Coke-bottle styling, dog-bone grille and thoughtful packaging made the Escort a handsome and extremely practical small car
Designed by Ford UK, the Escort was ʻthe small car that isnʼtʼ. It weighed no more than an Anglia but was 3in longer, 4in wider, 2in lower and had a 4in longer wheelbase – and in entry-level form made 30% more power. Its drag coefficient of 0.40 bettered both the Anglia and the Cortina.
Curved side glass and 12in wheels made it roomier inside than rivals, while the crossflow engine, all-synchromesh gearbox, Aeroflow ventilation and rack-and-pinion steering (a Ford first) boosted its appeal. A 5000-mile service interval with no greasing points and no gearbox or axle oil-change point was revolutionary, and ahuge draw for fleet buyers.