Description
H&H Classic Auction @ The Imperial War Museum, Duxford/ Cambridgeshire
9th October, 2024 13:00
1970 Ford Escort Mexico
The oldest surviving AVO car
Estimate
£60, 000 - £70, 000
Registration No: LVX 900J
Chassis No: BFATKR23276
MOT: T. B. A
The oldest known surviving AVO (Ford Advanced Vehicle Operations) car
1 of a handful (believed 4) of ‘launch’ Mexico’s built in October 1970, the month before official production began
‘LVX’ Ford press registration plate
Comprehensively restored between 2006 and 2017 and finished to exacting original specification with over £60, 000 reputedly spent
Supplied with a large history file including rare original sales brochure
The Ford Escort was launched at the 1968 Brussels Motor Show. Acutely aware that the Cortina was in the autumn of its competition career, Ford's competition department had been developing a race/ rally version of the newcomer throughout 1967 and had the Twin-Cam ready to roll at the same time its standard siblings were finding their way onto the public roads. One of the Escort’s most memorable early competition wins was Hannu Mikkola's victory on the 1970 London to Mexico World Cup Rally. Ford Advanced Vehicle Operations (AVO) made the sporting Ford Escort Mk1s in the early to mid-70s, comprising the RS1600, Mexico, and RS2000s. The AVO-built Escort Mexico launched in time for the 1971 season, and its specially strengthened shell was fitted with Rallye Sport suspension and brakes and powered by a 1600cc 'Kent' engine.
Chassis number ‘BFATKR23276’ was manufactured new in October 1970 (denoted by the KR in the chassis number), being one of the first handful of Escort Mexico’s produced (believed 1 of 4), and before the official production of AVO cars began in November 1970. The joint second Mexico registered, being registered new to Ford Motor Company on the 4th of December 1970 with a Ford press car ‘LVX’ registration, only the Homologation car was registered beforehand, despite interestingly having been built shortly afterwards. During its time with Ford, it was lent to Hendon police college to test against trainee pursuit drivers, and in December 1971 ‘LVX 900J’ was sold to a police officer from the driving school, Jack Collett. Purchased by the second private owner in December 1972 the vendor has been in contact with the gentleman who fondly remembers the Mexico.
Purchased by the vendor in 2006 having noticed the ‘LVX’ registration and knowing the significance of ‘LVX’ cars, the Escort was in a poor state as a bodyshell and many boxes of parts. The bodyshell was in dilapidated condition with the floors very rotten, but the all-important Mexico front wings and original VIN stamp on the top of the inner wing surviving. A comprehensive restoration to original factory specification was thereafter embarked upon, with a couple of period shots of the car providing reference for the restoration. The shell was provided to marque specialists The Escort Agency, with three years taken for the shell to be completed. The restoration then paused for several years which the vendor enjoyed his rallying RS1600 and during this period, the significance of ‘LVX 900J’ was researched and realised.
Reembarking on the restoration, the car was provided to highly regarded Montescort, with the focus of the renovation work being to retain as many original parts as possible and any parts needing replacing being done with genuine parts (with many years of hunting for them part of the process!). Details such as a correct grille, relays, fuses, rubber floormats, and dashboard clocks were all part of the refurbishment, as well as the retaining the original glass. Finished in the original colour of Sunset Red paintwork, the Mexico left the factory without stripes, and while the vendor admits that it pains him to not have them, ‘LVX 900J’ did not have them originally as they were a delete option. The engine was fully overhauled and fitted with a hotter cam for additional power as a rare factory airbox was located and fitted for originality but does stifle the power levels. Other notable items to the original Mexico specification are the Minilite wheels, Springalex steering wheel, Janspeed exhaust, Contour seats, oil cooler and Cibie lights.
The estimated cost of restoration was £60, 000 on top of the purchase price of the car, with the shell renovation costing an estimated £20, 000 alone, but with ‘LVX 900J’ the oldest surviving AVO car (as informed by the club and following extensive research), we feel incredibly worthwhile. Supplied with a history file that comprises records of early AVO cars, very rare Escort Mexico sales brochures, period motoring coverage literature, a copy of the original buff logbook and DVLA ownership history, images of the car in period, a collection of Escort publications, ‘Classic Ford’ magazine featuring the car, and a current V5C document. The Mexico is due to be supplied with a fresh MOT certificate in time for sale. Surely an unmissable opportunity for any fast Ford fanatic, opportunities to purchased AVO cars with such provenance are truly unrepeatable.
