Gartrac produced their very first associate which have David Sutton who was the fresh new movie director out-of Clark & Simpson who had been Ford dealers in Sloane Rectangular, London area. The cars were predominantly fundamental without roll cages, however Gartrac supplied uprated suspension system and running equipment components on the feel.

Right before the beginning of brand new rally Dave Bignold is actually asked because of the Ford to visit as much as Clark & Simpson and fit butt wonder absorber turrets toward Rauno Aaltonen’s Ford Escort 1850 GT. Installing the device is actually finished easily over a weekend and you will Aaltonen’s vehicle are happy to vie about rally.

Regarding the very early 70s, Gartrac changed Escort Mk1 bodyshells to have Clark & Simpson inside London

The brand new London area – Mexico Globe Cup rally come from the Wembley Stadium for the London area on April 19th 1970 coating as much as sixteen,000 kilometers courtesy Europe and you can South usa and you can finishing into the Mexico Urban area on may 27th 1970. Case are really effective to possess Ford with Hannu Mikola and Gunnar Hand successful the fresh rally and you will Rauno Aaltonen and you will Henry Liddon finishing 3rd.

Gartrac proceeded development bits into the Escort Mk1 rally autos. In early 1970s some other famous victory are Hannnu Mikkola and you can Gunnar Palm’s 1972 Safari Rally earn regarding Escort RS 1600. The pair perform just take an earlier direct which they never ever forgotten and you can became the original non-African crew in order to winnings this new East African Safari Rally.

seventies – The fresh new Works Escort Mk2

These variations had been mainly fitting shock absorber turrets, material ripple arches and you may reworking axle’s. Gartrac do customize dos-3 bodyshells a week for many age.

Gartrac are broadening in reputation and natural amount of performs designed which they https://escortlook.de/en/category/north-rhine-westphalia/cologne/mature must change from the quick workshop in the Farnham, Surrey. They rapidly discover a special large working area inside Godalming, Surrey, permitting them to take on a whole lot more employees, and as a result the output expanded drastically.

Ford got just presented brand new Escort Mk2 and you will realized Gartrac’s rapid increases. Ford was looking for a manufacturing providers which will produce Escort Mk2 bodyshells and parts because of their works rally class.

It wanted brand new Mk2 bodyshells is identical with a kit regarding bits one fitted all vehicle; this is untrue towards Mk1. For each drivers’ auto technician could have their concept of an educated treatment for generate an automible, definition no one or two trucks are the exact same. This caused problems whenever servicing the cars to the incidents, given that parts did not fit universally.

The fresh new really works Escort Mk1 bodyshells have been fabricated of the Gomm Material Improvements. This type of shells have been gas welded otherwise nickel bronzed and this set higher temperature and you may fret for the issue, hence resulted in deformation and you may electricity difficulties. Ford wanted the Escort Mk2 become welded using the the latest mig welding processes. Gartrac got using mig welders for a while which helped safe a first buy for 5 bodyshells as produced on their particular specification.

Gartrac properly done the order and Ford try very happy with the caliber of the latest workmanship it quickly contracted Gartrac so you can exclusively make Escort Mk2 bodyshells to your performs cluster.

Ford in addition to accredited Gartrac in order to make pieces which will standardise the new mechanic’s make process. They fabricated an enormous gang of pieces instance axle’s, radius rods, pedalboxes, power tanks and oils tanks and you may suspension system components.

Gartrac was given a totally free leadership at the time provide suggestions on just how Ford makes the cars top and additionally they accompanied the suggestions a bit easily once the autos was in fact are shorter, more powerful and more reliable.

The activities was switching throughout the day. Gartrac would make improvement towards shaft to alter traction, Ford do up coming revise pictures to add the alterations. They might next write more distinctions having Tarmac and you will Forest programs. An equivalent process was applied growing other areas particularly the newest engine crossmembers, sump shield sets, pedalboxes and suspension system pieces.