Ford Europe initially manufactured the Ford Escort from 1968, extending through four generations until 2004. The car, designed initially as a small family car, was improved over the years and distributed across the world to countries including Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia, among others.
First Generation (1967- 1975)
The Ford Escort Mark I was the first Escort released in Ireland and the United Kingdom in 1967. It made its public debut at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1968 as it replaced the Anglia. Production took place in several countries as the Mark I entered European and Australasian markets. It sold successfully across Western Europe and in the United Kingdom.
The exterior designers gave this rear-wheel-drive model a "Coke bottle" waistline and a dog-bone-shaped grille. It rode on MacPherson strut front suspension with a conventional live axle attached to leaf springs. The first-generation Escort was the first car of its size to sport a rack-and-pinion steering system.
The Mark I production was later distributed to different parts of the world, including Australia. The first Mark I produced by Ford Australia was in 1970 and extended to 1975. During this period, Ford Australia offered ten Mark I models, including all the 1,100 cc and 1,300 cc engines and the Escort twin-cam. The model's engines varied as follows:
- Escort 1100 Low Compression with 1098 cc 8V overhead valve, 30 kW power, 70.5 N⋅m torque and 3000 rpm engine
- Escort 1100 and Deluxe and Super with 1098 cc 8V overhead valve, 34 kW power, torque, and 2800 rpm engine
- Escort 1300 Low Compression with 1298 cc 8V overhead valve 36 kW power, 85 N⋅m torque and 2400 rpm engine
- Escort 1300 and Deluxe and Super, Manual and Automatic with 1298 cc, 8V overhead valve, 38 kW power, 92 N⋅m torque and 2500 rpm engine
- Escort 1300 GT with 1298 cc 8V overhead valve 47 kW power engine
- Escort Twin Cam with 1558 cc 8V dual overhead camshaft, 78 kW power, 140 N⋅m torque, and 4000 rpm engine
- Escort 1100 L Low Compression with 1098 cc 8V overhead valve, 32 kW power, 70.5 N⋅m, and 3000 rpm engine.
- Escort 1100 L/XL, Manual and Automatic with 1098 cc 8V overhead valve, 36 kW power, 73.5 N⋅m torque and 3000 rpm engine
- Escort 1300 L/XL Manual and Automatic with 1298 cc 8V overhead valve, 42 kW power, 91 N⋅m torque and 3000 rpm engine
- Escort 1300 GT and Sport with 1298 cc 8V overhead valve, 53 kW power, 92 N⋅m torque and 4000 rpm engine
The Escort Mark I models produced in Australia came in two body types, either as a two-door or four-door saloon or a two-door panel van. The Escort twin-cam, however, was designed as a high-performance rally car sporting additional features on its engine such as the Lotus made eight-valve twin camshaft mounted on to its 1.5-litre non-crossflow block. The Escort Mark I went on to become the most successful rally car of all time reigning on the rally tracks during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Second Generation (1974-1981)
Ford Escort unveiled the second-generation Escort tagged Ford Escort Mark II in January 1975. The squarer styled car was initially developed in a joint project between Ford Germany and the Ford United Kingdom. Ford Australia also assembled their versions of the Mark II Escort from March 1975 till 1980. The Australian Escort Mark II came in a 2-door and 4-door sedan and a 2-door panel van body type.
Ford offered the Mark II sedan models in L, XL, and Ghia designs as well as a sports option that featured elements similar to sports cars, such as the 1300 cc and 1600 cc sports car models. There was a sports pack van, and the panel van was offered at a GL trim.
The Mark II engines for the Australian models were initially (1977) offered in either a 1.3-litre or 1.6-litre engine with overhead head valve crossflow units. The engine transmission options included a four-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmission. The body size for the Australian Mark II Escorts was modified to fit the enhanced engines, entailing the redesign of a fuel tank that placed the fuel filter behind the back number plate.
The Australian Mark II Ford Escort in 1978 sported the blue oval logo at the centre of the grille, which Ford standardized across all models. The Mark II also introduced the Escort Sundowner panel van, which came with domed side windows and exterior decorations. It came in either a 1.6-litre or 2-litre engine. The GL and L models received a minor upgrade in 1979, which included square headlights.
During this second-generation period, Ford Escort Australia released the RS2000, which displayed a stylish exterior and a slanted nose. The sedan models were available for both two-door and four-door configurations.
The Ford Escort was, however, not popular in Australia, given the rising competition at the time posed by the Japanese imports. It eventually ceased production in 1980 with 79,142 total Mark II Escort cars produced.