Legendary Ford Escort Mk1 is back in production: brand new car built by Boreham
Ford Escort Mk1 Continuation: anyone for a London to Mexico World Cup Rally?
Analogue at heart but the Escort Mk1 continuation’s steel body makes use of digital modelling. To achieve a target weight of 800kg, carbon fibre is used for the boot and bonnet
Car of the month – Ford Escort Mk1 Continuation
Is this a dream?
We know… looks like a fantastic work of fiction, but this is real. The legendary Ford Escort Mk1 is back and potentially better than ever thanks to Boreham Motorworks.
Low, carbon dashboard
Is it actually an Escort though?
Absolutely! And not a battered and rusted old one underneath either. This new one is built from the ground up as an honest continuation car that is fully licensed by Ford. It even gets Ford continuation chassis numbers. There’s pleasing updates too…
LED headlamps
Bet they’ve ruined it
Wrong! Boreham’s Mk1 stays faithful to its forebear. To create it the original blueprints were recovered from the Ford archives and existing models were laser-scanned so the entire car could be recreated in exceptional detail. But using modern tooling gave the chance for improvement. This new one enjoys a stiffer chassis, better handling and is much stronger. The bodywork remains largely steel, aside for some carbon for the bootlid and bonnet. Plus, no power steering or servo-assisted brakes for full authenticity. “This car’s a labour of love,” says design director Wayne Burgess. “As an enthusiast I didn’t want to ruin what I liked about it. It’s a beautifully proportioned little car so the approach was to refine it, take off any unnecessary ornamentation, such as the bumpers. To polish it, if you like.”
Alcantara and leather interior
Will it burble like the old one?
Even better. Boreham is offering two specs of engine, a standard 182bhp 1.8-litre twin-cam and a motor sport-inspired 296bhp 2.1-litre four-cylinder which revs to 10,000rpm and is mated to a titanium exhaust. “It’s a car that will be great to rock through the gearbox with a sonorous type of engine note,” says Burgess.
I’m almost sold…
How about we throw Alan Mann Racing into the mix? Boreham’s parent company, DRVN, owns 50% of the team that helped make the original Escort a sporting icon. AMR will help develop the ‘continumod’.
OK, I want one
You’ll need some deep pockets and patience. Prices start at £295,000 and Boreham only plans to build 150 units starting this year.