Ford Escort Mk I Mexico

[TZ2]

Back in 1987 I was looking for a cheap car to replace my ’70 Ford Capri GT during the snowy and salty winter months and came across a bright red ’74 Ford Escort 4-door in GT-XLR trim. It was a nice, very agile and fun to drive little car.
Unfortunately, none of the big model companies ever produced a 1/24 or 25 scale model of the original MkI car, which was also called ‘Hundeknochen‘ (dogbone) Escort because of its unique front grill.
Last year, I recieved one of the last limited-production kits of the Escort RS 2000 2- door made by Scale Production. Back in the ‘90s, this was Scale Productions first-ever produced full resin 1/24 kit . Original based on a vacuum-formed bodyshell, the resin body still shared some of the drawbacks of this origin.

Looking at photos of the real car, I completely re-worked the wheel arches, window openings, front and rear roll pans. Among other work done was smoothening of rear roof section, hood and upper parts of the front fenders.
Because I did not intended to built a RS 2000, I switched to the Mexico-edition powered by a 1600cc GT-engine. The Mexico was intended to cash-in on Fords success during the London-to-Mexico rally, which had been won by a works Escort. The Mexico had a specially strengthened two door saloon bodyshell as well as RS (Rally Sport) suspension and brakes.

The body was spraypainted in the same red color my real Escort was painted. I used some (tiny) tires found in my parts box on (turned-off) Minilite wheels from a 1/25 AMT kit.
The Mexico stripes and marings are currently drawn by my friend Wolfgang Perez.


More soon,
Stefan

[malscar]

Very nice Stefan. Will you be detailing the interior? Like you I had an Escort though it was a Mk2 and would like to build a model of it. Just have to wait for someone to do one without the flares.

Mal

[NissanSkylineGTR98]

Looks like a good start, Good luck!

[quadzero]

what a cool little car.

[TZ2]

Finished now!
I did also reproduce the original number on the plates of my real Escort, however this was a 4-door car...
THANKS AGAIN Wolfgang for drawing and printing the other decals on his OKI!

[quadzero]

i really enjoy seeing models like this and you did a fine job of it. i hope you have more like this on the way. this turned out excellent and is a very clean good looking model.

[bigfrit]

Great example of the classic dogbone car!

Nice attention to detail to go as far as reworking the rear part and painting it original coloured.

First time I see that model, very original build indeed!

So, what's next?

Oli

[sportracer02]

A great model of a real classic car - SUPER

[DasWiesel]

Sehr schöner Hundeknochen!!
Reminds me of one of these Spencer/Hill movies - Red Buggy, yellow top

[freakray]

Excellent job! One of my favorite cars of that era too!

[TZ2]

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER!
Here is a conversion from Escort L into a hot RS 2000 using decals, front bumpers and wheels and tires from Scale Production. Grill had been modified from square to round headlights. Model is based on the Fabbri model (unfortunately only available in Italy).
After these photos had been taken, big CIBIE-lights and correct size F-O-R-D letters had been added.

[voyageur]

Heyhey... I think I've seen this Mexico Escort before? Some Germany forum?
That old SP Escort sure looks excellent, considering the age of the kit.

Well... talking about converting the Fabbri Escort to the RS2000. Well... it looks like we had the same stuff to start with, the same wheels and the same decal set from the Scale Production decal museum

I used the lower profile ScalePrduction slicks because I wanted it to sit lower...
and added an intercooler for the engine oil.



Sorry, I didn't mean to hi-jack your thread