Ford Escort MkI 1300L Estate

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Launched in 1968 to replace the Anglia, the Escort soon became Britain’s best selling car, with over 2 million sold by 1974.

With a distinctive ‘dogbone’ front grille and swept ‘Coke bottle’ flanks, the Escort perfectly captured the clean 60s look and was widely admired. Mechanically it was conventional but effective, with rear-wheel drive, precise rack-and-pinion steering, MacPherson strut front suspension and a simple live rear axle mounted on leaf springs.

It was initially available only as a two-door saloon with either a 1.1 or 1.3-litre Kent Crossflow engine, although a three-door estate version soon joined the range with stiffer rear springs, bigger brakes and a larger 7.5” diameter clutch. Blessed with excellent handling characteristics, the MkI Escort went on to become one of the most successful rally cars of all time, remaining popular to this day within the now burgeoning classic rally scene.

This particular Estate is a remarkable survivor that has effectively had just one owner from new and has only covered 17,000 miles to date. As the original purchase invoice confirms, it was originally supplied by Abbey Garages of Pershore with extras which included servo assisted disc brakes, seat belts, a heated rear screen and a radio for the princely sum of £1,364. The owner (who was chief engineer for the Severn River Authority) was to keep it right up until his death in 1996, using the car only very sparingly and in fine weather only.

Being an engineer he always maintained the car himself, tinkering with it at every opportunity to ensure that it was kept in tip-top condition and never driving it above 35mph, much to the annoyance of the locals who would joke that if there was ever a traffic jam in the area it must be because Mr Snow was out in his Escort! He also kept a detailed log of every journey made and every gallon of fuel used, meticulously recording his mpg on every journey and constantly trying to better it; the average seems to have been about 45mpg although he did manage 53.5mpg on one memorable trip, no doubt with a larger and angrier queue behind him than usual!

When he stopped driving in 1987 the car was put into storage at his son-in-law’s garage with strict instructions that the engine must be turned over every month, orders that have been faithfully followed to this day. Recently recommissioned for sale, the car has had all the fluids changed, various rubbers and hoses replaced and a new radiator core fitted. Said to drive beautifully and to remain in totally original condition throughout (apart from the fitment of electronic ignition, although the original points and condenser have been retained) this is an absolute peach of a car that fully deserves the much abused ‘time warp’ description.

It comes with all its original handbooks, the aforementioned log of journeys, an MOT valid until July 2015, various contemporary road tests and technical articles about the model, the original sales brochure and bill of sale, plus many fascinating engineering calculations relating to the performance of the car, all meticulously plotted on graphs by Mr Snow. Regularly rust-proofed underneath, this is surely one of the best-preserved Escorts in existence and would make a fine addition to any collection.

Please note that the car was put into Mr Snow\'s daughter\'s name when he passed away so the V5C records two owners. 

Catalogue amendment; Please note that there is no radio fitted.