Guide price: £28000 - £35000. <p> </p><ul><li>Supplied new on 1/8/1973 by Newport Ford, this is a genuine Ford Escort Mexico. Original AVO bodyshell.</li><li>Professionally converted in 1982 into a proper forest stage rally car for the Phillips brothers</li><li>Significant success in both the BTRDA Forest/ MSA Tarmac series. Two overall championship victories </li><li>Checked and verified by the AVO Owners Club as an original Mexico still with its original shell</li><li>Recently recommissioned. Fully roadworthy and a current MOT. Massive spec. See below </li></ul><div><br /></div><p> </p><p>Supplied new on 1/8/1973 by Newport Ford in Wales, this is a genuine Ford Escort Mexico still with its original AVO bodyshell. Used as a road car up until 1982 it was then professionally converted into a proper forest stage rally car for use by brothers Robert and Stephen Phillips. It went on to contest over 100 stage rallies between 1982 and 1996 with significant success in both the BTRDA Forest series and the MSA tarmac series, taking two overall championship victories and numerous class wins and outright single venue victories. There are results on file in the cars comprehensive history file and the car is also listed on the WRC website.</p><p>In 1998 the car was loaned to the Pembrokeshire Motor Museum where it was to remain until 2013, preserved in an ideal indoor heated and dehumidified climate. It was finally sold by Robert Phillips in 2016 and has since had a sympathetic recommissioning and is now fully roadworthy and with a current MOT. Checked and verified by the AVO Owners Club as an original Mexico still with its original shell, it currently drives well and still has the following period specification:</p><p>711M engine block bored to 1760cc</p><p>Ported head with big double valve springs and alloy rocker cover</p><p>Twin 40DCOE Webers</p><p>Kent rally cam</p><p>4 branch exhaust manifold with single box exhaust</p><p>Piper fixed distributor</p><p>Lumenition ignition and Lucas gold coil</p><p>High-pressure oil pump and oil cooler</p><p>World Cup Crossmember with solid engine mounts</p><p>Twin fuel pumps</p><p>High-Torque starter motor etc, etc.</p><p>Straight cut gearbox with alloy bell housing, strengthened English back axle with Panhard rod anti=tramp</p><p>Group 4 struts with Bilstein dampers all round</p><p>Vented front discs with 4 pot callipers and rear solid disks, braided pipes and hydraulic handbrake/adjustable bias brakes</p><p>Quick ratio rack</p><p>Alloy sump guard</p><p>Welded in MSA roll cage</p><p>Rally seats and harnesses</p><p>Alloy fuel tank</p><p>Brantz trip computer</p><p>4 Hella Rallye Spotlights</p><p>Plumbed in fire system etc etc etc.</p><p>In short a proper period rally car with a complete history file (containing over 130 pictures) and a great spec that can be used in historic rallying today, or in myriad single venue stage rallies or hill climbs etc. As such it offers an exceptional value for money entry into rallying that will keep its value if properly maintained.</p><p> </p><p> </p>