Last year, UK-based Boreham Motorworks announced that it had reached a licensing agreement with The Blue Oval that enabled it to build a series of continuation models based on the iconic Ford Escort MK1 RS and RS200. There’s another exclusive model joining the family: the Ford Escort Alan Mann 68 Edition, which pays homage to the motorsports veteran and his legendary racing team.
The Ford Escort is based on Mann’s own touring racer, a 1968 Ford Escort MK1, which was specially engineered for speed and heavily modified when compared to the “regular” Escort MK1. Boreham Motorworks’ Alan Mann 68 Edition race car is engineered to adhere to the specs of the original British Saloon Car Championship-winning machine, and is the first race car to be released as part of the outfit’s “Ultra Series.”
Heavily drawing from Boreham’s roadgoing Escort MK1 RS, the Escort Alan Mann 68 Edition features the same body panel design as the original race car from 1968. That includes the iconic bubble arches, while under the skin, it’s an identical collector’s copy of the original machine. Every component of the actual race car was scanned and reverse engineered by the DRVN Advanced Engineering Centre in Coventry, UK.
With all the details hammered out, the manufacture and assembly of all components are managed in-house. Production is then moved to DRVN’s facilities in Newton Aycliffe, where each Ford Escort’s body is manufactured and painted to exact specifications. Final assembly is handled by Alan Mann HQ, ensuring that the continuation car is as authentic as possible.
Under the hood, the Ford Escort Alan Mann 68 edition harnesses the 205PS 1.8L twin-cam engine, which was developed to meet FIA historic regulations. That engine is mated to a four-speed bullet gearbox.
There are two variants offered up: the Period Correct version, or the Modern Race version. The Period correct version is an exact replica of the original race car, while the Modern Race variant incorporates modern safety features like a full roll cage, FIA approved seats, harnesses, and a fire extinguisher.
Past homages to Mann himself include a tribute Ford GT, unveiled in 2022, while the Alan Mann Racing team was granted the Spirit of Ford Award.
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