Gartrac produced the first acquaintance that have David Sutton who had been new movie director of Clark & Simpson who had been Ford traders into the Sloane Square, London. The cars was in fact mainly simple no roll cages, yet not Gartrac given uprated suspension and you will powering apparatus components to your knowledge.
Before the start of the fresh rally Dave Bignold is actually expected by Ford traveling around Clark & Simpson and you will fit butt surprise absorber turrets on the Rauno Aaltonen’s Ford Escort 1850 GT. Installing the device is complete rapidly more a weekend and Aaltonen’s car try ready to compete in the rally.
On the very early seventies, Gartrac changed Escort Mk1 bodyshells having Clark & Simpson inside London area
The fresh London – Mexico World Cup rally come during the Wembley Stadium for the London area to your April 19th 1970 covering everything 16,000 miles through Europe and you may South america and finishing for the Mexico City may 27th 1970. The big event is very winning getting Ford that have Hannu Mikola and Gunnar Hand successful brand new rally and Rauno Aaltonen and Henry Liddon doing 3rd.
Gartrac proceeded developing parts towards Escort Mk1 rally cars. During the early seventies other well-known profit are Hannnu Mikkola and you can Gunnar Palm’s 1972 Safari Rally victory about Escort RS 1600. The two create get an early on lead which they never ever destroyed and you will became the first low-African crew to help you earn the Eastern African Safari Rally.
seventies – Brand new Work Escort Mk2
These types of changes were mainly installing shock absorber turrets, steel ripple arches and reworking axle’s. Gartrac perform customize 2-3 bodyshells a week for a number of ages.
Gartrac try broadening into the character as well as the pure amount of functions created that they must move from the brief workshop inside the Farnham, Surrey. It quickly discover a special large workshop inside Godalming, Surrey, helping these to take on so much more group, and as a result its yields increased considerably.
Ford got merely presented new Escort Mk2 and you will realized Gartrac’s fast progress. Ford needed a fabrication providers that’ll develop Escort Mk2 bodyshells and bits due to their performs rally party.
They need the newest Mk2 bodyshells getting identical with an equipment off bits you to definitely installing all the automobile; this is not the case on the Mk1. Each drivers’ mechanic could have their own notion of an informed answer to create an auto, meaning no several vehicles is the exact same. It triggered troubles when repair the cars towards incidents, once the parts failed to complement universally.
The newest functions Escort Mk1 bodyshells have been fabricated by the Gomm Steel Developments https://escortlook.de/en/switzerland/canton-of-bern/langenthal. This type of shells were fuel welded or nickel bronzed and this place high temperature and worry on the procedure, which resulted in distortion and stamina issues. Ford wished new Escort Mk2 are welded by using the brand new mig welding processes. Gartrac had been playing with mig welders for a while which aided safer an initial acquisition for five bodyshells to be introduced on the exact specification.
Gartrac properly completed the order and you will Ford try so pleased with the standard of the fresh artistry they immediately developed Gartrac to entirely establish Escort Mk2 bodyshells towards functions team.
Ford together with accredited Gartrac to produce pieces that would standardise the fresh mechanic’s create techniques. They fabricated a massive set of parts for example axle’s, distance rods, pedalboxes, strength tanks and you will petroleum tanks and you will suspension areas.
Gartrac was given a free leadership during the time to offer suggested statements on just how Ford can make the cars most useful and so they used the advice somewhat easily due to the fact trucks have been to be quicker, more powerful plus credible.
The new patterns have been altering right through the day. Gartrac would make changes into the axle to switch traction, Ford create upcoming up-date drawings to add the alterations. They will up coming create additional distinctions having Tarmac and you can Tree software. A comparable procedure was applied to develop other parts like the newest system crossmembers, sump secure establishes, pedalboxes and you can suspension pieces.
