Gartrac generated the first acquaintance having David Sutton who was simply the fresh new manager of Clark & Simpson who have been Ford people into the Sloane Rectangular, London. The vehicles were mostly practical no roll cages, not Gartrac given uprated suspension system and you will powering apparatus parts with the enjoy.
Right before the start of the rally Dave Bignold try questioned from the Ford to visit to Clark & Simpson and fit butt amaze absorber turrets on Rauno Aaltonen’s Ford Escort 1850 GT. Installing the device is actually complete rapidly over a weekend and you can Aaltonen’s auto is actually ready to compete on rally.
On early 1970s, Gartrac modified Escort Mk1 bodyshells having Clark & Simpson inside the London area
The London – Mexico Community Cup rally come in the Wembley Arena in the London area towards April 19th 1970 level whenever 16,000 miles by way of European countries and you may South usa and you may completing during the Mexico City may 27th 1970. The event are most effective to possess Ford which have Hannu Mikola and Gunnar Palm profitable the newest rally and Rauno Aaltonen and you may Henry Liddon completing 3rd.
Gartrac went on development bits for the Escort Mk1 rally autos. During the early 1970s some other well-known winnings are Hannnu Mikkola and you can Gunnar Palm’s 1972 Safari Rally winnings in the Escort RS 1600. The pair manage grab an earlier lead that they never ever lost and you will became the initial non-African team so you’re able to profit this new East African Safari Rally.
seventies – New Functions Escort Mk2
These changes have been generally suitable surprise absorber turrets, steel bubble arches and you will reworking axle’s. Gartrac create customize dos-3 bodyshells each week for a lot of ages.
Gartrac are growing for the character as well as the sheer quantity of work intended which they necessary to go from its quick workshop inside Farnham, Surrey. It easily discovered an alternate big working area for the Godalming, Surrey, enabling them to deal with alot more employees, and thus its output became considerably.
Ford had only introduced the Escort Mk2 and you will realised Gartrac’s fast growth. Ford was looking for a fabrication organization which could make Escort Mk2 bodyshells and pieces because of their performs rally cluster.
They wanted the newest Mk2 bodyshells is identical that have a system from pieces you to definitely fitting all of the auto; this is untrue towards Mk1. Each drivers’ auto mechanic could have their own idea of an educated means to fix build an automible, meaning no a few trucks are definitely the same. This caused issues when upkeep the vehicles into events, as bits didn’t complement universally.
The really works Escort Mk1 bodyshells were fabricated from the Gomm Material Improvements. Such shells was indeed energy welded or nickel bronzed hence put great temperatures and you may stress on topic, which triggered deformation and you will fuel dilemmas. Ford wished the brand ВЈ80 Buchs escorts new Escort Mk2 to-be welded with the the mig welding processes. Gartrac ended up being using mig welders for a time hence helped safer a primary buy for five bodyshells becoming lead on their precise specification.
Gartrac duly done your order and you can Ford was thus pleased with the quality of the workmanship it immediately developed Gartrac to exclusively build Escort Mk2 bodyshells toward really works group.
Ford plus accredited Gartrac to manufacture pieces that will standardise the fresh mechanic’s generate process. It fabricated a massive selection of parts such as for example axle’s, distance rods, pedalboxes, stamina tanks and you will petroleum tanks and you may suspension system portion.
Gartrac received a free reign at the time to offer suggested statements on just how Ford make the vehicles top as well as used the guidance some readily since automobiles was basically to-be smaller, healthier and a lot more reputable.
Brand new models were switching throughout the day. Gartrac tends to make variations on the axle to evolve traction, Ford create upcoming improve illustrations to add the alterations. They might up coming develop more variations getting Tarmac and you may Tree programs. An equivalent processes was applied growing the rest for example this new motor crossmembers, sump protect set, pedalboxes and you will suspension parts.
