Gartrac produced its earliest acquaintance which have David Sutton who had been the manager from Clark & Simpson have been Ford traders in Sloane Rectangular, London area. The vehicles was predominantly fundamental with no roll cages, however Gartrac supplied uprated suspension and you will running gear portion into experience.
Before the start of the new rally Dave Bignold was expected because of the Ford to search up to Clark & Simpson and you will match bottom surprise absorber turrets toward Rauno Aaltonen’s Ford Escort 1850 GT. The installation try completed rapidly over a week-end and you may Aaltonen’s vehicles try happy to vie regarding the rally.
In the early 70s, Gartrac altered Escort Mk1 bodyshells to own Clark & Simpson when you look at the London
The brand new London – Mexico Industry Glass company website rally already been within Wembley Stadium for the London area to your April nineteenth 1970 layer up to 16,000 kilometers as a result of European countries and you can South america and you will completing when you look at the Mexico Town on may 27th 1970. Case are really effective getting Ford having Hannu Mikola and Gunnar Hand profitable brand new rally and Rauno Aaltonen and you may Henry Liddon finishing third.
Gartrac went on developing parts to your Escort Mk1 rally autos. In early 70s several other well-known win is actually Hannnu Mikkola and you can Gunnar Palm’s 1972 Safari Rally profit in the Escort RS 1600. The pair manage take an early direct which they never ever missing and you will turned into the initial low-African team in order to earn the brand new East African Safari Rally.
seventies – New Works Escort Mk2
This type of modifications have been mainly fitting amaze absorber turrets, steel ripple arches and you will reworking axle’s. Gartrac perform personalize 2-3 bodyshells weekly for many ages.
Gartrac was growing for the reputation additionally the absolute amount of really works created that they needed to go from its short working area from inside the Farnham, Surrey. It easily discover a different big workshop in the Godalming, Surrey, permitting them to take on more group, and for that reason the productivity expanded dramatically.
Ford had merely presented new Escort Mk2 and you may realised Gartrac’s quick increases. Ford needed a fabrication business which could produce Escort Mk2 bodyshells and you may bits because of their functions rally party.
It wanted the fresh new Mk2 bodyshells is similar with a package out-of pieces you to definitely installing all of the car; this is not true on Mk1. For each drivers’ auto mechanic might have their thought of an educated solution to create a vehicle, definition zero one or two trucks could be the exact same. This caused issues whenever upkeep the vehicles into the occurrences, once the pieces failed to complement widely.
This new functions Escort Mk1 bodyshells were fabricated from the Gomm Steel Advancements. These types of shells have been fuel welded or nickel bronzed and therefore put high temperatures and you will worry towards the situation, and that resulted in deformation and you will energy trouble. Ford need the fresh Escort Mk2 to be welded utilizing the the fresh new mig welding procedure. Gartrac had been playing with mig welders for a time and that assisted safer an initial purchase for five bodyshells getting put on the real requirements.
Gartrac duly accomplished your order and you will Ford is therefore pleased with the standard of the latest design they immediately contracted Gartrac to only make Escort Mk2 bodyshells to your really works group.
Ford including accredited Gartrac which will make pieces which would standardise brand new mechanic’s make techniques. They fabricated a big gang of bits eg axle’s, distance rods, pedalboxes, electricity tanks and you will petroleum tanks and suspension system components.
Gartrac received a totally free leadership at that time to provide suggestions about how Ford will make the cars greatest and they followed the suggestions a bit conveniently as autos was getting faster, healthier and more reputable.
New designs was basically switching all day. Gartrac would make modifications to your shaft to improve grip, Ford create next inform pictures to incorporate the alterations. They will then develop some other variations for Tarmac and you will Forest programs. A comparable techniques was utilized to grow the rest including the newest motor crossmembers, sump secure set, pedalboxes and suspension system pieces.