Description
H&H Classic Auction @ The Imperial War Museum, Duxford/ Cambridgeshire
19th June, 2024 13:00
1968 Ford Escort MkI Rally Car
Estimate £40, 000 - £50, 000
Registration No: OKO 566G
Chassis No: BB44HD29896
MOT: Exempt
Sherwood BDA engine, twin Weber 48 DCOE carburettors mated to a 5-speed ZF gearbox
Understood to be eligible for Period Category 2, Class C5 events
AP Racing ventilated front and solid rear discs, rolling on 13” Minilite-style wheels
Offered with MSA Log Book and HRVIF plus current V5C Registration Document
The MkI Ford Escort was introduced in Ireland and the United Kingdom at the end of 1967, making its show debut at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1968. The Escort had conventional rear-wheel drive and a four-speed manual gearbox, or three-speed automatic transmission. The suspension consisted of MacPherson strut front suspension and a simple live axle mounted on leaf springs. The Escort was the first small Ford to use rack-and-pinion steering. The MkI featured contemporary styling cues in tune with its time: a subtle Detroit-inspired "Coke bottle" waistline and the "dogbone" shaped front grille – arguably the car's main stylistic feature. The MkI Escort became successful as a rally car, and eventually went on to become one of the most successful rally cars of all time. The Ford works team was practically unbeatable in the late 1960s / early 1970s, and arguably the Escort's greatest victory was in the London to Mexico World Cup Rally.
First registered with the DVLA on 23rd August 1968, in 2024 ‘OKO 566G’ is very much a period-style ‘stage rally’ Ford Escort MkI. Chassis number BB44HD29896 evidently began life as a 2 door 1100 saloon, is in possession of a Motor Sports Association Competition Car Log Book (issued 12th March 2004 for ‘Stage Rally’) and a Historic Rally Vehicle Identity Form (HRVIF issued 6th March 2015). With a restoration said to have dated from 2003, the MSA documents also describe ‘OKO 566G’ as an ‘RS1600’ with its BDA engine now rated at 1998cc. It is also described as a eligible for Period Category 2, Class C5 in competition. The bodyshell is described as ‘original to this vehicle’ with a bonnet in fibreglass.
The twin-cam engine specification is listed as having twin Weber 48 DCOE carburettors, a 5-speed ZF gearbox (S5-18/ 3), an alloy cylinder head and block, Lucas AB14 electronic ignition and with a dry sump. Stopping power for its c. 1045kg, comes from AP Racing ventilated front and solid rear discs, rolling on 13” Minilite-style wheels. An OMP steering wheel and rack and pinion steering point it the right way whilst keeping it the right way up are McPherson strut, coil springs and Bilstein dampers up front and a beam axle with telescopic dampers and leaf and coil in ‘alternative tarmac spec’ upfront. A Safety Devices ‘roll-over protection system’ bolts into 12 anchorage points. Offered with the aforementioned MSA Log Book and HRVIF there is some MOT paperwork and the current V5C Registration Document. Having not been used in anger for some time a mechanical check over is advised.
