Limited-run continuation Mk1 Escort breaks cover as Boreham Motorworks first ‘Ultra Series’ model
Boreham Motorworks has introduced the Alan Mann 68 Edition of the Mk1 Ford Escort. It’s an authentic ground-up, re-engineered ‘continuation’ car, built to the exact specification of the original race Escort which was built by Alan Mann Racing in Byfleet, and won the 1968 and 1969 British Saloon Car Championships.
The Alan Mann 68 Edition Ford Escort is first of Boreham Motorworks’ Ultra Series of vehicles, reverse engineered using original production blueprints and the latest technology to make this a true ‘continuation’ of the original 1960s Alan Mann Racing Escorts, wearing chassis numbers that continue from the originals as recognized by Ford and Alan Mann Racing.
The Alan Mann 68 Edition Ford Escort is part of the same engineering project at Boreham Motorworks that will also deliver the Mk1 Ford Escort RS, unveiled in December 2024 and delivered to customers in late 2025.
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 road-going interpretation of the classic Ford Escort Mk1 RS, blending heritage with modern technology. 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.
Manufacture is managed entirely in-house by Boreham Motorworks, ensuring the highest possible 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 the body and paint each car is completed. 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. 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 Ford Escort Alan Mann 68 Edition will be made available in two specifications, Period Correct or Modern Race: Period Correct is built precisely to FIA Group 5 regulations; Modern Race will come with an 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.
We covered the development of the Mk1 Escort RS in the May 2025 issue of Classics World magazine which you can order here.
For more information on Boreham Motorworks, visit borehammotorworks.com
