Lot number | 52 |
---|---|
Hammer value | £6,500 |
Description | Ford Escort MkII 1300GL Two-door |
Registration | XPB 118S |
Year | 1978 |
Colour | Midnight Blue |
Engine size | 1,298 cc |
Chassis No. | GCATUJ00739 |
Engine No. | UJ00739 |
Launched in 1968 to replace the long running Anglia, the Escort soon became Britain’s best-selling car, with a record-breaking 2 million sold by 1974.
Updated in early 1975 as the Escort MkII, it was little changed mechanically (retaining the MacPherson strut front suspension and simple, but effective live axle/leaf spring rear set up) but received a completely new bodyshell. Developed jointly between Ford UK and Germany, this had more modern, squared off lines and a revised underbody structure.
As before it came in a variety of trim options from L, GL and Sport to a top-of-the-range Ghia. Buyers could choose between two and four-door saloon bodies or even a three-door estate version. As on the MkI there was a choice of 1.1, 1.3 and 1.6-litre engines and automatic transmission was available as an option. Further updates came in 1978 with the L models gaining square headlights (previously exclusive to the GL and Ghia variants) along with a wider front track and improvements to the interior.
The Escort range had fairly simple equipment levels but this did not prevent more than 600,000 cars from being sold before it was replaced by the far less characterful MkIII in 1980, sales no doubt being helped by the MkII’s impressive competition record which included winning the RAC Rally every year from 1975 to 1979.
This 1300GL was first registered in June 1978 and had just one owner from new until it was acquired by the vendor in 2005 to join his private collection. It has covered some 48,000 miles to date and reputedly comes with a good history file and a well-stamped service book to warrant the mileage.
It is said to be “exceptionally clean and original” and to show no signs of modification or previous welding or restoration other than a repaint in the original Midnight Blue, having been rust-proofed from new. Said to “drive beautifully with no clonks or rattles” it is MOTd until April 2016.
A desirable two-door manual model with no sunroof, it will no doubt be of interest to the rally brigade although it would be a shame to tamper with such an original and low-mileage example.