Authentic Ford factory rally car with a fascinating motorsports history. Hand-built in January 1971 by Ford’s competition department at Boreham Airfield, this Escort Twin Cam was part of an exclusive series of five left-hand-drive factory cars prepared for the legendary Safari Rally. Under the direction of Stuart Turner, Ford deliberately relied on the proven Lotus Twin-Cam engine, combined with a ZF five-speed transmission, a limited-slip Atlas rear axle, a reinforced chassis, dual-servo disc brakes, and magnesium Minilite wheels—an uncompromising design for the toughest rally in the world. With the registration number LVX 945J and start number 8, this factory car was driven in 1971 by Hannu Mikkola and his co-driver Gunnar Palm in the over 6,000-kilometer Safari Rally. Unfortunately, a technical failure prevented them from finishing the race. In January 1973, the Ford Escort was sold by the Ford factory team to David Sutton of Clarke & Simpson. Later, Charles Eveson raced the car in rally competitions alongside the renowned engine builder John Wilcox. Between 1995 and 2003, the car was restored to its original condition with extraordinary effort and the utmost care. Through a passionate car collector, it finally found its way to Switzerland and was registered for road use at considerable expense. Its Twin-Cam engine, completely rebuilt by Schaffner Racing to SR3 specifications, delivers approximately 165 PS and revs up to 8,000 rpm—an impressive combination of historical authenticity and uncompromising competitive performance. The many original spare parts—including the underbody armor, rally fuel tank, and much more—along with the extensive documentation featuring invoices, receipts, contemporary reports, and photographs, underscore the fascinating history and historical significance of this extraordinary car. A rare opportunity to acquire a former Ford factory rally car with direct Safari Rally history and a distinguished list of drivers.