The Mark 1 Escort was produced in January 1968 after Ford UK combined with Ford Germany, to become Ford Europe. A Ford/Lotus variant had already been produced in the form of the Lotus Cortina.

In 1967 the Boreham competition department came up with the idea of putting the Lotus Cortina engine, gearbox and brakes into the new Escort shell instead of the next generation Cortina, the Mark II. This was prior to the Escort being manufactured which caused a few problems with the transplant of the Lotus engine from the Cortina.

The transplant was not easy and the battery had to be moved to the boot. The Lotus engine with its twin cams and side draught carburator was a tight squeeze and had to be mounted at a slight angle.

The first 25 Twin Cams were produced from Boreham's competition depatment before being moved to Halewood, where the mass produced Mark I Escort was produced from.

The Twin Cam was a great success and Roger Clark won the first International Rally with the Twin Cam on the Circuit of Ireland in the Summer of 1968.

The Twin Cam was sold by specialist RS dealers in the UK. It was obvious that Ford needed to produce their own branded engine for competition use, hence the birth of the BDA and the MK1 Escort RS1600.

The Escort Mark I Twin Cam was produced from 1968 to 1971, when the MK1 Escort RS1600. replaced it. Escort Twin Cams are VERY rare and hence command high prices:

UK price guide (Sterling)

Condition       Excellent   Good    Average

Sterling         10000      8000     4500

For further details see Vehicle Registration Plate Guide.

The Escort MK1 shell was used for the twin cam successor, the MK1 Escort RS1600.

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