1972 Ford Escort Mk1 Competition Car
A right-hand drive Ford Escort Mk1 built for circuit racing around an original all-steel 1970 bodyshell, constructed by Mike Van Den Rydt and campaigned extensively in Australian historic motorsport. The car was assembled around a 1,975cc alloy-block BDG engine, later reduced to 1,600cc to comply with Australian touring car regulations. Arriving in the United Kingdom around 2020, it carries comprehensive competition specification including an Atlas axle with LSD, AP front brakes, full roll cage, and a four-speed Rocket gearbox. Refurbished and UK-registered in 2025, it retains its original Australian floors, sills, and metal arch extensions.
Ownership
- 2025-08-22Auction saleEstimate £50,000 – £60,000
- 2020 →Acquisition unknownUK-based historic racing vendorpartial documentation
A UK-resident competitor with an established presence in historic motorsport who imported the car around the time of the COVID-19 lockdown and undertook significant refurbishment in 2025 before presenting it for sale.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownMike Van Den Rydtpartial documentation
Built the car for racing using a clean all-steel 1970 Escort bodyshell, specifying an alloy-block 1,975cc BDG engine that was subsequently reduced to 1,600cc to satisfy Australian touring car class rules.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownAustralian historic racing operatornone documentation
The car was used extensively in Australian historic racing for the majority of its life prior to export to the United Kingdom.
Competition
- 2025Silverstone Festival
The car was displayed and made available for inspection by prospective bidders at the Silverstone Festival ahead of the auction.
- —Australian historic touring car racingAustralian historic touring car events
The car was raced in the Australian historic motorsport scene for the greater part of its life, competing under local touring car regulations that required the engine to be restricted to 1,600cc.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2025Restoration
Comprehensive interior strip and refurbishment including floors taken back to bare metal; roll cage repainted; dashboard refurbished; front suspension fully rebuilt using a genuine RS1600 rack with alloy mounts and a Twin-Cam roll bar; new FIA-homologated plumbed-in fire suppression system (Lifeline) installed; outside ignition pull added; Willans driver harnesses fitted; transponder wiring installed; rear rain light added.
Work carried out by the current vendor to bring the car to scrutineering compliance for UK competition use. An additional new MST performance roll bar was also acquired and is included with the car.
- 2025Maintenance
UK vehicle registration obtained with a V5C document issued in 2025.
Registered under the plate LGH 423K.
- —Modification
Engine displaced reduced from 1,975cc to 1,600cc via re-sleeving of the alloy-block BDG unit to comply with Australian touring car class regulations.
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