1968 Ford Escort Twin Cam                          Registr...

Estimate

£50,000 - £65,000

1968 Ford Escort Twin Cam                         

Registration Number: TRC 521F
Chassis Number: BB49HK09550
Recorded Mileage: 4,848 miles 

- Two owners from new
- Period competition rallying history
- Recently subject of comprehensive restoration

The brainchild of Ford’s Competition Department Manager, Henry Taylor, Taylor felt the new model would be an ideal recipient for the Lotus Twin Cam engine that powered the escort’s bigger brother, the Lotus Cortina. Lighter and smaller than the Cortina, the prospect was a much faster and therefore a successful race and rally car. 

Head of PR Walter Hayes pushed it through, gaining the agreement from the board, and so work began. The first of several prototypes was started at Ford’s Boreham competition department during early 1967, designed for Groups 2 and 3 classes. The first 25 cars were assembled at Boreham with the rest built at Ford’s Halewood factory on the same assembly line as the standard Escort. Here, once each bodyshell was painted and trimmed, it was transferred to a small workshop where a dozen or so workers fitted the special mechanical components.

Production started in December 1967, using the new Type 49 shell, an uprated shell with strengthened inner wings, front suspension top plates, modified centre and rear exhaust hangers, axle tramp bars, skidded rear spring hangers and a stone deflector underneath the boot floor. The engine bay was modified to accommodate the wide Lotus cylinder head, as was the gearbox tunnel, and the battery moved to the left-hand side inner rear wing. Externally the new model was subtly different with wider arches, quarter bumpers, uprated suspension and front disc brakes as standard. 

It worked! The new Twin Cam took home many international race and rally victories from 1968 to 1971. Only 883 Escort Twin-Cams were built before production ended to make way for the RS1600. 

First registered on 10th July 1968, this fabulous earlier Twin Cam, a genuine UK-delivered car, took part in a number of rallies in period with its intrepid owner Mr. Chris Edwards. Later to be stored for many years, the Escort was acquired in 2019 by the second owner and comprehensively restored. 

The work was undertaken by respected specialist Historic Motorsport (SW) Ltd. An exhaustive nut and bolt restoration, the car retained its period Bilstein suspension, Contour seats and rally specification Twin Cam engine. The quality of the work really is first class, the car presents beautifully in Ermine White with a black vinyl interior. The Escort will be supplied with invoices for restoration, plus current V5C and original registration document.

Now completed and with just running in miles since restoration, this highly enjoyable sporting Ford needs to more than to be enjoyed by its next custodian.