Powered by a 1300cc petrol engine, the Escort van provided extremely basic accommodation
The Ford Escort van, together with its bigger brother the Transit, was used extensively by the AA during the 1970s.
Powered by a 1300cc petrol engine, the Escort van provided extremely basic accommodation for the driver compared to today, but was tough and reliable.
This example was registered in 1979, the year before Ford switched to the front-wheel drive Escort Mk3.
It never saw service on the road but was used instead as a promotional vehicle in the South-east of England – fully kitted out with the tools used at the time.
less than 7,500 miles from new
The Escort has covered less than 7,500 miles from new, and as such may be the lowest-mileage example of the Mk2 Escort van in existence.
AA breakdown patrols Alan Crowley and Paul Bowman, both from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, returned the van to show condition.
In November 2005, AA patrols Andy Smith and Nick Gouldthorpe, both from the Basingstoke area, took on the care of the vehicle and continue to maintain it in show-worthy condition. Andy and Nick recently completed a John O'Groats to Lands' End charity run raising nearly £25,000 for children's hospitals.
(13 August 2012)
