into this car with it’s early sierra cosworth head and custom intake.

RS2000

Thu, 23 Feb 2017 03:10:41 +0000

Mk1 Escort RS2000

Released in 1973, the Ford Escort Mk1 RS2000 was the progression from a number of successful RS models that dominated the race and rally scene in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s

Clark Mason Mk1 Escort RS1600 1:24 Model [2017]

Thu, 23 Feb 2017 01:22:04 +0000

Mk1 Escort Model Kit 2017

So we found this beauty on amazon.co.uk – the listing has possibly the worst photo I’ve ever seen on any product ever. Incredibly dodgy photo with a font that was released at the same time the car was dominating the UK rally scene.

Ford Escort Mk1 Compilation

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 00:15:14 +0000

Mk1 Escort Video Compilation

This little beauty just dropped on Youtube vie Mk1Kieran.

A collection of well turned out Mk1 Escorts of all varieties generally misbehaving.

The Blue Mexico at 4:50 caught my eye – stunning motor !

Owners Clubs

Tue, 31 Jan 2017 11:44:26 +0000

Here’s a list of Owners clubs where any Mk1 Escort owner would be welcome.


Club Name	Website	Email
Sporting Escort Owners Club	seoc.co.uk	contactus@seoc.co.uk
The Old Skool Ford	oldskoolford.co.uk	admin@oldskoolford.co.uk
The Ford RS Owners Club	rsownerasclub.co.uk	info@rsownersclub.co.uk
AVO Owners Club	avoclub.com	secretary@avoclub.com
Ford Owners Club	fordownersclub.com	not published
Ford Enthusiast & Owners Club	feoc-uk.com	not published
Ford Owners Club	fordownersclub.com	not published
Ford Sport	fordsport.org.uk	info@fordsport.org.uk
West Sussex RS Owners Club	westsussexrsoc.co.uk	onslack@yahoo.co.uk
Ford Club	fordclub.co.uk	Active Forum
Somerset RS Owners Club	somerset-rsoc.co.uk	not published
Nottingham RS Owners Club	nottingham-rsoc.co.uk	not published
Derbyshire RS Owners Club	derbyshire-rsoc.co.uk	not published
RS Owners Club Ireland	rsownersclubireland.ie	info@rsownersclubireland.ie
ACT Small Ford Owners Club	actsmallfordowners.org	capriandsmallfordmuster@bigpond.com
RS Owners Club Australia	rsownersclubaust.com.au	president@rsownersclubaust.com.au
Ford Owners Car Club S Aust	fordownerscarclub.com.au	not published
Small Ford Car Club NSW	smallfordcarclub.com.au	info@smallfordcarclub.com.au
British Ford Car Club QLD	britishfordcarclub.com	pb.riggs@bigpond.com
Ford Rallye Sport Club (WA)	fordrallyesportclub.com.au	info@fordrallyesportclub.com.au
RS Owners Club NZ	fordrsoc.org.nz	not published

Did we miss anyone ?

Video | RS2000 Tarmac Rally Compilation HD

Thu, 05 Jan 2017 06:34:22 +0000

Fantastic fottage of a well turned out Mk1 at the Famalicao Tarmac Rally – Check out 26 seconds in…

Return to Mk1 Escort Home – Or Mk1 Escort Videos

Video | Historic Rally Footage

Sat, 17 Dec 2016 08:15:03 +0000

Love the audio on this one – plenty of awesome Mk1’s in this field. Could listen to those twin webers all day.

Return to Mk1 Escort Home – Or Mk1 Escort Videos

Video – Severn Valley Historic Rallly

Sat, 17 Dec 2016 08:09:10 +0000

Plenty of MK1 action in this video. A great mix of marques flying around the Welsh Forests.

Back to Mk1 Escort Home or Mk1 Escort Videos

Mk1 Escort Rally Preparation – Rear Suspension

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:14:56 +0000

Mk1 Escort rally preparation – rear suspension

The major goal for the rear suspension of any race or rally car, is to prevent sideways movement in the rear axle and to get the rear axle moving only in an up & down direction.

Mk1 Escort Rally Preparation – Front Suspension & Handling

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:36:38 +0000

For serious rough stage rallying, suspension is probably the most crucial thing to get right. Luckily these days there are plenty of options and aftermarket products to allow for adjustments to ride height, camber etc.

Mk1 Escort Rally Preparation – Body Shell

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:11:08 +0000

The MK1 Escort has been used for rallying since it’s release in 1968.

Now featuring prominently in classic, historic and clubman competitions, the MK1 Escort is still an effective and cheap way to go rallying.