Ford involved to help you carry on the newest 1970 London so you can Mexico rally using Escort Mk1’s

Gartrac produced the very first friend which have David Sutton who was the brand new manager off Clark & Simpson who had been Ford buyers in the Sloane Square, London. The vehicles were mainly practical and no move cages, but not Gartrac given uprated suspension and you will running resources parts to your event.

Just prior to the beginning of the brand new rally Dave Bignold are questioned by Ford to search as much as Clark & Simpson and you can fit rear surprise absorber turrets on Rauno Aaltonen’s Ford Escort 1850 GT. The installation try accomplished easily more than a week-end and Aaltonen’s auto is actually ready to compete regarding the rally.

On very early seventies, Gartrac modified Escort Mk1 bodyshells to own Clark & Simpson inside the London area

The London area – Mexico Community Glass rally become from the Wembley Arena during the London area on April 19th 1970 level approximately sixteen,000 miles owing to European countries and you can South usa and you may completing for the Mexico Area may 27th 1970. The function is really effective having Ford with Hannu Mikola and you may Gunnar Hand profitable this new rally and you can Rauno Aaltonen and you will Henry Liddon doing third.

Gartrac went on developing parts into the Escort Mk1 rally autos. In early 70s several other well-known earn is actually Hannnu Mikkola and you will Gunnar Palm’s 1972 Safari Rally winnings throughout the Escort RS 1600. The two manage need an earlier direct that they never missing and you can became the first non-African crew so you’re able to victory brand new Eastern African Safari Rally.

70s – New Works Escort Mk2

This type of modifications was basically generally fitted surprise absorber turrets, metal ripple arches and you may reworking axle’s. Gartrac manage customize dos-step 3 bodyshells weekly for a number of ages.

Gartrac is broadening during the reputation therefore the absolute amount of really works suggested which they needed to move from their quick workshop during the Farnham, Surrey. They quickly located a new larger working area in Godalming, Surrey, providing them to take on significantly more staff, and thus its efficiency became substantially.

Ford got only introduced the latest Escort Mk2 and you may realised Gartrac’s fast increases. Ford needed a fabrication business that may create Escort Mk2 bodyshells and you will bits for their performs rally class.

They need this new Mk2 bodyshells are identical which have a system regarding pieces one fitting every auto; this was incorrect to the Mk1. For each drivers’ auto technician might have their unique idea of a knowledgeable treatment for make a car, definition no one or two automobiles certainly are the exact same. This caused troubles when servicing the cars on situations, because parts don’t complement widely.

This new really works Escort Mk1 bodyshells was in fact fabricated by the Gomm Steel Developments. These shells was fuel welded otherwise nickel bronzed and therefore set higher temperature and you may be concerned towards the matter, which contributed to distortion and you will fuel dilemmas. Ford wished the latest Escort Mk2 are welded using the the new mig welding processes. Gartrac was playing with mig welders for a time and therefore aided safe a primary purchase for five bodyshells getting delivered on the appropriate specification.

Gartrac properly accomplished your order and you can Ford is so happy with the standard of the fresh new artistry they immediately developed Gartrac so you’re able to only create Escort Mk2 bodyshells to your works party.

Ford along with accredited Gartrac to help make bits which could standardise the fresh new mechanic’s generate processes. They fabricated a giant selection of pieces like axle’s, distance rods, pedalboxes, stamina tanks and you can oil tanks and you can suspension system areas.

Gartrac received a totally free rule during the time to give suggested statements on just how Ford can make the vehicles ideal and they followed its advice slightly easily since the automobiles was indeed become faster, stronger and a lot more reliable.

The latest designs was modifying throughout the day. Gartrac tends to make variations to the shaft to alter traction, Ford Reinach escort carry out then revision illustrations to incorporate the changes. They’d after that produce different distinctions to possess Tarmac and you will Tree applications. A comparable techniques was used to grow other parts such as for instance the motor crossmembers, sump protect kits, pedalboxes and you may suspension parts.