Ford Mexico: The Rally-Bred Icon That Defined an Era
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There are fast Fords, and then there is the Ford Mexico. Built to win on the stages of the RAC Rally and the London to Mexico World Cup Rally, this compact, purposeful machine became one of the most celebrated performance cars Britain ever adopted as its own. It was affordable, it was quick, and it was devastatingly effective. Decades on, it remains one of the most charismatic Fords of the classic era.
Origins and History
The Ford Mexico was born out of motorsport glory. In 1970, a Ford Escort RS1600 driven by Hannu Mikkola and Gunnar Palm won the gruelling London to Mexico World Cup Rally, covering over 16,000 miles across two continents. Ford's marketing department did what any self-respecting manufacturer would do: they named a road car after the victory.
Launched in late 1970 and sold from 1971 to 1974, the Mexico was positioned below the full-fat RS1600 but above the standard Escort range. It used the 1,599cc Kent crossflow engine, a simple and tough unit that had proven itself in competition. Ford built the Mexico at their Advanced Vehicle Operations facility in Aveley, Essex, alongside the RS1600 and later the RS2000.
The timing was perfect. Young British buyers wanted something with genuine motorsport DNA at a price they could actually reach. The Mexico delivered exactly that. It sold in healthy numbers throughout its production run, building a loyal following that has never really faded.
The Design
The Mexico wore the standard Mark 1 Escort bodyshell, which is no criticism at all. That shape, penned by Roy Haynes and his team in the late 1960s, remains one of the cleanest small car designs of its era. Crisp lines, a short tail, and a purposeful stance that somehow looks both elegant and tough at the same time.
What distinguished the Mexico visually were its subtle performance additions. Twin headlamps, a front spoiler on later cars, wider steel wheels, and Mexico badging on the flanks told you this was something more than a standard Escort. Inside, the cabin was modest by modern standards but businesslike and driver-focused. Everything pointed towards the road ahead.
In period colours like Signal Orange, Daytona Yellow, and Diamond White, the Mexico looked absolutely sensational. These were bold, confident shades that suited the car's character perfectly. They are the colours that enthusiasts reach for when restoring these cars today, and rightly so.
Performance and Driving
The Kent crossflow engine produced around 86 brake horsepower in standard form, which does not sound dramatic by modern standards. But the Mexico weighed just over 800 kilograms, and that changes everything. The power-to-weight ratio was genuinely impressive for the early 1970s, and the car's compact dimensions meant it felt urgent and alive in a way that numbers alone cannot convey.
The four-speed gearbox was precise and satisfying to use, the steering direct and full of feel, and the handling balanced with a tendency towards oversteer that skilled drivers could exploit beautifully. Zero to sixty came up in around ten seconds, with a top speed approaching 100 miles per hour. These were not supercar figures, but the Mexico never felt slow because everything happened with such immediacy and involvement.
Drive one today and the experience is revelatory. Modern cars have faster everything, but precious few match the Mexico for sheer driver engagement at everyday speeds. Every input feels connected, every corner a small event. This is what driving used to be about.
Racing Pedigree
The Mexico did not just carry rally heritage in its name. It went out and added to that heritage on the stages and circuits of the early 1970s. In clubman rallying and circuit racing, the Mexico was a formidable competitor, and a thriving motorsport support series gave owners a ready-made route into competition.
Ford supported the Mexico Challenge one-make series, which produced ferociously close racing and helped develop a generation of talented British drivers. The cars that competed were often surprisingly close to standard specification, which only underlined how capable the basic package was. Many surviving Mexicos have competition histories that their current owners research and cherish as part of the car's appeal.
The motorsport connection also meant that a healthy aftermarket of performance parts existed from the very beginning. Tuning a Mexico was straightforward, and the community around these cars developed expertise that has been passed down through successive generations of enthusiasts.
Buying a Ford Mexico Today
The Ford Mexico has moved from affordable classic to genuinely collectible motor in recent years, and values reflect that shift. A sound, original car in good condition will typically command between fifteen and thirty thousand pounds depending on specification, colour, and provenance. Fully restored examples with documented histories can exceed that figure comfortably.
Rust is the enemy, as it is with all Mk1 Escorts. The sills, floor pan, inner wings, and rear wheel arches are the critical areas to inspect. A full structural survey from a specialist is money well spent before any purchase. Genuine AVO-built Mexicos carry extra desirability, so check the VIN plate carefully against known records.
Mechanically, the Kent engine is robust and well-supported. Parts availability is excellent thanks to a strong specialist network. Clubs like the Escort Mexico Register and the Ford AVO Owners Club are invaluable resources for buyers and owners, offering technical advice, documentation assistance, and community.
Originality matters greatly to serious collectors. A matching-numbers car with its original colour is worth considerably more than a respray in a different shade. That said, sympathetically modified cars with competition histories have their own devoted following and can command strong prices in the right company.
Shop Ford Mexico Art at KK Automotive Art
At KK Automotive Art, our British-designed Ford Mexico artwork captures everything that makes these cars special: the bold period colours, the purposeful Mk1 Escort stance, and that unmistakable rally-bred character. Available as phone cases, iPad cases, mugs, and prints.
Explore more British classics in our classic cars blog.