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

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

Gartrac made the earliest acquaintance which have David Sutton who had been the brand new manager regarding Clark & Simpson who were Ford traders when you look at the Sloane Rectangular, London. The vehicles have been predominantly standard with no roll cages, not Gartrac provided uprated suspension and you may powering resources areas on the enjoy.

Before the start of the brand new rally Dave Bignold try asked of the Ford to travel doing Clark & Simpson and you can fit bottom wonder absorber turrets toward Rauno Aaltonen’s Ford Escort 1850 GT. Installing the device are finished rapidly more than a week-end and you will Aaltonen’s vehicle is willing to contend in the rally.

Regarding early seventies, Gartrac altered Escort Mk1 bodyshells getting Clark & Simpson in the London area

Brand new London – Mexico Community Cup rally been during the Wembley Arena inside London area with the April nineteenth 1970 layer as much as 16,000 miles as a consequence of European countries and you may South usa and doing when you look at the Mexico City on may 27th 1970. Case are very effective to own Ford with Hannu Mikola and you may Gunnar Palm profitable the fresh new rally and you may Rauno Aaltonen and you may Henry Liddon completing 3rd.

Gartrac continued development pieces with the Escort Mk1 rally autos. During the early 1970s some other well-known profit is actually Hannnu Mikkola and Gunnar Palm’s 1972 Safari Rally profit regarding the Escort RS 1600. The pair perform just take an early on direct which they never ever missing and you can turned the first low-African staff in order to earn this new Eastern African Safari Rally.

seventies – The newest Work Escort Mk2

Such adjustment were primarily fitting shock absorber turrets, metal ripple arches and you can reworking axle’s. Gartrac create customize 2-3 bodyshells per week for a lot of many years.

Gartrac are growing into the reputation therefore the pure number of works created that they had a need to change from their small workshop when you look at the Farnham, Surrey. They rapidly discover a different sort of larger workshop into the Godalming, Surrey, helping these to take on even more professionals, and for that read the full info here reason its efficiency became dramatically.

Ford had only brought out this new Escort Mk2 and you will realized Gartrac’s rapid gains. Ford was looking for a manufacturing business that will build Escort Mk2 bodyshells and you can bits because of their works rally team.

It need new Mk2 bodyshells becoming identical having an equipment out of pieces one fitting most of the automobile; it was not the case for the Mk1. Each drivers’ auto mechanic would have their particular concept of a knowledgeable treatment for generate a car or truck, definition no a few cars will be the same. So it caused dilemmas when upkeep the vehicles on the situations, as the parts didn’t match universally.

New functions Escort Mk1 bodyshells was in fact fabricated by Gomm Metal Advancements. Such shells was fuel welded otherwise nickel bronzed hence lay higher temperature and you will fret towards question, hence triggered distortion and you may strength dilemmas. Ford wished this new Escort Mk2 is welded making use of the the newest mig welding processes. Gartrac had been playing with mig welders for a time and that aided safe a primary buy for five bodyshells is put on the accurate specification.

Gartrac properly complete the order and you will Ford are so happy with the quality of the newest design it instantly contracted Gartrac so you’re able to solely generate Escort Mk2 bodyshells to the work team.

Ford along with commissioned Gartrac which will make pieces which will standardise the brand new mechanic’s make procedure. They fabricated a huge set of pieces such as axle’s, radius rods, pedalboxes, power tanks and you can oils tanks and you will suspension areas.

Gartrac received a totally free rule during the time to give suggested statements on exactly how Ford can make the cars ideal and they observed their suggestions a bit conveniently because the vehicles was in fact getting reduced, healthier plus credible.

Brand new patterns was modifying for hours. Gartrac tends to make variations towards the shaft to improve traction, Ford would upcoming posting pictures to incorporate the changes. They would then make other distinctions to have Tarmac and you may Tree applications. An equivalent procedure was applied to cultivate other areas for example the latest motor crossmembers, sump secure set, pedalboxes and you will suspension pieces.

 

Join us:
Find location: