Ford was about so you’re able to continue the 1970 London area so you can Mexico rally playing with Escort Mk1’s


Ford was about so you’re able to continue the 1970 London area so you can Mexico rally playing with Escort Mk1’s

Gartrac produced its basic associate which have David Sutton who was simply brand new movie director off Clark & Simpson who were Ford people during the Sloane Square, London. The cars was basically mainly fundamental with no roll cages, not Gartrac provided uprated suspension system and you may running resources areas towards the skills.

Just prior to the beginning of the latest rally Dave Bignold was expected by Ford to search around Clark & Simpson and fit rear shock absorber turrets on Rauno Aaltonen’s Ford Escort 1850 GT. The installation try complete rapidly over a sunday and you can Aaltonen’s car was prepared to vie on rally.

In the very early 70s, Gartrac altered Escort Mk1 bodyshells to possess Clark & Simpson when you look at the London

The new London – Mexico Community Mug rally been during the Wembley Arena inside London for the April nineteenth 1970 covering approximately 16,000 miles by way of Europe and South usa and you can completing when you look at the Mexico Area on may 27th 1970. The function is really effective to have Ford that escorts in Basel-Landschaft have Hannu Mikola and you will Gunnar Palm effective this new rally and you can Rauno Aaltonen and you may Henry Liddon finishing third.

Gartrac proceeded development pieces to your Escort Mk1 rally autos. In the early 1970s several other greatest winnings is Hannnu Mikkola and you may Gunnar Palm’s 1972 Safari Rally earn from the Escort RS 1600. The pair would just take an early head which they never ever shed and you can became the original non-African staff to victory the new Eastern African Safari Rally.

seventies – The fresh Works Escort Mk2

Such improvement have been generally installing wonder absorber turrets, material ripple arches and you will reworking axle’s. Gartrac would modify dos-step three bodyshells each week for a number of decades.

Gartrac are expanding within the reputation and the sheer number of work required which they needed to go from their quick working area for the Farnham, Surrey. It rapidly discover a different sort of large working area into the Godalming, Surrey, helping them to deal with way more group, and for that reason the yields expanded dramatically.

Ford got merely introduced the newest Escort Mk2 and you can realised Gartrac’s quick increases. Ford was looking for a manufacturing company that could establish Escort Mk2 bodyshells and you will pieces for their works rally group.

It need the fresh new Mk2 bodyshells as similar which have a kit regarding bits you to definitely fitted every car; it was not the case toward Mk1. Each drivers’ auto technician could have their particular idea of the best cure for generate an automobile, meaning zero a couple of automobiles could be the same. This caused dilemmas whenever maintenance the vehicles into the occurrences, because bits did not complement universally.

The newest works Escort Mk1 bodyshells was in fact fabricated from the Gomm Metal Developments. These shells were energy welded otherwise nickel bronzed and therefore place great heat and stress into material, which lead to deformation and stamina issues. Ford wished the newest Escort Mk2 to-be welded utilizing the brand new mig welding procedure. Gartrac ended up being using mig welders for some time hence assisted safe a first purchase for five bodyshells getting brought to their accurate specs.

Gartrac duly done the order and Ford try very pleased with the caliber of the brand new craftsmanship they immediately contracted Gartrac in order to exclusively establish Escort Mk2 bodyshells on the really works team.

Ford in addition to accredited Gartrac to manufacture bits that will standardise the latest mechanic’s build techniques. It fabricated a big selection of parts including axle’s, distance rods, pedalboxes, power tanks and you can petroleum tanks and suspension parts.

Gartrac gotten a free of charge leadership during the time to provide suggestions on how Ford makes the vehicles finest and so they followed its information quite conveniently because the autos was getting quicker, stronger and much more credible.

The newest designs have been switching throughout the day. Gartrac will make changes to the axle to evolve grip, Ford carry out after that modify drawings to incorporate the alterations. They’d next create more distinctions to own Tarmac and you may Forest programs. An equivalent processes was utilized to cultivate other areas such the fresh system crossmembers, sump shield set, pedalboxes and you may suspension pieces.