You can now book a one-to-one appointment (up to one hour) to view this lot at our central location. Please contact the member of staff associated with this lot to secure your appointment. The health and safety of both our customers and team remains the utmost priority, we are therefore operating to strict COVID-19 guidelines and full instructions will be given when making your appointment.An original 1600 Mexico correctly finished in Monza Blue with white stripesA combination of the Type 49 body-shell, the 1600cc Kent crossflow, and the 2000E gearboxClearly restored to the highest standards. Fullengine rebuild in 2015 (invoice in file)Bought by our vendor in 2016 and offered from his private collectionA very fine example offered at a sensible guide.The Ford Escort Mexico was introduced in November 1970 and was so named because of Ford Motor Company's victory in the World Cup Rally whichstarted in London on 19/04/1970and finished some 16,000 miles later in Mexico. Originally Ford intended to use Escorts with the Twin Cam or BDA engine, but after some local reconnaissance, it was decided that high speeds and large power outputswere less important than reliability and ease of servicing, and therefore the 'Kent' pushrod engine was used in the Escort shell. It seems likely that Ford already had plans to produce a high-performance Escort to fit in the range between the 1300GT and the Twin Cam/RS1600, but their victory in Mexico provided an ideal platform to launch such a model.The engineers at the newly formed A.V.O (Advanced Vehicles Operations) quickly developed the 'Mexico', marrying the Type 49 bodyshell, as used in the Twin Cam and RS1600, with the 1600cc Kent 'crossflow' engine and 2000E gearbox. So, effectively,the Mexicowas basically a re-engined Twin Cam/RS1600. The Mexicobecame AVO's most successful and numerous of the 'Rally Sport Escorts,' and had a number of advantages on the road, in that it had excellentperformance, was easy to maintain, relatively easy toinsure, and above all, it was great to drive, something which is still true today.Offered here is an original, UK-supplied 1600 Mexico correctly finished in Monza Blue with White stripes. Purchased by our vendor in 2016, it has remained in his private collection since but he is in the fortunate position of being able to shuffle his collection around every few years and has only used the little blue Ford occasionally. The car has clearly been fully restored to a very high standard and within the history file is an invoice for a full engine rebuild dating from 2015. Also in the file is a communication from the DVLA detailing the car's nine former owners. The Mk1 Escort Mexico remains high on most enthusiast's 'WishList' and this is a very fine example offered at a sensible guide.