The first Escort

by "Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse)
Published 04/18/2017 at 15:17

Tags: Ford ; Escort 100E
STARS: 3

Let’s test our knowledge.

What was the first Ford Escort?

If you’re an American, you’re thinking this.

And you’d be wrong. That’s a US spec Mk3 and the name’s a clue. The Mk3 must have been preceded by a Mk1 and a Mk2. While we’re here though let’s examine the US Escort. The Mk3 was supposed to be a “world car” sold on both sides of the Atlantic. In the event North American Escorts and everyone else’s shared remarkably little. The extra chrome, big bumpers and sealed beams are obvious but one little known fact was that Ford US didn’t have presses big enough to make the sides of the car in one piece and so they had to do press several panels and weld them.

So, the Mk1 was first, eh?

Nope. The Mk1 was the first car where the entire range was called an Escort, but it wasn’t the first Escort. (Bonus Mk3 Granada)

This was.

The estate version of the Anglia model of the 100E from the 1950s was called an Escort (the fancier Prefect model was a Squire). You can see the name above the grille. Note, while looking at the front, the hole in the bumper where a starting handle could be inserted.

So there we have it. The first Ford Escort wasn’t what we imagine.

Replies (12)

"not for canada - australian in disguise" (for-canada)
04/18/2017 at 15:20, STARS: 2

The first Transit was also not this;

But this:

"Ash78, voting early and often" (ash78)
04/18/2017 at 15:22, STARS: 0

1950s, eh? Then why is it called The World’s Oldest Profession?

"EL_ULY" (uly)
04/18/2017 at 15:23, STARS: 0

Ford = American

yay America :]

"EL_ULY" (uly)
04/18/2017 at 15:24, STARS: 0

Fake news is the world’s oldest profession :]

"Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse)
04/18/2017 at 15:31, STARS: 1

Yes, I had been thinking of exploring that sometime!

In other news, the first Ford RS wasn’t an Escort but rather this:

"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
04/18/2017 at 15:50, STARS: 1

Pretty sure I stood next to the first GT-R.

"Manwich - now Keto-Friendly" (manwich)
04/18/2017 at 15:55, STARS: 0

“What was the first Ford Escort?”

A piece of crap... at least by today’s standards.

"Laurence" (mrlaurence)
04/18/2017 at 15:56, STARS: 1

Following on from that I guess, the first Capri wasn’t this;

... But this:

"Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse)
04/18/2017 at 16:25, STARS: 1

Well, it had a three speed gearbox, a sidevalve engine producing the grand total of 36 bhp, vacuum wipers which went slower as you went faster, the heater was extra, 0 to 60 took about 30 sec - a car of its time in other words.

Today’s cars will also be absolute rubbish in fifty years time.

"Manwich - now Keto-Friendly" (manwich)
04/18/2017 at 16:30, STARS: 0

SO I GUESSED RIGHT!!!

"Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse)
04/18/2017 at 16:57, STARS: 0

Yes, that’s the one!

Ford found it economical to re use names.

"AR24-7" (ar24-7)
04/18/2017 at 18:27, STARS: 0

mind blown