How could a car owe its existence to the Daily Mirror, the 1970 World Cup and a South American country? Deputy web editor, Stuart Milne goes on a 39-year journey to drive a hero - the Ford Escort Mexico.

In 1968 an epic, 10,000-mile race kicked off. The London-Sydney Marathon was a huge rally which would see some of the biggest names in motorsport compete.

Spin forward two years and the idea of celebrating the 1970 Mexico World Cup by driving from London - the host of the previous world cup final - to the South American country became a reality.

The London-Sydney had seen a strong effort from Roger Clark’s Lotus Cortina - overcoming a piston problem only to succumb to a terminal diff failure - and Ford decided they needed an Escort to smash the opposition in the 1970 event.

Gallery: the Ford Escort Mexico

The Daily Mirror-sponsored race, which took in twenty countries with some stages more than 500 miles, was seen as the ultimate challenge in speed and reliability. And so Ford set about building a car to suit.

Lotus Elan engine

It took Ford’s Kent engine, which was fitted in cars as diverse as the Ford Anglia and Lotus Elan, strengthened it and piled on the power. Race cars were fitted with huge ‘cow bars’ and rails running from the wings to the roof as well as the customary roll cage and a set of clocks for timing the stages.

Spin forward 39 years and I’m turning the key in the car Ford built for the job - the Ford Escort Mexico; something I’ve waited about twenty years to do.

Like stepping into most old cars, I experience a full range of emotions. The excitement as I imagine what it should be like. The shock as it’s not nearly as big or as strong looking as I’d expected. The disappointment that you can’t just start it and drive as you might in a modern car.

In front of onlookers from Ford and a few other motoring hacks, I fired up the Mex for the first time that day. And I was glad I started my motoring life in cars that still had a manual choke. But that’s not to say I was able to prevent the car from cutting out periodically.

After discovering the gearstick’s huge throw and that the indicator stalk is on the ‘other’ side, I gingerly pulled out onto the road.

And after about 600 yards, all the apprehension and frustration was forgotten; replaced by a Cheshire cat-sized grin. The steering is weighty and direct, the engine is fizzy and loves to be worked hard and respect from passers-by is immense.

Like a Mazda MX-5 to drive

It’s possible to steer the car on the throttle and not since the original Mazda MX-5 have I driven a car which balances grip and power so perfectly.

The particular Escort Mexico I was pedalling was built in 1974, and might have just been a bit of badge engineering by Ford to create a sporty model between the GT and Twin Cam ‘Scorts, but the team at Ford’s Essex AVO plant created a masterpiece.

And it was a masterpiece that was so dominant in the London-Mexico rally, racking up a win for Hannu Mikkola, a third for Rauno Aaltonen, a fifth for Timo Mäkinen and a sixth for footballing legend Jimmy Greaves.

By today’s standards, the Escort Mexico is fairly pedestrian. When it was launched Autocar tested its performance and recorded a 0-60mph time of 10.7 seconds and Ford stated a top speed of 99mph. But lets not forget that’s from a 1.6-litre engine which developed 87bhp and 92lb/ft of torque.

Gallery: the Ford Escort Mexico

Compare it to the very basic Focus and equipment is best described as Spartan. A radio, wing mirrors and a reclining passenger seat were just some of the things the Mexico didn’t have; but it was an affordable car. Yours for £1,150, sir.

By comparison, the Escort 1300 Super was £690 and that came with performance best described as glacial. But if you wanted to spec up the Mex – or even give a base model the rally look - huge spot lights were available for £7.75 each, and the passenger seat could be made to recline for a palatable £32.37.

So the Mexico might be fairly slow, poorly equipped and cramped - but that’s by standards of today. And in a world packed with cars that insulate you from the forces of performance and sanitise the excitement, driving an original Escort Mexico is an experience as enchanting as racing the original to Mexico City.

Fancy a bit of Mexico action? You’ll have to search hard as like most fast Escorts, they’ve become a real collectors’ item. If you fancy a minter like the one pictured above, set aside £20,000 – even a total restoration project can cost £5,000.

Search for a used Ford Escort

Video: watch the Ford Escort's successor - the 300bhp Ford Focus RS