Full Description
SORRY NOW SOLD – SIMILAR WANTED
A fabulous matching numbers AVO Registered Mk1 Ford Escort RS Mexico.
EQUIPMENT
Advanced Vehicle Operations (AVO) Type 49 heavy-duty 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; Reversing lights, cigar lighter.
EXTERIOR
Finished in the correct and early colour of Sunset Red, (Code J), with contrasting white broad Mexico stripes, this iconic car looks tremendous. A bright uniform shine with vital components such as strengthened AVO workmanship are all present to see. The chrome, glass, and 1600GT badges are in excellent order. Early car features such as the starting handle hole with the black rubber grommet and straight chrome bumper are all correct and the underside is spotlessly clean in body colour for those enjoying the show scene. Genuine FoMoCo rear lenses and front indicator lenses are fitted and the front headlights have been upgraded. Detailed items such as the twin-wire Trico Speedblade wipers and petrol cap matched in stripe colour are correct features. A charming, genuine and very presentable Mexico ready for the next rally superhero!
INTERIOR
Being an early car this stunning example is fitted with the basic vinyl black PVC L-spec seats with vertical stitching, (Code AA). Expect no luxury with even the one-piece rubber floor mat fitted rather than carpeting of later Mexicos! Fitted with the desirable Springalex dished steering wheel and 140mph speedometer and 8,000rpm rev counter this car has innate driver appeal. The raised Ford badge on the passenger door sill is still fitted and all gauges function along with the interior courtesy light. The headlining, dash top and door cards are unmarked. The boot area is spotlessly clean with the battery in the boot and spare wheel fixed to the floor as per early AVO Mexico examples. A reproduction boot mat and jack are included. Simple and very special.
ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
Nestled between the AVO Escorts inner front wings is the 1600cc Crossflow unit as fitted to this car from new. A Mexico with matching numbers is a rare thing as is the factory original AVO plate and chassis plate displaying all the correct identity codes. 0-60mph in 10.7 seconds and a top speed over 100mph is quoted. The engine bay is beautifully clean but not all fixtures are production line correct. The chassis number is just visible on the suspension reinforced plate. The factory 4-speed synchromesh gearbox as fitted to the Twin Cam and RS1600 works perfectly.
WHEELS, TYRES & BRAKES
Being an early production car it is fitted with the Mk2 Lotus Cortina/Twin Cam 5.5x13in pressed steel wheels in silver with plain stainless steel hubcaps all bright and straight. Premium Goodyear Grand Prix S tyres measuring 165 SR13 are period looking with ample tread. A standard factory braking system compromising of a Girling Powerstop remote brake servo is fitted at the nearside front of the engine bay resulting in the battery being located in the boot. Front discs and larger rear drums as fitted to the Capri 3.0 do a fine job of stopping this car.
HISTORY FILE
Built at Fords Advanced Vehicle Operations factory in Aveley in July 1971 this vehicle was registered on the 3rd August 1971 and has only had four former keepers from new. A very rare early car finished in one of three launch colours, Sunset Red, and incredibly still a matching numbers example with its factory supplied engine. Sourced by the AVO Owners Club model Registrar and Club Valuer in 2013 for the current Ford RS collector. Personally inspected by Glyn Morgan on the 10th March 2012 who writes that he is ‘completely satisfied that the car is a genuine 1971 Escort Mexico’. The difficult decision to sell this prime example was only taken to make room for a new addition, a low mileage Mk2 Ford Escort RS2000, identical to what the owner had when new! A collection of invoices, MOT certificates and old literature makes fascinating reading along with copies of HAVOC, the AVO Owners Club quarterly magazine for members. Spare keys are included. A very rare car for the avid collector and blue oval enthusiast.
HPI Clear.
