After the success of the Lotus Cortina, the end of it’s competitive life and the launch of a new car to replace the Anglia. The Escort Twin Cam was born.
The 110bhp Lotus-powered Escort Twin Cam was conceived and developed by Ford’s Boreham based competitions department during 1967 and unleashed on an unsuspecting public during January 1968. It went on to achieve many international race and rally victories during its short production life. Ford entered its first event with the Escort. It took part in the new formula of motorsport, Rallycross and took part in an event at Croft (still used today), the Escort Twin Cam won 4 races out right.
The car’s first international win was on the 1968 Circuit of Ireland Rally when driven by a certain Roger Albert Clark. Off-road and on the track, this was the car to beat. The twin cam took wins in countries all over the globe, from the forest stages in the UK to the Safari rallys in Africa.
The final appearance of the twin cam was during the 1971 safari rally.
Approximately 883 cars were built in total, but no Escort Twin Cam was ever built at the AVO plant. However, as all subsequent performance RS Escorts used the Twin Cam as a basis these cars is seen to be the Birth of the RS marque, Production of the Escort Twin Cam ceased in June 1971 as by this time, Ford was already producing an exciting new Escort, the 16-valve Cosworth BDA-powered RS1600.
Escort Twin Cam – Specification
Engine 4-cylinder 1558cc Ford pre-Crossflow block fitted with DOHC Lotus cast alloy cylinder head and twin side draught dual choke Weber 40 DCOE carburettors
Peak power: 109.5 bhp @ 6000rpm
Peak torque: 107 lb ft @ 4700rpm
Transmission 4 speed manual 2000E gearbox with 8″ hydraulic clutch and 3.77:1 final drive ratio
Suspension Front: Coil sprung independent arrangement with McPherson struts, track control arms and anti-roll bar
Rear: Live axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, radius arms and telescopic dampers
Wheels and Tyres: 5.5″ x 13″ Lotus Cortina steel rims fitted with 165×13″ tyres
Braking Hydraulically operated
Front: 9.62″ discs
Rear: 9.0″ x 1.75″ drums
Performance 0-60 mph: 9.9 seconds, top speed: 113 mph.