Cat 3. Hillman/Talbot Avenger

FIA Homologation Form no: 5719

Permitted modifications supported by documented evidence.
Engine.
1600cc OHV
Bore 87.35 mm. Stroke 66.67 mm

Electronic ignition.
Lucas or Lumenition Optronic replacement system.

Carburation.
Twin Weber or Delorto. 40 or 45 DCOE. Twin 1.5, Stromberg CDS.

Gearbox.
Four syncromesh.
The original gearbox may be replaced with a four speed Ford RS2000 or Bullet gearbox.

Rear Axle.
Standard axle with LSD.

Brakes.
Front.
Original Solid or vented brake disc and 2 piston Brake Caliper.
Girling  M16  2 piston brake calipers.
AP Racing CP2361 brake caliper.
Brake disc diameter. 244 MM.
Brake disc thickness. Solid 12.7 mm. Vented 19 mm.

 Rear:
Standard drum. Chrysler 180 disc and caliper assemblies.
Alternatively an AP CP2577 is permitted with a solid brake disc only

Hand Brake:Hydraulic handbrake is permitted.

Master Cylinders.
Single outlet master cylinders may be replaced by a Tandem or Twin cylinder arrangement.
The fitting of a dual master cylinder or any other type of device providing a simultaneous action on all four wheels and divided action on two wheels is permitted, providing the original brake pedal and pivot point are used.
The remote brake bias adjuster must be positioned so that it cannot be adjusted by either the driver or co-driver when normally seated in the car.

Suspension.
Front.
Mc Pherson Strut.
A front under bonnet strut brace is permitted.

Rear,
Trailing arm with coil springs.Telescopic.

Wheels and Tyres
Wheel rim, Tyre size and profile as per MSUK NCR’s.

General.
Fibre glass bonnet and boot lid.
Composite Side windows.
Alloy centrally mounted replacement petrol tank.
Bumpers must be fitted front and rear.
Digital display dashes and instruments are not permitted.

Body Shell.The shells in standard form suffer from cracking on the front screen pillars.
This can be overcome by inserting a 5/8 inch steel tube up the inside of the pillar and welding in place.

Historic Road Rally

Ford Escorts

Category 2. 1/1/1968 – 31/12/1974.

Category 3. 1/1/1975 – 31/12/1980.

Specification and modifications, proven to have been used in period.

The Ford Escort has been an iconic competition car since its first appearance in 1968. It is still widely use today in all manner of specifications, both historic and modified. The first real usage of the car in road rallying was the Mexico championship. This entailed standard Grp 1 Escort Mexico’s competing on the then Motoring News road rally series. This was a seriously competitive championship. A lot of the drivers and navigators went onto greater things. It must be remembered that these cars were very much standard being driven by committed, talented drivers.
When the Rs2000 appeared, they were often in a near standard specification also.

The advent of Historic rallying would ultimately see history repeat itself. The one overriding rule is that any modification must have been proven to have been used on that make of model of vehicle in period. This rule applies also to historic road rallying, using an Escort on an Historic road rally means it can only run to modifications used in period in road rallying. It is not acceptable to run Stage rally modifications..
The cutoff date of 31/12/1974 applies to Mk 1 Escorts and 31/12/1980 applies to Mk 2 Escorts.

The following is a general list of permitted modifications that have been proven to have been used in road rallying in period.

Body Shell.
A standard body with no wheel arch extensions.
This also applies to the standard wheel arch shape being altered/re-shaped to allow wider tyres etc.
Only manufacturers original decals and paintwork are permitted.

Engines used..
The 1300cc, 1600cc crossflow (Kent) engine. 1558cc Twin Cam.
The 1993cc SOHC (Pinto) engine.
There is no evidence of large over bores being used in period.
Plus 60 thou appear to be the maximum overbore used..

Carburation.
Twin, progressive choke Weber carburettor. The 3.0lt Capri 38 DGMS carburettor was the modification of choice. This carburettor opened both chokes simultaneously.
Twin 40 and 45 DCOE carburettors. (These carburettors would need a MSUK waiver for each event) The Lynx split Weber manifold has not been proven to have been used in period

Ignition.
Ford, Motorcraft of Bosch disctibutor.
The only electronic ignition system used in period, that is still available today is the optical eye Lumenition assembly.

Gearbox.
Four speed 2000E or Rocket.
There is no evidence of five speed gearboxes being used in the period.
The Type nine Ford 5 speed gearbox did not appear until the Ford Sierra in 1982-83.

Rear Axle.
English or baby atlas. The deciding axle width is keeping the wheels and tyres within the wheel arches.

Brakes.
Front. Girling M16, 2 piston cast iron brake calipers with vented brake discs.
Solid. 244mm dia 10mm thicknes
Vented. 244mm dia 20mm thickness.
Rear. Drum Brakes.
There is no evidence of rear brake discs being used.

Suspension.
Front. Period McPherson Strut.
Rear. Solid, two link, pan-hard rod axle, with leaf springs,
Shock absorbers. Make: Bilstein, Koni, Spax or period available.

Electrical, Instrumentation.
Battery, original under bonnet location or in boot.
Period correct switchgear. (Mk1, single stalk indicator steering column switch)
The same applies to Mk2 Escorts. Later Ford multi function derivatives are not permitted.

V1.6/12/25