FOUR FLAVOURS
To keep things simple MST have four ‘specifications’ for their MkI or MkII. However, if you have the money you can pretty much have whatever you like – although for that you’d need to start with at least £69,500 ($137,610).
The guidelines for the MST cars are as follows:
STAGE 1: FAST ROAD AND TOURING
Based on the 1960s/’70s classic with a modern twist – ideal for touring or a quick blast down the lanes – here’s a brand-new, road registered MkI or MkII.
New bodyshell hand-built in the UK, built to ‘TYPE
49’ specification. Includes all basic body and chassisstrengthening features. Stamped withDV LA registered VIN/ chassis number. Flared or bubble arches. Minilite 13-inch wheels. Alloy in-boot, lightweight fuel tank. State-of-the-art electrical system including electronically controlled power steering. 2.5L Ford Duratec engine as standard. 150kW+, fivespeed H-pattern gearbox. ATR throttle bodies. Lightweight flywheel and heavy-duty clutch. Simpson stainless steel race manifold and system. Billet alloy lightweight wet sump. Hand-made alloy radiator. Front suspension: Bilstein dampers, adjustable height 2.25-inch coil-over suspension, AP Racing four-pot alloy calipers. Rear: Bilstein dampers, anti-tramp bars, uprated leaf springs, single piston calipers. Adjustable front-to-rear bias pedal box. The car can be painted in any colour. The interior can be fully trimmed for touring or a minimal lightweight version with various seat options available from classic bucket seats to recliners to FIA race seats. Three-point seat belt or FIA six-point harness. Various three-spoke steering wheels, leather or suede.
That’s the lowest spec, and I am already salivating!
STAGE 2: FAST ROAD
Based on the original Group-4 rally cars, this version is for high-performance driving both on the road and track. In addition to Stage 1 specs, you can have:
2.0L Ford BDG Engine 270kW+ or a 2.5L Millington Diamond Engine, 223kW+. Five or six-speed H-pattern close ratio gearbox. Atlas axle with LSD. Optional upgrades include a six-speed sequential gearbox, lever, or paddle shift. Minilite 8×13 or 8x15 wheels. Bubble (MkI) or tarmac arches (MkII). Fully welded in roll-cage. Front suspension: Bilstein Group-4 coil-overs, modular fully adjustable suspension. Rear: Bilstein Group-4 coil-overs, six-linked fully adjustable live axle, lightweight alloy hubs. Optional Rieger 3/4-way adjustable dampers.
For all the above you’ll need $85,000 ($168,300). Ready for Stage 3?
STAGE 3: COMPETITION
Built to the highest standards – to either modern MSA or historic FIA regulations. Available for a wide range of events – tarmac, gravel, historic or safari. Further to MST’s Stage 2:
2.5L Ford Duratec Rally spec Engine 186kW+. Simpson full stainless exhaust system. Dry sump system, lightweight motorsport fuel systems. Life Racing ECU, various pre-set maps, optional traction control, launch control, data logging power distribution unit with motorsport wiring harness. Six-speed sequential gearbox, lever, or paddle shift or Historic legal ZF gearbox. ‘Group-4’ rally specification, fully welded in roll-cage. Fully strengthened, rear axle, six linked and turreted. Front suspension: Bilstein Group-4 coil-overs, modular fully adjustable. Rear: Bilstein Group-4 coil-overs, six-linked fully adjustable live axle. Hydraulic handbrake; spot lamps; rally mudflaps; sump guards. FIA-approved race seats and six-point harness. Power steering. Alloy Minilite 8×13 / 9x13 / 8x15 / 9x15 wheels.
Stage 3 prices start at $95,000 ($188,100).
STAGE 4: ULTIMATE RACE AND RALLY
246kW+ Millington 2.5L or 260kW+ 2.7L Millington Diamond with Simpson stainless steel race manifold and dry sump oil system. Paddle shift/flat shift gear changes. Launch control/ traction control options on Tractive six-speed sequential gearbox. Motorsport electrical systems. Motorsport driver display and instrument, various pre-set maps, data logging. Modern power distribution unit with motorsport wiring. WRC spec long suspension travel bodyshell. Lightweight carbon fibre panels. Turreted, large wheel tubs, with welded in roll-cage. Six-linked fully adjustable, fully floating Atlas axle, LSD. Rieger WRC spec suspension for tarmac or gravel four-way adjustable coil-overs. WRC type floor mounted bias pedal box. Front and rear WRC spec AP Racing four-pot alloy calipers. Minilite style 8×15 / 9×15 wheels; alloy hubs. Adjustable steering column with quick release boss.
Stage 4 is a ‘money’s no object’ specification – so money should be no object!
I don’t need a rally weapon, but the idea of a car with a civilised interior that is likely to be as fast or faster than anything else on the road A to B, and which connects with the past so readily is very appealing.
Would I want a thoroughly modern engine or something that is more closely linked to a ‘70s car? I like the idea of a sequential change, but not at the expense of the ‘70s sound experience.
All these decisions are just too hard so it’s probably a good job that I can’t afford any of them – but you might be able to.
MkI and II panel, which of course you can buy individually for your own restoration project, or if you roll your Escort into a ball of scrap. These panels, made on their own tools, can be fully built up using the latest welding techniques and a millimetre-perfect jig into a whole shell. This led to MST sourcing and developing every single part that goes into a professional modern Escort competition car, such as harnesses, electronics, and safety equipment. You can make the operation of your car as modern as you like with state-ofthe-art electronics hidden under that classic skin.
If Father Christmas came along and said, you can have any Escort, any specification to suit your budget (which will be big), brand new, stronger than strong, more powerful than they ever were (if that’s what you want), built to any set of regulations you might wish to compete under, you’d look at him askance and say – “I don’t believe you”. But you can.
As MST manufactures so much for the original MkI and MkII, they have now decided to put everything together in a fully built-up and finished car especially for you. Properly welded and fully equipped with forest arches. New shells beautifully finished and road registered, brand new, all of it as radical or as civilised as you like.
Do you remember further back into your childhood when you went to the Lego box and turned it upside down on the floor with delight and decided what you would build? That’s what it is like opening the MST catalogue.
To remain competitive the MST MkI and MkII have gone far beyond the BDA-powered cars of the past.