When Ford was still promoting young racing talent
08/25/2021
Recently we talked about why racing has to be so expensive (as it is today)? We referred to Formula Vee as an affordable entry-level class. But it was even cheaper. At the beginning of the seventies, Ford organized the Ford Escort Cup. All you needed was a standard Ford Escort GT, which you could buy new for DM 7304. It was even cheaper if you went for a used Escort. And during the week, the car was still good for everyday use if you hadn't stripped it down at the weekend.
With its 72 hp 1.3-liter engine, the Escort GT accelerated from 0 to 100 km/h in 14.8 seconds and reached a top speed of 155.2 km/h. The chassis shone with "unkempt hardness", as the ams test report complained at the time. It must have been just right for racing, especially as the sporty styling was also standard.
You could win DM 15,000 in the Ford Escort Cup, even the second prize was worth DM 10,000 and the fifth prize DM 1,000. "All you need is your Escort GT, nerves of steel and a bit of luck," read the advertising for the entry-level series. And Ford wrote "Ford shows the way" under the logo.
Here is the ad from 1971 in full:
