Retroford Magazine Present OSF's First display Car on Stand 8-090
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Retroford Magazine presents OldSkoolFord’s first display car on stand 8-090:
Ford’s original 110bhp Lotus-powered Escort Twin Cam was developed by Ford's Boreham based competitions department during 1967 and unleashed on an unsuspecting public during January 1968. So, this car is dated perfectly for an early Twin Cam.
It had a 1.558cc, 4-cylinder engine with a Lotus-designed eight-valve twin camshaft head and twin side draft dual choke Weber 40 DCOE carburetors. The engine was mated to Ford's 1.5 L pre-crossflow block and a 2000E gearbox with a hydraulic clutch and 3.77:1 final drive ratio. The Escort Twin Cam had a top speed of 115 mph.
In 1968, the Ford Escort Twin Cam won races in many countries, including the UK and Africa. In the Monte Carlo Rally it competed six times. In the British Saloon Car Championship it was raced by Alan Mann Racing raced in 1968 and 1969.
But despite a short works career that ended in 1971, the Escort Twin Cam won the World Rally Championship for Makes twice, in 1968 and '69.
To honor this car and its motorsport heritage, OldSkoolFords first display car, on stand 8-090 at the NEC Classic Car Show 2024, is Dean Southwards superb twin cam replica, WAB 545G, which started life as a 1300 Super Automatic, in Ermine White.
She rolled off the Halewood production line in November 1968, and was delivered to Ford main agent, Apex Motors Ltd, of Stourbridge in Worcester on the 29th November, being purchased by Margaret Strickley on the 17th December 1968. Dean is the 4th owner!
The entire car has been treated to the full twin cam makeover, inside and out. The engine is a true Lotus power plant rebuilt with 156BHP. Dean stumbled across a Lotus twin cam engine for sale and it was sent to Speedfreak Engineering for a complete re-build and increase in power to 156BHP a 46 BHP improvement on Fords’ original twin cam.
The cars restoration was focused on a few upgrades to the mechanical side as the bodywork was in great shape and very little welding work was needed, the shell remains mainly as she was built.
There are a few other subtle modifications to this car which improve the driving experience, such as uprated brakes and suspension, but twin 40 carburetors and a 2000E gearbox remain.
This stunning restoration modification is as close to factory correct as possible, which I hope you will see at the Show.
This is her first time at the NEC Classic Car Show and Retroford Magazine hopes it won’t be her last.
YKT!
