Ford Escort Mk1 1300GT

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The new Ford Escort made its UK debut at the end of 1967, replacing the angular Anglia.

Repeating their tried and tested formula, Ford had equipped the stylish Escort body with proven components. The crossflow four-cylinder Kent engine carried over from the Cortina, with a simple live axle suspended on semi-elliptic springs at the back. Steering was a delight thanks to a super-responsive rack-and-pinion set up, as was the gearchange from the slick four-speed box.

Introduced in early 1968, the Escort 1300GT was the performance model, using a tuned 1,298cc crossflow engine with a Weber carburettor. Delivering a heady 75bhp and coupled to a close-ratio gearbox, it had uprated suspension, wider steel wheels, servo assisted disc brakes and a gorgeous looking six-dial dashboard.

This particular 1300GT was originally supplied through Ravenhill Ford of Commercial Road, Hereford, on 8th October 1971, ordered with the optional vinyl roof and Dunlop alloy wheels. The original owner used the car for almost 18 years, covering just 53,000 miles before he got too old to drive and passed it to his nephew in 1989, also a Hereford resident.

In 1990 the Escort had some restoration, gaining new front wings, a front panel, strut top repairs, new bumpers and a respray at a cost of £1,175. Over the next 20 years, the Escort was used occasionally, adding just 5,000 miles to the tally, always being kept covered up in the garage when not in use.

This delightful GT was then re-homed several times (with avid Ford collectors) before the vendor managed to secure the car and bring it back to its native Herefordshire, where it joined his growing stable of sporting Fords. Diverging slightly from original specification, the vendor has replaced the square headlamps with 7” round units as well as a new grill. All the original parts have been kept to return the car to factory specification, including the full width bumper and the original 12” Dunlop wheels which are all included in the sale.

The car still has its standard 1300GT interior, standard engine, close ratio gearbox and is believed to be matching numbers. The current recorded total of 61,700 miles has been confirmed verbally and seems to add up, but we do not have conclusive paperwork to substantiate this. It is MOT'd to April 2016.

This entry comes from a small collection of classic cars entered by Pete Tomlinson whose aim was to amass all the cars he dreamed of owning as a young man. The collection is being sold to make way for a building project.