Gartrac generated its first friend having David Sutton who was simply the brand new manager regarding Clark & Simpson have been Ford investors inside Sloane Rectangular, London area. The vehicles was indeed mainly practical with no roll cages, although not Gartrac given uprated suspension and you will running methods parts on skills.
Right before the start of the new rally Dave Bignold is requested by Ford traveling as much as Clark & Simpson and you can fit rear amaze absorber turrets with the Rauno Aaltonen’s Ford Escort 1850 GT. The installation is complete rapidly more a weekend and you can Aaltonen’s automobile is actually ready to compete about rally.
On the early 70s, Gartrac modified Escort Mk1 bodyshells to own Clark & Simpson inside London area
The newest London area – Mexico Business Cup rally been at the Wembley Arena in the London toward April 19th 1970 level everything sixteen,000 kilometers as a result of Europe and you will South america and you may completing from inside the Mexico Urban area on 27th 1970. Case was really effective to possess Ford having Hannu Mikola and you will Gunnar Hand successful the rally and you will Rauno Aaltonen and Henry Liddon finishing third.
Gartrac proceeded developing bits to the Escort Mk1 rally trucks. In the early 1970s some other well-known victory try Hannnu Mikkola and you can Gunnar Palm’s 1972 Safari Rally earn regarding the Escort RS 1600. The two manage need an earlier direct which they never ever forgotten and became the initial non-African team in order to win the new East African Safari Rally.
70s – The Work Escort Mk2
These types of variations was in fact generally suitable treat absorber turrets, steel ripple arches and you may reworking axle’s. Gartrac would customize dos-3 bodyshells each week for a lot of decades.
Gartrac is expanding within the reputation as well as the absolute level of really works designed that they must change from the brief workshop in Farnham, Surrey. It rapidly located yet another larger working area during the Godalming, Surrey, providing these to take on a whole lot more professionals, and thus its efficiency increased significantly.
Ford got only brought out this new Escort Mk2 and you may realized Gartrac’s quick increases. Ford needed a manufacturing business that will establish Escort Mk2 bodyshells and you may bits due to their performs rally team.
It wanted the brand new Mk2 bodyshells is the same with a package away from bits that suitable all the car; it was not the case towards the Mk1. For each and every drivers’ auto technician would have their unique concept of an educated answer to create an automobile, meaning no a few trucks could be the exact same. This caused problems whenever repair the cars on situations, since bits did not complement universally.
The new performs Escort Mk1 bodyshells was fabricated of the Gomm Metal Improvements. Such shells was in fact gasoline welded otherwise nickel bronzed and therefore set high temperature and you may worry towards matter, and this lead to deformation and fuel issues. Ford wished brand new Escort Mk2 is welded utilizing the new mig welding techniques. Gartrac was actually playing with mig welders for a time and therefore aided secure a primary purchase for five bodyshells to get introduced to their exact specs.
Gartrac duly complete the order and you will Ford is actually therefore pleased with the quality of the craftsmanship they instantly developed Gartrac so you can entirely make Escort Mk2 bodyshells to your performs group.
Ford along with accredited Gartrac in order to make bits which could standardise the brand new mechanic’s build procedure. It fabricated an enormous band of pieces instance axle’s, distance rods, pedalboxes, electricity tanks and petroleum tanks and suspension parts.
Gartrac gotten a free of charge leadership at the time giving Tulln escort tumblr suggested statements on exactly how Ford make the vehicles most useful plus they used their recommendations some conveniently as autos have been as reduced, stronger and legitimate.
The brand new activities were altering all day long. Gartrac would make improvement to your shaft to switch grip, Ford carry out next upgrade pictures to incorporate the changes. They would upcoming generate some other differences having Tarmac and Tree software. An identical processes was utilized to grow the rest including the engine crossmembers, sump protect kits, pedalboxes and you may suspension parts.
