1973 Ford Escort Mexico
Rally success translated directly into sales appeal when Ford capitalized on their dominant 1970 London to Mexico World Cup Rally victory by creating this commemorative model. Hannu Mikkola and Gunnar Palm won the grueling 16,000-mile event in an Escort, with Ford entries taking six of the top ten finishing positions (perfect marketing material for the new performance variant).
Built by Ford’s Advanced Vehicle Operations (AVO) at its South Ockendon facility, the Mexico used the strengthened Type 49 bodyshell shared with the Twin-Cam and RS1600 models. Subtle flared arches, bold side stripes, and rally-inspired styling gave it an aggressive stance that buyers loved. Available colors included Olympic Blue, Daytona Yellow, and Sebring Red.
Power came from a 1,599cc Kent crossflow pushrod engine producing 86 horsepower at 5,500 rpm. A progressive twin-choke Weber 32/36 DGV carburetor fed the engine, while a four-speed close-ratio gearbox handled power delivery.
Despite a modest 99 mph top speed, the lightweight 1,874-lb (850-kg) chassis provided exceptional handling and driving enjoyment.
Ford produced approximately 10,352 Mk1 Mexico examples between late 1970 and 1974, making it AVO’s most successful Rally Sport Escort.
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