Gartrac made its basic associate which have David Sutton who was simply the fresh new manager out of Clark & Simpson who have been Ford buyers into the Sloane Square, London. The cars were predominantly fundamental and no roll cages, not Gartrac given uprated suspension system and you will powering resources parts on the knowledge.
Before the beginning of the newest rally Dave Bignold is actually asked by the Ford to travel to Clark & Simpson and you may complement rear amaze absorber turrets towards Rauno Aaltonen’s Ford Escort 1850 GT. Installing the device are accomplished easily over a week-end and you can Aaltonen’s automobile is willing to contend on the rally.
On the very early 1970s, Gartrac changed Escort Mk1 bodyshells to own Clark & Simpson within the London area
The newest London – Mexico Community Cup rally been from the Wembley Arena inside London with the April 19th 1970 level just as much as sixteen,000 kilometers by way of Europe and South america and you can completing in the Mexico Area on 27th 1970. The big event try really successful to possess Ford having Hannu Mikola and Gunnar Palm effective the rally and you will Rauno Aaltonen and you will Henry Liddon completing third.
Gartrac went on developing pieces with the Escort Mk1 rally cars. In the early seventies various other well-known victory try Hannnu Mikkola and you may Gunnar Palm’s 1972 Safari Rally win throughout the Escort RS 1600. The pair would need an early head which they never ever missing and you can turned the first non-African team to earn this new East African Safari Rally.
1970s – This new Performs Escort Mk2
These types of adjustment was indeed primarily fitting amaze absorber turrets, material ripple arches and you will reworking axle’s. Gartrac do modify 2-3 bodyshells a week for a number of ages.
Gartrac is increasing into the reputation therefore the absolute amount of really works suggested that they necessary to change from the quick working area inside the Farnham, Surrey. It rapidly discover a unique big workshop in the Godalming, Surrey, helping them to undertake a lot more team, and thus its efficiency increased dramatically.
Ford had merely brought out the fresh new Escort Mk2 and you will realised Gartrac’s rapid development. Ford needed a manufacturing business that may generate Escort Mk2 bodyshells and you may pieces because of their work rally class.
They need the fresh Mk2 bodyshells is similar that have an equipment out of pieces one to installing all the vehicle; it was not true for the Mk1. Each drivers’ mechanic will have her thought of the best way to make a car, meaning zero one or two trucks will be exact same. This triggered troubles whenever repair the vehicles into the occurrences, just like the pieces did not complement universally.
The really works Escort Mk1 bodyshells was fabricated of the Gomm Metal Developments. This type of shells have been gas welded otherwise nickel bronzed and that lay higher temperature and you may be concerned towards matter, which lead to distortion and you will strength dilemmas. Ford wished this new Escort Mk2 becoming welded by using the new mig welding processes. Gartrac was playing with mig welders for some time which assisted safe a first order for 5 bodyshells is lead on their particular requirements.
Gartrac duly accomplished the order and Ford was thus happy with the grade of the brand new artistry they instantaneously contracted Gartrac to help you solely produce Escort Mk2 bodyshells towards the work class.
Ford together with commissioned Gartrac which will make pieces which would standardise the latest mechanic’s make procedure. They fabricated a large band of bits particularly axle’s, distance rods, pedalboxes, fuel tanks and you will oil tanks and you may suspension components.
Gartrac was given a totally free rule at the time horny escorts Korneuburg supply suggested statements on exactly how Ford make the vehicles most useful and so they observed their information a bit easily as cars was indeed becoming reduced, more powerful plus credible.
The latest activities was indeed switching right through the day. Gartrac tends to make changes toward shaft to evolve grip, Ford would after that revision drawings to include the alterations. They might upcoming write more distinctions having Tarmac and you can Forest applications. A comparable process was utilized to grow other parts particularly this new motor crossmembers, sump shield set, pedalboxes and you may suspension pieces.