Full Description
SORRY NOW SOLD – SIMILAR WANTED
An iconic AVO Mk1 Ford Escort Mexico with many RS Clubman Pack accessories.
EQUIPMENT
Advanced Vehicle Operations (AVO) Type 49 heavy-duty body, front quarter bumpers, 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. Fitted accessories; Wheel arch extensions, rear turret kit, Cibie Super Oscar and Oscar lamps, uprated Bilstein Grp4 fixed platform shocks, uprated Bilstein Grp4 rear shocks, 2 inch lower blocks, driver Contour Clubman front seat with headrest, passenger Contour front seat with headrest, Springalex steering wheel.
EXTERIOR
Finished in the factory correct and desirable colour of Daytona Yellow, (Code T), which is exactly how it left Fords Advanced Vehicle Operations factory in Aveley. Metal Bubble Arch wheel extensions, as available through the Special Build Programme, combined with black broad Mexico stripes gives the car a purposeful stance. The underside is spotlessly clean in body colour for those enjoying the show scene and hundreds of photos of the thorough restoration commencing almost 10 years ago exist to prove all works. Early car features such as the starting handle hole remain and boot fit gap is wide. The original glass is window etched now showing some markings. Detailed items such as the 1600GT badges and genuine FoMoCo rear lenses are supplemented by Clubman Pack Cibie Oscars and the headlights are upgraded items. A very desirable Ford Rally Sport hero.
INTERIOR
Contour competition front seats, bucket to the driver and recliner to the passenger both with optional headrests, are sought-after competitions department extras. The cockpit is very clean with innate driver appeal thanks to a period Springalex sports steering wheel and a full complement of working instrumentation. This example is fitted with the 140mph speedometer/8,000rpm rev counter only found on very early Mexicos and the headlining and door cards are in excellent condition. The padded dash has a small nick and the raised Ford badge on the passenger door sill is still fitted. The boot area is spotlessly clean with the battery in the boot and stone deflector fittings as per early AVO Mexico examples. This package is hard to beat.
ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
Nestled between the AVO Escorts inner front wings is a rebuilt Kent XFlow bored out to 1700cc. In brief it has a Stage 2 head with larger inlet and exhaust ports, a Newman Phase 3 Cam with Duplex pulley and Duplex timing chain, double valve springs and fully lightened and balanced 1300 pistons with deep pockets. Historic Samco hoses and a big-header dual core radiator assist cooling. The exhaust note is intoxicating! A fabulously clean engine bay with original VIN plate and Special Build body plate will please exhibitionists. A fully rebuilt 4-speed gearbox is a delight to use.
WHEELS, TYRES & BRAKES
Period correct genuine Minilite alloy wheels have a few tiny marks and wear sticky medium compound 215/50 R13 Kumho Ecsta V700 tyres with ample tread. A 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, as per factory built early cars.
HISTORY FILE
Built at Fords Advanced Vehicle Operations factory in Aveley in November 1971, this vehicle was first registered on the 10th April 1972 by Tricentrol Cars (Chemsfold) Ltd to Michael Challis. DVLA records provides a breakdown of each owner including the latest, Mr Mileham, who purchased the car in June 2012. A member of the AVO Owners Club, it is featured in Market Watch within a copy of HAVOC, the AVO Owners Club quarterly magazine for members. Unperturbed by being dry stored for 18 years the car was complete but in need of restoration. The desire of building his ultimate Mk1 Mexico with Bubble Arches began in earnest commissioning renown experts Canada Garage Motorsport. What evolved is a familiar tale and reality check that works required were far in excess of initial thoughts, but determined to see the project through, Mr Mileham agreed to all works at significant cost. All invoices lay testament to this fact along with hundreds of photos highlighting the process. A collection of historic invoices, MOT certificates and general paperwork along with more recent expenditure are included. Ready for a new custodian wishing to avoid the trials and tribulations of a car requiring restoration, this example is sure to draw crowds on every outing!
HPI Clear.