The Ford Escort Twin Cam is one of the most iconic performance variants ever created by the Blue Oval – a precision-engineered rally weapon wrapped in a compact, understated shell.
Designed in collaboration with Lotus, the Twin Cam transformed the humble Escort into a championship-winning thoroughbred and laid the groundwork for decades of Ford rally dominance.
PURPOSE-BUILT: THE TYPE 49 SHELL
Each Escort Twin Cam was constructed around a specially reinforced bodyshell. The Type 49 body featured several critical reinforcements to cope with the rigours of competition.
These included flitch plate strengtheners on the inner wing strut towers, additional spot-welded double skins on the front suspension top plates, and a wing-rail-to-strut-top brace.
The floor was modified to accommodate revised exhaust hangers, skidded rear spring mounts, and radius arms, with a stone deflector fitted beneath the boot for added rally protection.
Essentially a Motorsport body supplied as a blank canvas.
LOTUS POWER, FORD PACKAGING
The heart of the Twin Cam was the legendary Lotus-Ford engine – a 1558cc inline-four using a Ford iron block and an aluminium Lotus twin-cam cylinder head.
With a 9.5:1 compression ratio and twin Weber 40 DCOE side draught carburettors, the engine produced 110bhp at 6000rpm and 107lb-ft at 4700rpm. Power was fed through a close-ratio gearbox, a hydraulic clutch and the relocated gear lever cavity reflected how tightly the drivetrain was packaged.
Because the broad Lotus head fouled the Escort’s engine bay, offset engine mounts pushed the motor slightly to the left. The master cylinders were repositioned on the bulkhead, and to improve balance, the battery was moved to the left-hand side of the boot.
This also forced the spare wheel to be mounted flat to the floor, with a 9-gallon fuel tank integrated into the right rear guard.
SUSPENSION & BRAKES: BUILT TO WIN
Up front, the suspension used Capri-sourced MacPherson struts, coil springs, track control arms, and an anti-roll bar. At the rear, the Twin Cam adopted a Lotus Cortina-sourced live axle secured by semi-elliptic leaf springs, radius arms, and telescopic dampers. These radius arms were essential to managing the beefier rear end under rally conditions.
Brakes were remote servo-assisted and significantly upgraded: the Girling front discs grew from 216mm to 244mm, while rear drums were enlarged to 229mm. Wheels were 5.5 x 13-inch pressed steel rims sourced from the Lotus Cortina, shod with Dunlop SP tyres and finished with chrome hubcaps. Buyers could also opt for magnesium Mini-lite alloys or chromed sports rims.
SUBTLE LOOKS, SERIOUS INTENT
Visually, the Escort Twin Cam kept a low profile. A blacked-out grille, subtle arch flares, and a two-piece front bumper (to improve airflow to the optional oil cooler) were its only major giveaways. Twin Cam badging was discreetly applied to the fenders.
Inside, the cabin featured black vinyl trim with fluted inserts, a six-gauge instrument cluster with an 8000rpm tacho and 140mph speedo, and a natural alloy-finished fascia. Despite all the upgrades, the Twin Cam was actually 20kg lighter than the 1300 GT, weighing in at just 785kg.
Performance was exceptional for the time – 0–62mph in 8.7 seconds and a top speed of 113mph – but the real magic came from the chassis, which was agile, communicative, and devastatingly effective on loose surfaces.
A LEGEND IN RALLYING
From its debut, the Escort Twin Cam was a motorsport revelation. It claimed victory in the 1968 Circuit of Ireland and went on to dominate both domestic and international rallying, laying the groundwork for the Escort’s WRC glory years in the 1970s.
With legendary drivers like Roger Clark behind the wheel, the Twin Cam made its name by beating far more powerful machines thanks to its nimble handling, strong brakes and bulletproof driveline.
AUCTION CAR – A RARE OPPORTUNITY
Photographed here is an exceptionally rare, Australian-delivered 1971 Ford Escort Twin Cam in original condition. offered to the market through Chicane Auctions.
“I suggest there will be international interest in this Ford Rally legend in this offered condition, but let’s hope a clever Aussie Collector scoops it up before the Brits do,” Chicane Auctions Managing Director Daniel Lamprell.
“It would be a shame if another one left our shores.”
This car will be offered at the upcoming July Classic Car Auction with a Price Guide of $85,000 – $95,000.
Contact Chicane Auctions at www.chicaneauctions.com.au or call on (03) 9580 7369 for further details or to arrange an inspection at their Melbourne Auction Showroom.