Ford Escort 1968

2 Previous Owners, This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Classic Sale at the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show 2026 on Saturday the 21st of March Sunday the 22nd of March, NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT. , AOO 177G is an intriguing and very special Mk1 Escort; an 'OO' registration is common with Fordowned and/or Works cars that came out of the Aveley factory at the time,Offered for sale previously by IA in 2015, in an unrestored/original condition, coming from a very significant Ford Collection curated by a prominent Ford expert,IA were informed it was a 3owner car, that its original owner had it for 45 years, being well preserved (due to Waxoyl), showing 62,000 miles and had been in longterm storage,Our vendor now, understands AOO 177G to be one of only a few factory 1600GT examples, whilst also being possibly unique as a likely exWorks prototype RS1600 (due to its period upgrades) that was possibly enhanced and tested at the Ford Aveley works,First registered in 1968 with correct Type 48 shell identification, previous research suggests the car had the following specification: early type compression front strut suspension with no anti roll bar, locking push button bonnet release in the grill, door lock in handle on drivers side, window washers fitted to bonnet, protruding petrol tank filler, diamond crest pattern on headlining, GT seats, 6pod instrument binnacle (including a 140mph speedometer & 7000rpm rev counter), and early GT badging; it would originally have sat on 12'' wheels but was upgraded to 13'' 5.5J Lotus steel wheels (the spare wheel carrier in the boot is only designed for a 12'' wheel),The period engine upgrades identified include a 28/36 single Webber carburettor sat on 'CT' (Conversion and Tuning) inlet manifold opposite a fourbranch exhaust. A Stage 3 1600cc Xflow with modified pistons, head, cam, and a lightened/balanced flywheel; radiator is Twin Cam spec with larger header, cable clutch modification, 9'' rear brakes, decambered rear springs with strengthened SPAX shocks, whilst it was still sitting on its original G800 tyres,Modifications such as these were not generally seen until the release of the later Type 49 bodyshell cars,Whilst maintaining all these fascinating enhancements, the car has recently been subject to the most exacting and complete restoration done by Fordmaestro Tony Collins of Classic & Custom of Kent, who coowns this car with his friend, to a Concours level, costing more than £60,000; it now presents of outstanding betterthannew condition,Any Ford aficionado will confirm that a genuine GT Escort is now rarer to find than a Mexico, Twin Cam, Mexico or RS let alone one with an such an enthralling Ford history,