Gartrac produced their earliest associate that have David Sutton who had been brand new director regarding Clark & Simpson who had been Ford buyers for the Sloane Rectangular, London. The vehicles was mainly important without move cages, but not Gartrac supplied uprated suspension system and you can powering equipment areas towards experience.
Right before the start of this new rally Dave Bignold try requested by Ford to travel up to Clark & Simpson and you can fit butt surprise absorber turrets into the Rauno Aaltonen’s Ford Escort 1850 GT. The installation are completed rapidly more a week-end and you may Aaltonen’s car are happy to compete throughout the rally.
About early seventies, Gartrac changed Escort Mk1 bodyshells to possess Clark & Simpson when you look at the London area
The fresh new London area – Mexico Industry Cup rally come on Wembley Arena in London area to your April 19th 1970 level whenever sixteen,000 kilometers courtesy Europe and South usa and you can completing when you look at the Mexico City on may 27th 1970. The function are extremely effective to own Ford with Hannu Mikola and you may Gunnar Hand profitable the newest rally and you may Rauno Aaltonen and you will Henry Liddon finishing third.
Gartrac continued developing bits on the Escort Mk1 rally trucks. During the early seventies another famous victory is actually Hannnu Mikkola and you will Gunnar Palm’s 1972 Safari Rally win regarding the Escort RS 1600. The two carry out grab a young direct that they never forgotten and you will became the original low-African team in order to profit the latest Eastern African Safari Rally.
1970s – The brand new Performs Escort Mk2
These modifications was indeed generally suitable shock absorber turrets, material bubble arches and you will reworking axle’s. Gartrac create personalize dos-step three bodyshells a week for a number of ages.
Gartrac are expanding for the reputation plus the natural volume of work implied which they wanted to move from their quick workshop within the Farnham, Surrey. It rapidly found another type of huge working area for the Godalming, Surrey, providing these to deal with significantly more professionals, and for that reason the output increased considerably.
Ford had only introduced this new Escort Mk2 and you can realised Gartrac’s quick increases. Ford needed a manufacturing providers that may establish Escort Mk2 bodyshells and you can parts because of their work rally group.
It wanted the latest Mk2 bodyshells to be similar which have an equipment from pieces one to installing all auto; it was false for the Mk1. For every drivers’ auto mechanic might have their own idea of an informed solution to make an automible, meaning zero a couple of trucks are definitely the same. Which caused trouble when maintenance the cars on the events, because parts don’t complement widely.
The latest works Escort Mk1 bodyshells was fabricated because of the Gomm Metal Improvements. This type of shells had been energy welded escort North Rhine-Westphalia friends otherwise nickel bronzed and that lay high temperature and you can stress toward thing, which lead to deformation and you may power troubles. Ford desired this new Escort Mk2 to be welded using the the mig welding processes. Gartrac was actually playing with mig welders for a while which aided safer an initial acquisition for five bodyshells as brought to their direct specs.
Gartrac properly done the order and Ford is thus pleased with the caliber of the fresh new craftsmanship it quickly developed Gartrac so you’re able to exclusively develop Escort Mk2 bodyshells into performs team.
Ford plus commissioned Gartrac which will make parts that would standardise the fresh mechanic’s create procedure. It fabricated a giant set of parts particularly axle’s, distance rods, pedalboxes, stamina tanks and oil tanks and you may suspension areas.
Gartrac was given a totally free reign during the time provide suggestions on exactly how Ford make the vehicles finest as well as used its information somewhat easily once the cars were is less, more powerful and much more reputable.
The newest models was basically altering all day. Gartrac would make improvement towards the shaft adjust traction, Ford create after that update drawings to incorporate the changes. They’d then establish additional distinctions to possess Tarmac and Tree applications. A comparable processes was utilized to cultivate the rest including brand new system crossmembers, sump shield kits, pedalboxes and you will suspension system parts.
