Buyer’s Brief
Now big money, there are nevertheless affordable ways into an Escort MKI
How to buy the best
Ford Escort MKI you can afford.
Why you want one
Many a Ford fan will have read the classic auction reports, cried into their cuppas and realised that any dream they had to buy an Escort Mexico zoomed away quicker than Hannu Mikkola in his RS1600. But in this crazy world of ups and downs, is Escort MKI ownership still possible for mere mortals? We think so, with careful planning and some decent DIY restoration skills.
The first Escort was already a firm classic favourite even before prices began to rise. It’s easy to see why. Having replaced the 105E Anglia in January 1968, the Escort was a massive success in Britain. Its large boot made it practical, the car was easy to drive with good fuel economy. Drive was to the rear wheels in the simple, conventional way, and the trusted Macpherson strut front suspension was combined with a leaf-sprung rear axle. The Escort did however break some new ground, being the first small Ford with rack-and-pinion steering.
All the British models were built at Halewood, while Ford’s German plants built left-hand-drive models for Europe. By June 1974, two million Escorts had been built – a figure then unequalled by any Ford model outside the USA – and 60 per cent of those had been made in the UK.
Which one should I buy?
You may not be in the position to be too fussy. The highperformance stuff is now commanding huge prices. That’s not to say you couldn’t find a shabby example in a barn
– but if your wallet isn’t particularly fat, you’ll need the skills to do it yourself. It’s better news for those who aren’t fussed about having the sportier badges, as those asking prices arent too bonkers.
The first cars off the line were all two-doors, and came with Basic, De Luxe or Super trim, the latter distinguished externally by rectangular headlights. Find an unmolested example – or at least one that can be put back to standard – and they make very usable classic and stand out in the street, where you’re
guaranteed a flurry of chatter and a thumbs up from everyone. Estates and automatics followed in 1968, and there were minor line-up changes until October 1969, when a four-door was added. The range was pretty vast with a variety of engines, so I hope you’re sitting comfortably. At the beginning of production, engines were 1100 or 1300, with a more powerful 1300 GT. Right from the start, there was a rare Twin Cam rally special, too, with 1558cc. From September 1970, engines were uprated and the trim levels re-named L and XL. The GT was retained. July 1971 brought the Escort Sport (a de-trimmed 1300GT) and from March 1973 there was an up-specced 1300E two-door with the 1300GT engine. The GT itself disappeared that November, by which time other models had modified rear damper mountings and a rear anti-roll bar in a new floorpan that