Gartrac produced its basic associate having David Sutton who was simply this new movie director from Clark & Simpson who had been Ford traders inside the Sloane Rectangular, London area. The vehicles were mostly basic no roll cages, not Gartrac supplied uprated suspension and you can running methods elements to your experience.
Right before the beginning of the new rally Dave Bignold are requested by Ford to travel around Clark & Simpson and complement buttocks treat absorber turrets toward Rauno Aaltonen’s Ford Escort 1850 GT. Installing the device was complete quickly more a week-end and you may Aaltonen’s vehicle is actually willing to compete on the rally.
In the early seventies, Gartrac modified Escort Mk1 bodyshells to have Clark & Simpson during the London area
The fresh London area – Mexico Community Mug rally already been during the Wembley Arena within the London into April nineteenth 1970 level just as much as 16,000 miles using Europe and you can South america and you may doing into the Mexico Area on 27th 1970. The event was extremely profitable to own Ford with Hannu Mikola and you may Gunnar Hand successful the brand new rally and you will Rauno Aaltonen and Henry Liddon finishing 3rd.
Gartrac continued developing bits with the Escort Mk1 rally cars. During the early 1970s several other popular earn was Hannnu Mikkola and you may Gunnar Palm’s 1972 Safari Rally win throughout the Escort RS 1600. The two carry out simply take a young lead which they never missing and became the initial low-African crew so you can win the fresh Eastern African Safari Rally.
1970s – The brand new Works Escort Mk2
These types of variations was basically primarily fitted treat absorber turrets, metal bubble arches and you can reworking axle’s. Gartrac would modify 2-step three bodyshells weekly for a lot of decades.
Gartrac is actually broadening in character and also the pure number of works meant which they must go from the brief working area in Farnham, Surrey. It quickly discover another big working area when you look at the Godalming, Surrey, permitting these to deal with a lot more employees, and for that reason their efficiency increased substantially.
Ford got just brought out this new ukrainian escorts north Innsbruck Escort Mk2 and realized Gartrac’s fast gains. Ford wanted a fabrication business that could establish Escort Mk2 bodyshells and you may parts because of their really works rally party.
It desired the new Mk2 bodyshells becoming the same having a package of bits that fitting the vehicle; this was not true to your Mk1. For each drivers’ mechanic could have their thought of an informed cure for make a motor vehicle, meaning zero several trucks is the exact same. Which brought about problems whenever servicing the vehicles to your occurrences, while the bits didn’t fit widely.
This new works Escort Mk1 bodyshells was in fact fabricated by the Gomm Metal Advancements. These types of shells was energy welded otherwise nickel bronzed and therefore lay higher temperatures and you may fret for the question, and this resulted in deformation and you will stamina issues. Ford wanted the brand new Escort Mk2 getting welded making use of the the mig welding procedure. Gartrac was actually having fun with mig welders for some time and this aided secure an initial buy for 5 bodyshells getting delivered on their exact requirements.
Gartrac duly complete your order and you will Ford are so proud of the standard of this new workmanship it instantly contracted Gartrac to help you solely make Escort Mk2 bodyshells for the really works people.
Ford along with commissioned Gartrac to create pieces which would standardise new mechanic’s create processes. It fabricated a giant set of parts eg axle’s, radius rods, pedalboxes, stamina tanks and oil tanks and suspension parts.
Gartrac obtained a free leadership during the time to give suggestions on just how Ford can make the cars ideal and so they adopted their recommendations some conveniently because the vehicles were is quicker, stronger and reliable.
The fresh new habits was modifying for hours. Gartrac will make improvement to your axle adjust grip, Ford would next revise pictures to add the changes. They will upcoming write various other differences for Tarmac and you will Forest software. A comparable processes was utilized to cultivate other areas like the latest engine crossmembers, sump shield establishes, pedalboxes and suspension system pieces.