The Taurus Mexico

[Taurus-Mexico]

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I know this is mainly a mini forum but I’m wondering if anyone on here is able to help with any more info on this Escort Mexico NTK555J or any photos of the car from 71/72
It was originally sold by F English and went straight to Taurus where it was prepped for the 1971 Castrol Motoring News Championship where it was driven by John Maddox.
He sold the car in 1972 to Bob Robertson in Kent who then used it for various international events.
I have a vague recollection of seeing an article on Taurus in one of the period magazines where they were commenting on the 3 Mexicos that they prepared, NTK 555J, 777J and 999J. I’m sure there was a photo or two in the article..one showing an under bonnet shot…but I’ve never been able to find it again. Has anyone on here seen it and could point me in the right direction ?
Any info would be much appreciated

[mk1]

What a cracking car!

There are a few real experts on 70's rallying on here so I reckon you have a good chance. Only sorry I can't help.

M

[111Robin]

Very nice indeed, hope you find the information from someone on here.

[Taurus-Mexico]

Hopefully one of the experts will pick up on this as I’m always looking for more relevant info on Taurus and the car.
I’m guessing that the article I’m thinking of would have been published somewhere between December 1970 and June 1972 (although could I guess have been published a little after) as that’s the period during which Taurus maintained and ran the car for John Maddox

[Costafortune]

CCC would be most likely.

F English were based in both Poole and Bournemouth, the latter being the Rallye Sport dealer. They were owned by Col. Ronnie Hoare of Maranello Ferrari dealership fame. I think the Bournemouth building is still there but as far as I know, they were a retail Ford dealer and I don't think they were involved in any special car prep.

My Dad's Mexico came from there in 1973. They were certainly the next step up after a Mini.

[mk1coopers]

That would certainly tie in with Taurus being in Ferndown by then, I’ve got all the Taurus receipts for the tuning work done to the engine on my car, the original owner was based in Poole

https://mk1-performance-conversions.co. ... rus-71.pdf

[Taurus-Mexico]

CCC would be most likely.

F English were based in both Poole and Bournemouth, the latter being the Rallye Sport dealer. They were owned by Col. Ronnie Hoare of Maranello Ferrari dealership fame. I think the Bournemouth building is still there but as far as I know, they were a retail Ford dealer and I don't think they were involved in any special car prep.

My Dad's Mexico came from there in 1973. They were certainly the next step up after a Mini.

I only recently picked up on the connection to Maranello !!

F English didn’t do the prep…that was all done by Taurus and it ran under their banner for 71/72. I’ve actually got a photo of the car outside the dealership on handover day when it was picked up by Garry Pollard as the sister car 777J was also being picked up by a local Pools winner so it was featured in the January 71 edition of Ford News. Both were supplied from the dealership with minilites from new.

[Costafortune]

Possibly at 8.56 here? 1972 Welsh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NIvph7zyeI

[Taurus-Mexico]

Good spot there but don’t think that’s mine unfortunately

I think it did make a brief appearance on TV in 72 though on the BBC show “wheelbase”. Seem to recall being told that they did something about the Sherry Rally over in Spain. Again, more footage I’ve never been able to locate and (from the bit of research I did at the time) it’s another of those 70s programmes that the BBC didn’t bother to keep copies of

[davidnutland]

Good to see this car, It probably came out of the Branksome dealer site as this was the Rallye sport area and the car caries a Dorset reg number as opposed to a Bournemouth one, the site is now a Tesco.