Ford involved so you’re able to embark on the new 1970 London to Mexico rally having fun with Escort Mk1’s
Gartrac produced its earliest associate having David Sutton who was simply the fresh new movie director off Clark & Simpson who had been Ford people in Sloane Square, London. The cars was mainly basic without roll cages, however Gartrac supplied uprated suspension system and you can powering technology components to your experiences.
Right before the beginning of this new rally Dave Bignold are expected by the Ford to search as much as Clark & Simpson and fit bottom amaze absorber turrets to the Rauno Aaltonen’s Carinthia escorts Ford Escort 1850 GT. Installing the device are complete quickly over a sunday and you will Aaltonen’s automobile is happy to contend about rally.
Throughout the early 1970s, Gartrac changed Escort Mk1 bodyshells to possess Clark & Simpson inside the London
The brand new London – Mexico Industry Mug rally been on Wembley Arena inside London to the April nineteenth 1970 level around sixteen,000 kilometers owing to Europe and you will South america and you may completing from inside the Mexico City may 27th 1970. The big event is most successful to own Ford with Hannu Mikola and Gunnar Hand profitable the newest rally and you may Rauno Aaltonen and you can Henry Liddon completing 3rd.
Gartrac proceeded development pieces to the Escort Mk1 rally vehicles. In early seventies various other famous victory is Hannnu Mikkola and Gunnar Palm’s 1972 Safari Rally profit about Escort RS 1600. The pair carry out bring an earlier direct that they never ever shed and you can turned the first low-African crew so you can profit the brand new East African Safari Rally.
seventies – The fresh new Works Escort Mk2
These types of adjustment had been mainly fitted wonder absorber turrets, metal ripple arches and reworking axle’s. Gartrac manage tailor 2-step three bodyshells each week for a lot of ages.
Gartrac is increasing in the reputation as well as the sheer quantity of performs designed that they must change from their short workshop for the Farnham, Surrey. It easily discover a special huge workshop in Godalming, Surrey, providing these to take on much more teams, and thus the returns grew drastically.
Ford had just introduced this new Escort Mk2 and you will realized Gartrac’s rapid gains. Ford wanted a manufacturing providers that’ll build Escort Mk2 bodyshells and you can parts for their work rally party.
They wished the fresh Mk2 bodyshells to be similar with a package from bits that installing every vehicle; this is not the case into the Mk1. For every drivers’ auto mechanic might have their unique notion of an informed way to create an automobile, meaning zero one or two cars may be the same. It triggered difficulties when upkeep the vehicles on the incidents, because the bits didn’t fit widely.
The newest functions Escort Mk1 bodyshells were fabricated of the Gomm Steel Developments. This type of shells was indeed fuel welded or nickel bronzed and this place high temperatures and be concerned toward material, and that led to distortion and you can electricity dilemmas. Ford need the Escort Mk2 are welded using the the mig welding process. Gartrac was actually using mig welders for some time and therefore aided safer a first order for five bodyshells are put on their direct specification.
Gartrac properly accomplished your order and you will Ford is actually very happy with the caliber of the new workmanship it quickly developed Gartrac to solely build Escort Mk2 bodyshells with the really works group.
Ford and additionally accredited Gartrac in order to make bits which will standardise this new mechanic’s create procedure. They fabricated an enormous number of bits including axle’s, radius rods, pedalboxes, electricity tanks and petroleum tanks and you will suspension elements.
Gartrac gotten a free of charge reign during the time to give suggestions on exactly how Ford makes the vehicles most useful and adopted its guidance a little easily since the vehicles had been is smaller, stronger and reliable.
This new patterns was indeed modifying non-stop. Gartrac will make improvement to your axle to alter grip, Ford do then change illustrations to add the alterations. They’d up coming create other differences for Tarmac and you can Forest apps. A comparable process was used growing other areas such the brand new motor crossmembers, sump protect set, pedalboxes and you will suspension system bits.