Ford is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its Escort. No, we’re not talking about the North American market version that arrived in 1981. The real Escort arrived way back in 1968. Ok, the name was stuck on a version of the Anglia back in the 50’s but the Mk I Escort as we know it turned 50 this year.
This is a car that was a success as a standard road car. But it’s the racing version that captured our hearts and minds. The Mk II version of the car was a dominant vehicle on the world rally stages. Ari Vatanen, in particular, drove the wheels off one in the early 1980s.
While it remains a delightful bit of classic forbidden fruit in the US, the Escort is a true rally racing icon. Click play, raise a glass, and give cheers to the original Ford Escort.
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