Ford Escort MkI 1100 Two-door

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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 the time it was replaced by the MkII version in January 1975.

With a distinctive ‘dogbone’ front grille and swept ‘Coke bottle’ flanks, the Escort MkI 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. 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.

Supplied new by Ford Bridgnorth in September 1974, this late model MkI 1100 has had just one registered keeper from new and is showing just 68,000 miles on the clock which is believed genuine although there is insufficient history to warrant this. Originally Marine Blue, it had been in storage for many years before the vendor acquired it and has since been fully restored and resprayed in period Stratos Silver.

The interior has been fully retrimmed by Aldridge Trim including seats, door cards and carpets, and the engine has been stripped and fully rebuilt with new pistons, bearings etc. Being such a late model it has the inboard rear shock absorbers as fitted to the MkII. It rides on attractive period Dunlop D1 alloys which give a most sporting look.

Now in very good order throughout with an MOT until November 2016, this 'matching numbers' machine is ready to go and show.