1968–1974 · The Coke-bottle original

Ford Escort Mk1

The Escort replaced the Anglia in January 1968 and was a hit straight away: light, simple and rear-wheel drive. Ford's Advanced Vehicle Operations turned it into a rally weapon, and it has been a motorsport legend ever since.

Key facts

Built: Halewood (UK) and Saarlouis (Germany). From 1970, RS models were built at Ford's Advanced Vehicle Operations (AVO) plant in Aveley, Essex.
Layout: Front engine, rear-wheel drive
Bodies: 2- and 4-door saloon, estate, van
Engines: 1.1 & 1.3 Kent OHV; 1.6 Kent crossflow (Mexico); 1.6 Lotus-Ford Twin Cam; 1.6 Cosworth BDA (RS1600); 2.0 Pinto (RS2000)
Trims: De Luxe, Super, L, XL, GT, Sport, 1300E, Twin Cam, RS
Identify it: "Dog-bone" grille on most models, Coke-bottle waistline

Parts supplyExcellent

Fake riskVery high

Values trendRising

What makes a good one

Look for a solid, straight shell with its original panels, the correct engine for the model, and history going back decades. On RS and Mexico models the bodyshell matters most. These cars used a strengthened shell, often called the Type 49, with reinforcements a standard car lacks, and a specialist can confirm it in minutes. Many "Mexicos" are standard shells with added stripes.

Sport and 1300E: the overlooked Mk1s

The Sport used the 1300 GT's tuned engine and the flared front wings from the AVO cars, with simpler trim. The 1300E ("E" for executive) had the same wheels, wings and engine, plus an upmarket interior. Both give you the RS look for a fraction of the price, and both are the usual starting point for fake Mexicos.

Overseas Mk1s

The Mk1 was also built or assembled in other markets, including Australia, where the Twin Cam was later sold as the GT 1600, and South Africa. Imports can be good buys, but decoding their specifications takes specialist knowledge.

Models & specifications

Escort Mk1 models

Specifications are approximate period figures. Value ranges are indicative UK prices for good to excellent cars in 2026; see the full price guide.

Mk1 1300 GT

1968–1974

£15k–£30k

The sporting everyday Mk1, with a twin-choke Weber carburettor and extra dials in the dashboard.

1298cc Kent OHV
72 bhp
0–60 12.5s
94 mph

Mk1 Sport

1971–1974

£15k–£30k

The GT engine and the flared front wings from the AVO cars, with simpler trim. It has the RS look for much less money, which makes it a common base for fake Mexicos.

1298cc Kent (GT tune)
72 bhp
0–60 12.5s
94 mph

Mk1 1300E

1973–1974

£14k–£28k

The "executive" Escort. It had the Sport's wheels, flared wings and engine, plus an upmarket interior with wood trim.

1298cc Kent (GT tune)
72 bhp
0–60 12.5s
94 mph

Mk1 Twin Cam

1968–1971

£45k–£90k

The first homologation Escort, using the Lotus Cortina engine. It won rallies within weeks of launch.

1558cc Lotus-Ford twin-cam
106 bhp
0–60 9.9s
113 mph

Mk1 RS1600

1970–1974

£60k–£130k

The first car to wear the RS badge. Its 16-valve, belt-driven Cosworth BDA engine is still revered by rally engineers.

1601cc Cosworth BDA 16v
120 bhp
0–60 8.9s
113 mph

Mk1 Mexico

1970–1974

£40k–£75k

Named after the 1970 London–Mexico World Cup Rally win. The strengthened shell, trademark stripes and roughly 9,000 built make it one of the most-faked Escorts.

1599cc Kent crossflow
86 bhp
0–60 10.7s
99 mph

Mk1 RS2000

1973–1974

£45k–£80k

Took the torquey 2-litre Pinto engine from the Cortina. Easier to live with than a BDA car.

1993cc Pinto SOHC
100 bhp
0–60 9.0s
108 mph

Common faults

Rust almost everywhere. Assume there has been repair and find out how good it was
Rear leaf springs sagging, and spring hangers cracking or rotting
Worn steering racks and front track control arm bushes
Kent engines: worn cams, oil leaks, tired carburettors. Rarely fatal
Overheating on uprated or poorly maintained engines
Seized brake servos and wheel cylinders on cars that have been laid up

Walk-away signs

Rotten or patched front turret tops on any RS or Mexico
Chassis legs or crossmember with crash damage or plated repairs
An RS or Mexico with no shell evidence and no club register history
A VIN plate held on with the wrong fixings, or looking newer than the car

Where the Mk1 rusts

Check each of these areas, in this order, at any viewing.

Front valance and headlamp surrounds
Front turret tops and inner wings
Scuttle and A-pillar bottoms
Sills and jacking points
Floor pans and footwells
Door bottoms
Rear spring hangers and chassis legs
Rear arches and quarter panels
Boot floor and spare wheel well
Rear valance and lamp surrounds

Full buying guide and checklist →

Free 46-page PDF

Don't buy a
£40k mistake.

A fake Mexico or a rotten RS2000 can cost you more than the car. The Escort Buyer's Bible is 46 pages of what the specialists check, written for people about to hand over real money.

Chassis and VIN checks to spot a genuine RS
Rust maps for every generation, Mk1 to Mk6
Price guide covering 31 models, from Harrier to Cosworth
Printable inspection score sheet