Nathan Mills’ 1977 Escort Sport

A fan of Escorts and their rally heritage, Nathan has been the proud owner of this terrific example for seven years. Bought at a car show in North Wales, it’s no surprise to discover that it’s won numerous awards.

“I already knew about the car but the owner at the time wasn’t keen to sell, but when he changed his mind it was an opportunity I just couldn’t refuse.” Having previously been subjected to a full nut-and-bolt restoration it’s easy to see why this rare Ford was too good to turn down.

The already excellent condition hasn’t stopped Nathan making it even better, though, and work began almost straightaway. The engine was removed so that the unit and its ancillaries could be cleaned, and the engine bay detailed, and the rear axle has also been overhauled.

The interior has receive some attention, too, with just a few details such as sagging seats letting things down. As for the exterior, it’s just been a case of attending to some small rust marks on the wheels and removing a few stone chips. The owner goes on to explain, future plans include repainting the underside to original specification but for now he’s just happy to enjoy driving it. 

“I like taking the car to shows where it always receives plenty of attention. It’s a real family favourite, and the Escort is one of those models that so many people had on their driveway, plus there’s the memories of watching them in action on rallies.”

The Mk 2 Escort – codenamed Project Brenda – was launched in 1974, and was available with a wide range of engines and trims. Sport models like this one were offered with 1300cc or 1600cc engines, with the latter proving the most popular.