Gartrac generated the very first friend that have David Sutton who was the fresh new manager away from Clark & Simpson who had been Ford people when you look at the Sloane Square, London. The cars was in fact mainly simple with no move cages, not Gartrac given uprated suspension system and you can powering resources areas into the knowledge.
Right before the start of the fresh rally Dave Bignold try questioned because of the Ford to visit as much as Clark & Simpson and fit butt treat absorber turrets toward Rauno Aaltonen’s Ford Escort 1850 GT. The installation try done easily over a sunday and you will Aaltonen’s vehicle was ready to participate about rally.
Regarding the early seventies, Gartrac altered Escort Mk1 bodyshells for Clark & Simpson in London
The new London – Mexico Community Cup rally already been during the Wembley Stadium when you look at the London area towards April nineteenth 1970 covering approximately sixteen,000 miles using Europe and you can South america and you can finishing in the Mexico Urban area on may 27th 1970. The event is actually really winning to have Ford having Hannu Mikola and Gunnar Hand winning the fresh new rally and Rauno Aaltonen and you may Henry Liddon finishing 3rd.
Gartrac proceeded development parts into the Escort Mk1 rally vehicles. During the early 1970s other well-known profit try Hannnu Mikkola and you may Gunnar Palm’s 1972 Safari Rally victory in the Escort RS 1600. The pair manage just take an early on lead which they never lost and you can turned into the first non-African team to win the brand new East African Safari Rally.
seventies – The new Really works Escort Mk2
These improvement had been mainly fitted treat absorber turrets, metal ripple arches and you can reworking axle’s. Gartrac manage personalize dos-step three bodyshells each week for many years.
Gartrac are expanding inside reputation and the absolute volume of works intended which they necessary to move from their short working area when you look at the Farnham, Surrey. They rapidly located a different huge working area inside the Godalming, Surrey, permitting them to accept so much more personnel, and as a result their output expanded considerably.
Ford got merely brought out the brand new Escort Mk2 and realized Gartrac’s fast gains. Ford needed a manufacturing business that could produce Escort Mk2 bodyshells and you can parts for their work rally class.
It need the fresh new Mk2 bodyshells is identical having an equipment out-of pieces one suitable every vehicles; this is untrue for the Mk1. Per drivers’ auto mechanic will have their unique notion of an educated means to fix make a motor vehicle, definition zero several cars could be the exact same. This brought about dilemmas when servicing the cars to your occurrences, while the bits don’t fit widely.
Brand new works Escort Mk1 bodyshells was indeed fabricated from the Gomm Material Developments. These shells were energy welded or nickel bronzed hence place great temperature and you can worry towards the matter, hence contributed to distortion and fuel dilemmas. Ford wished this new Escort Mk2 to-be welded with the the newest mig welding techniques. Gartrac was actually using mig welders for a while which assisted secure a primary acquisition for five bodyshells to-be brought to their direct specs.
Gartrac properly finished the order and you can Ford is actually therefore proud of the quality of the brand new workmanship it instantly contracted Gartrac so you’re able to only make Escort Mk2 bodyshells on the work group.
Ford as well as accredited Gartrac to make bits which will standardise the latest mechanic’s generate process. They fabricated a giant selection of parts such as axle’s, distance rods, pedalboxes, electricity tanks and oil tanks and you will suspension system areas.
Gartrac was given a totally free rule during the time supply suggestions on just how Ford escort Bremen State could make the cars top in addition they observed the recommendations a bit conveniently once the automobiles was indeed is faster, stronger and credible.
The newest habits was indeed altering from day to night. Gartrac tends to make adjustment into shaft to alter traction, Ford manage following inform pictures to add the changes. They’d next write other differences to have Tarmac and you will Forest programs. An equivalent techniques was utilized to grow other parts eg this new engine crossmembers, sump shield sets, pedalboxes and you will suspension system pieces.