Full Description
SORRY NOW SOLD – SIMILAR WANTED
A genuine AVO Mk1 Ford Escort Mexico with historic National Day awards.
EQUIPMENT
Advanced Vehicle Operations (AVO) Type 49 body, front quarter bumpers, flared wheel arches, strengthened chassis rails, strengthened flitch plates, reinforced front suspension strut top mounting plates, rear radius rods, safety glass, anti-burst locks, black painted aluminium grille, six pod sports binnacle, heater fan, two speed wiper, courtesy light. Factory fitted options; Cigar lighter, Custom Pack – nylon seats, sound deadening material, RS centre console with Kienzle clock, varnished wood trim panels, reclining RS type contoured front seats, heated rear window. Dealer Special Build Programme; RS wiper blade wind deflector.
EXTERIOR
Finished in brilliant Diamond White this genuine Mexico is stunning. Detailing extending to the underside and engine bay will please both owners and onlookers. Vital components such as the rear stone deflector held in by eight bolts in the boot floor and strengthened AVO workmanship are laid bare for all to see. The chrome, glass, and badges are in immaculate order with much of the glass still number plate etched. Some splits exist to the front and rear glass rubber. A few historic markings have been constantly present during the last 23 years of ownership and never prevented the car finishing in the top ten since 2004 at the prestigious Ford AVO National Days. A second place at the 2013 event being a true testament to the striking condition.
INTERIOR
True and exact in every respect to a Ford Mexico Custom Pack interior with hidden attention to detail beyond belief. Removing the pristine door cards will reveal components carefully removed, refurbished and painted. This theme is painstakingly continued throughout. The rare Kienzle clock housed within an uncut RS centre console joins all the other fully operational sports instrumentation providing at a glance concise information. The brushed nylon RS sports seats with optional headrests and button RS logos match a spotless loop pile carpet throughout. Only the varnished wood trim panel to the dash facia shows slight fade in an otherwise perfect interior. The boot area continues the showroom experience with unused tools complete with stickers neatly wrapped in the hessian bag resting on an impossible to source genuine unmarked boot mat.
ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
Onlookers will marvel under the bonnet of this Escort Mexico as it is so clean. The GT crossflow unit with the 711M block has been worked on by renown Vulcan Engineering with the aim of originality in their costly 110 Spec upgrade including conversion of the cylinder head to run on unleaded. Photos of the stripped engine are in the history file. Near impossible to source and correct components grace this engine from the obvious Fomoco radiator to the inconspicuous dipstick bracket. Expect performance of the 1660cc engine to easily match the quoted 85bhp with 0 to 60mph in 10.7 seconds and a top speed over 100mph. The 4-speed synchromesh gearbox was fully rebuilt in by BGH Geartech Ltd with an aluminium bell housing and AP heavy duty clutch proving perfect changes every time.
WHEELS, TYRES & BRAKES
This car it is fitted with the spoke style sculptured pressed steel wheels measuring 5.5x13in finished in Silver Fox with plain stainless steel hubcaps all bright. New Michelin 165 HR13 have been fitted. Optional Minilite Sport Alloys, as available through the Ford Dealer Special Build Programme, are available as an alternative. A pressed steel spare is strapped and angled in the boot. The vacuum servo-assistance brakes run on the standard single line braking system with M16 front calipers on solid discs and Lockheed 9” rear brakes.
HISTORY FILE
Built at Fords Advanced Vehicle Operations factory in Aveley in July 1973 this vehicle has only had seven owners from new. The third owner, Mr Farris joined the AVO club in 1979 and this rare car became the 50th Mexico to be added to the register. A beautiful catalogue of history accompanies the vehicle with detailed photographs taken each time any work has been carried out. This encompasses a 14 week engine rebuild in 1983 as featured in HAVOC, (The AVO Owners Club publication) to a bare metal respray in 2002, to a recent CD file revealing intricate detailing work such as the removal and refurbishment of the fuel tank amongst other things.
An extensive collection of invoices, MOT certificates and home produced technical specification sheets are included. The original owner literature including the Escort Mexico Owner’s Handbook encased in the A5 Ford Sure wallet remains with the spare keys. A previous owner has requested, after making the difficult decision to part with the car, that all trophies, medals, plaques and crystal awards remain with him as a memento of his tremendous efforts. Sold by KGF Classic Cars in 2013 and again in 2016, we are delighted to offer this vehicle a third time to the next discerning collector and Blue Oval enthusiast.
HPI Clear.
