Two owners from new - Period competition rallying history - Recently subject of comprehensive restoration The brainchild of Ford’s Competition Department Manager, Henry Taylor, Taylor felt the new model would be an ideal recipient for the Lotus Twin Cam engine that powered the escort’s bigger brother, the Lotus Cortina.

Lighter and smaller than the Cortina, the prospect was a much faster and therefore a successful race and rally car.

Head of PR Walter Hayes pushed it through, gaining the agreement from the board, and so work began.

The first of several prototypes was started at Ford’s Boreham competition department during early 1967, designed for Groups 2 and 3 classes.

The first 25 cars were assembled at Boreham with the rest built at Ford’s Halewood factory on the same assembly line as the standard Escort.

Here, once each bodyshell was painted and trimmed, it was transferred to a small workshop where a dozen or so workers fitted the special mechanical components.

Production sta...