AVO (Advanced Vehicle Operations) was the operation stablished within the Ford organisation to manufacture the special series of sporting Ford’s back in 1970. The first cars produced by AVO were the Escort Mexico and the Escort RS1600.
Both cars were fitted with special reinforced bodyshells, called Type 49, and the same kind of suspension. The Mexico had the 1.6 Kent engine (that was the same engine type used in the London-Mexico rally) and it was the perfect clubman’s rally car, combining bomb proof reliability with excellent handling and low running costs.
The car we are offering for sale here is one of the Mexico cars built by AVO. At some point it was fitted with a Lotus Twin Cam engine and converted to rally specification, but with occasional regularity/classic rally in mind.
It retains the original Type 49 bodyshell that hasn’t been modified or seam welded (so it wouldn’t be difficult to convert it back to original spec if required). Only a 6 point bolt in roll cage was fitted, as well as the usual rally equipment like Sparco bucket seats, Sabelt belts, extinguisher, etc (seats/belts actually out of date).
Externally, the desirable bubble arches were fitted and combined with a set of 7x13 Minilite style wheels and the additional 4 rally lamps makes the car looks as a proper rally/sporting Escort Mk1 should look.
Rear axle/suspension retains the original Mexico trailing arms and a set of special competition dampers were fitted in all 4 corners.
Brakes were upgraded with the installation of a pedal box but front and rear brakes retain the original configuration with 2 pot calipers at front and drums at the rear.
Rear diff has a LSD fitted. The Lotus Twin Cam engine has a pair of Weber 45’s and it sounds really nice but specification is unknown.
Two fuel tanks were fitted in the boot, the original one and one more std type tank in the other side, so it could be run in long distances without worrying about having to refuel during many miles.
Overall condition is good, it seems it hasn’t seen much action. It hasn’t been used during last 3-4 years so it would need a service before being used in anger. However the car runs, drives and sounds really nice.
In summary, this is not the usual highly modified Escort based on a 1.1 shell to win historic rallying. This is an original AVO Escort Mexico prepared in the old clubman spirit, adding the neccesary equipment to go rallying and being upgraded with the desirable Lotus Twin Cam engine that sounds and performs so well. And all these modifications have been done under FIA rules, getting the FIA HTP in 2009 (Escort Twin Cam). So this would be a nice car to use in regularity rallyes (Monte Carlo Historic, etc) or demonstration events, as well as the occasional rally use, having a genuine AVO Escort and being different from most Escort’s with the Twin Cam Lotus specification, rather than the usual Pinto or the so expensive BDA. Also it wouldn’t be difficult to convert it back to road spec, something to consider by anybody as Mexico prices nowadays use to be around 50k!
Some more detailed photos are available on request.
Transport to other countries can be arranged at buyer’s expense.
