Boreham Motorworks Unveils the Ford Escort Alan Mann 68 Edition

Boreham Motorworks is proud to unveil the brand-new Ford Escort Alan Mann 68 Edition: a toolroom continuation of one of the most dominant touring cars of all time, the Alan Mann Racing Ford Escort Mk1. Engineered and crafted to the exact specifications of the British Saloon Car Championship-winning original, this ultra exclusive continuation model embodies the pioneering engineering, unrelenting performance, and motorsport pedigree that defined Alan Mann Racing’s golden era. 

Every detail of the Ford Escort Alan Mann 68 Edition has been obsessively re-created to modern tolerances, while staying true to the design of the original bespoke race car which itself differed massively from the Escort Mk1 road car of the era. From its lightweight construction and wide bubble arches to a unique suspension layout, every element has been engineered to deliver the same dynamic performance that made the original a dominant force on the racetrack. 

The Ford Escort Alan Mann 68 Edition is the first car to be released in our ‘Ultra Series’. Boreham Motorworks offers three distinct vehicle series, each crafted with precision and authenticity. The Collector Series including the Ford Escort Mk1 RS and the Ford RS200, reimagine classic icons for the road, blending period-correct aesthetics with modern engineering, updated styling, and advanced manufacturing – built from the ground up, brand new with Ford-certified chassis numbers. The Race Series strips back weight, boosts power, and optimises performance of the Collector Series, delivering track-focused machines uncompromised by road regulations, designed purely for lap times. The Ultra Series represents the pinnacle of historical accuracy, with blueprint-precise recreations built to period specifications – some road-legal, others FIA-certified for competition – ensuring an unfiltered connection to motorsport heritage.  

Our Ultra Series vehicles, are our most exclusive production series, introduced with the Ford Escort Alan Mann 68 Edition of just 24 units. The 68 Edition is the culmination of Boreham Motorworks commitment to encourage our clients to go racing. The 24 owners will be invited to attend a series of race events and race licence training (if required), fully supported by their dedicated pit crew from Alan Mann Racing. These events can be based in both in the UK and internationally, they can include private Boreham High Performance Club events and established historic racing events. 

Engineered with Performance and Authenticity in Mind 

The Ford Escort Alan Mann 68 Edition was born from the intensive engineering development behind Boreham Motorworks road-going Escort Mk1 RS, first announced and revealed in December 2024. As the team worked to reimagine the Mk1 RS for a new era, they recognised an opportunity to bring a toolroom continuation race car to market ahead of its road going sibling. By leveraging their deep understanding of the original competition car and the advanced engineering already in progress, Boreham Motorworks has been able to deliver the Alan Mann 68 Edition – an exact recreation of the motorsport icon while the road-going Escort Mk1 RS undergoes final development ahead of its public debut this summer. 

While both the Ford Escort Mk1 RS and the Ford Escort Alan Mann 68 Edition share the same body panel design as the original 1968 race car, including the distinctive bubble arches, that’s where the similarities end. The Mk1 RS is a modern, performance focussed, road-going interpretation of the classic Escort Mk1 RS, blending heritage with modern refinement, technology, and real-world road performance. In contrast, the Alan Mann 68 Edition is an extreme, no-compromise race car – an identical collector’s copy of the original Alan Mann Racing machine, built to its exact specifications in every detail. Every component, from its lightweight construction to its race-spec drivetrain and unique suspension, is engineered for competition, delivering an unfiltered and raw driving experience that transports its driver straight back to the golden era of British Saloon Car Racing.  

To ensure total authenticity, at the DRVN Advanced Engineering Centre in Coventry, Boreham Motorworks meticulously disassembled and scanned every component of the Alan Mann Racing Escort Mk1 that dominated the 1968 championship, to reverse engineer this icon and create an exact CAD model. That car (Chassis Number- BB48HR39279; Alan Mann Racing Number – AMR4), was driven by Frank Gardner, and became affectionately recognised by fans across the world by its registration number XOO 349F, likely the most valuable Ford Escort in the world.  

Manufacture and assembly is managed entirely in-house, ensuring the highest levels of accuracy and quality. DRVN Advanced Engineering in Coventry has led the initial CAD scanning and product development, digitally mapping every component to guarantee absolute precision. Production then moves to DRVN’s facilities in Newton Aycliffe, where expert craftsmen manufacture the body and paint each car to exacting standards. Final assembly and dynamic setup take place at Alan Mann Racing HQ in Chobham, Surrey – just a few miles from Alan Mann Racing’s original Byfleet workshop, where the first Group 5 Escorts were built in the 1960s. This seamless integration of modern engineering and heritage craftsmanship ensures that every Alan Mann 68 Edition is a true masterpiece, built with the same passion and attention to detail that defined the original race-winning cars. Every component is manufactured using state-of-the-art tooling while remaining faithful to the hand-built techniques of the past. The manufacturing process utilises brand-new, modern jigs and fixtures to guarantee modern precision. 

The Championship-Winning Icon, Reborn 

At the heart of the Ford Escort Alan Mann 68 Edition sits a 205PS 1.8-litre Twin Cam engine, developed to FIA historic regulations to deliver an authentic period-correct racing experience. This power unit is paired with a four-speed bullet gearbox, ensuring precise, mechanical shifts that echo the raw engagement of the original competition car. With a dry weight from just 795kg, the Ford Escort Alan Mann 68 Edition achieves an exceptional power-to-weight ratio, resulting in razor-sharp responsiveness, rapid acceleration, and the kind of dynamic agility that makes driving this car engaging, predictable and fun. 

The suspension of the Alan Mann 68 Edition is a true testament to the ingenuity and engineering prowess that defined Alan Mann Racing’s success on the track. When Alan Mann was first given six chassis by Ford Motor Company and tasked with transforming the Mk1 Escort into a dominant touring car, Alan Mann turned to Len Bailey – one of Ford’s most respected chassis engineers, known for his work on the legendary GT40 programme. Bailey was seconded to Alan Mann Racing and brought a wealth of motorsport expertise to the project, incorporating advanced suspension concepts directly inspired by endurance racing. 

The original Alan Mann Racing Escorts were built to FIA Group 5 regulations, a category that provided significant freedom to refine chassis and suspension design. Drawing on their extensive experience running Ford GT40 sportscars, Alan Mann Racing integrated key elements of that car’s technology into the front suspension of the Escort programme. This included the upper MacPherson strut bearing mount, compression strut-to-body mount, and an inverted outer track control arm mounting – each designed by Len Bailey. These critical components were hand-fabricated by Jim Rose, one of Alan Man Racing’s lead technicians at the time. Today, nearly 60 years later, all those same unique components are once again revived in the Alan Mann 68 Edition and incredibly, Jim Rose has once again applied his expertise, crafting its unique suspension components with the same precision and craftsmanship as the originals he worked on, all those years ago. That unique sliding joint MacPherson strut is paired with KONI 2-way adjustable coil-over dampers for precision handling. A front anti-roll bar and the compression struts enhance stability, while the custom strut top mounts and compression strut mounts provide additional rigidity. Adjustable, rose-jointed lower arms allow for fine-tuned suspension geometry, optimising performance for historic racing competition. 

At the rear, the car utilises a rigid axle with a distinctive Watts linkage mounted under the differential case nose. This configuration, along with longitudinal forward links, torsion bars, and vertical dampers, ensures exceptional rear-end control, allowing the Ford Escort Alan Mann 68 Edition to harness its power effectively and maintain outstanding grip through high-speed corners. 

The braking system consists of solid discs with a 254mm x 10mm diameter at the front, paired with a P16 calliper, and solid discs measuring 245mm x 10mm at the rear, using a Girling NR series calliper with a parking brake. The wheels are period-correct Electron magnesium-style, now in flow-formed aluminium, with 13″ x 8″ front wheels and 475/1000×13″ tyres, and 13″ x 9″ rear wheels with 475/1150×13″ tyres. 

The Ford Escort Alan Mann 68 Edition design brings back the iconic bubble arches and the instantly recognisable red and gold livery, paying homage to the legendary Alan Mann Racing Mk1 Escort. Originally developed by Alan Mann Racing to accommodate the wide wheels and unique suspension, Group 5 allowed for up to 10-inch rear wheels and up to 8.5-inch front wheels. To allow for the larger wheels, the bespoke bubble arches were crafted by lead technician Peter Bohanna. This widened stance not only significantly boosted its grip and handling, but it enhanced the car’s aesthetic appeal, a styling cue that launched thousands of copycats over the years, making it as visually striking as it was technically advanced. The combination of these signature design elements created a racing machine that left a lasting impression on motorsport history. 

An Exclusive Opportunity to Own a Motorsport Icon 

The Ford Escort Alan Mann 68 Edition will be made available in two specifications, Period Correct or Modern Race: 

• Period Correct – A true collector’s item, the lightest possible configuration, built precisely to FIA Group 5 regulations, offering an unfiltered connection to one of Ford’s most celebrated racing cars, exactly as the original XOO 349F sits today, after it finished racing with Alan Mann at the end of 1969. 

• Modern Race – With a FIA Technical Passport, incorporating modern safety features including a full roll cage, FIA-approved seats, harnesses, and a plumbed-in fire extinguisher—eligible for historic racing worldwide. 

Only 24 Alan Mann 68 Edition models will ever be produced, ensuring absolute exclusivity. This is not simply a limited-edition model; it is a painstakingly accurate continuation of a motorsport masterpiece, offering collectors and historic racing enthusiasts a chance to experience and own one of the most celebrated touring cars in history.  

Henry Mann, Managing Director of Alan Mann Racing, remarked: 

“My father always believed that the key to success in motorsport was an unrelenting pursuit of precision engineering, innovation and the constant obsession of lightweight solutions. The Alan Mann 68 Edition is a testament to that philosophy, capturing the spirit of the original in every detail. To bring this car back to life is a privilege—and one we have undertaken with the utmost respect for its heritage.” 

The Next Chapter of Alan Mann Racing & Ford Motor Company 

In 1968, Alan Mann Racing cemented its place in history by transforming the humble Ford Escort Mk1 into a dominant force in the world of motorsport. Under the expert guidance of Alan Mann, the Alan Mann Racing Escort Mk1 dominated the British Saloon Car Championship in 1968 and 1969 on behalf of Ford Motor Company. 

 Six decades later, the Ford Escort Alan Mann 68 Edition forges the next chapter in the story of Alan Mann Racing as all 24 examples are marked with official continuation chassis numbers. 

Iain Muir, DRVN Group CEO, comments, “Reviving the Ford Escort Alan Mann 68 Edition is more than just bringing back a car; it’s about celebrating a legacy of innovation and motorsport excellence that continues to inspire generations. This project exemplifies Boreham Motorworks’ commitment to craftsmanship and authenticity, ensuring the spirit of this legendary race car lives on both in competition and in the hearts of enthusiasts.”