During November 1967 the production of the Escort began at Halewood which is near Liverpool. It wasnt until January 1968 that the official announcment of the Escort was made. 

By the time that January of 1968 had come round it is said that 1100 cars had already been built.

To replace the Anglia Ford wanted a slightly bigger car with better seating room and more headroom.

Fords main rival of the time Vauxhall had released the Viva hb in 1966. A very modern car with excellent fuel concomption and economy. Bmc had done very well with the Mini and its derivatives. While the Mini had front wheel drive and a transvers engine fitted Ford decided to play things safe. At the time it was conventional to have rear wheel drive with a front to back engine.

By the time that Ford had realeased the Escort to the public extensive tests had been carried out in a wide range of conditions. These tests where carried out in such countries as Belgium, South Africa, Finland and of course the UK. The test cars had accumalated almost a quater of a million miles.

The first of the MK1 Escorts were powered by the cross-floww Kent engine, this was developed from the 997cc Anglia non cross-flow power unit. The sizes available were 1098cc and 1298cc (1.1 1.3 ltr).

The 1.1ltr engine produced just 45bhp while the 1.3ltr produced 52bhp for the standard high compression units. The GT version of the 1.3 x-flow produced 64bhp. The extra power was made available through several modifications. A high lift camshaft, larger valves twinchock Weber carb and a fabricated steel exhaust manifold. As opposed to the cast iron manifold on standard Escorts of the time.

The Escort used a new fully syncromeshed gearbox unit, this was a 4-speed single rail item. This was the first time a gearbox of this type was used in a British Ford. Connected to a 61/2 inc clutch on the 1.1ltr models and a 71/2 inc cluctch on the 1.3 cars this box had a reputation of being one of the slickest units available.