Coventry, UK – April 23rd, 2025
In a resounding tribute to British motorsport history, Boreham Motorworks has unveiled its most exacting and evocative creation to date: the Ford Escort Alan Mann 68 Edition. Limited to just 24 examples worldwide, this toolroom continuation pays homage to the iconic Alan Mann Racing Ford Escort Mk1 that secured back-to-back British Saloon Car Championship titles in 1968 and 1969. This launch marks the debut model in Boreham Motorworks’ Ultra Series – an elite tier of historically faithful recreations built with unparalleled precision and reverence.
A Legend Reborn, Detail by Detail
The 68 Edition is not merely a replica – it is a blueprint-accurate reincarnation of an icon. Engineered to the exact specifications of the original Alan Mann Racing Mk1 Escort, each car is meticulously hand-assembled using reverse-engineered data from the championship-winning chassis XOO 349F. The result is a race-ready machine indistinguishable from the original – now FIA HTP-certified and eligible for international historic motorsport events.
From the striking red-and-gold livery to the signature bubble arches and wide stance, the 68 Edition channels the spirit of a golden era in touring car racing. Underneath its period-correct skin, however, lies modern craftsmanship of the highest order. Each vehicle is built from the ground up using cutting-edge CAD modelling and manufactured with millimetre-perfect tooling before undergoing final assembly at Alan Mann Racing HQ in Surrey – mere miles from where the original race cars were born.
Built to Win, Engineered to Race
At its heart lies a 205PS 1.8-litre Twin Cam engine, developed strictly to FIA historic regulations and paired with a four-speed bullet gearbox. This lightweight machine tips the scales at just 795kg, delivering a visceral, analogue driving experience that is as raw and rewarding as it was in 1968.
The suspension, developed in collaboration with original Alan Mann Racing technician Jim Rose, retains every hallmark of the car’s innovative Group 5 setup. Drawing directly from the endurance-racing pedigree of the Ford GT40, it features Len Bailey’s pioneering inverted track control arm mounts, compression struts, and a unique sliding joint MacPherson strut. In a remarkable full-circle moment, Jim Rose has once again hand-crafted the suspension components – the same components he helped fabricate nearly 60 years ago.
The rear setup, meanwhile, features a live axle with a Watts linkage, longitudinal forward links, and torsion bars – delivering razor-sharp cornering performance and period-correct handling characteristics.
Two Editions, One Legacy
The Alan Mann 68 Edition will be offered in two variants:
- Period Correct – A faithful, featherweight tribute to the 1968 championship-winning car, this configuration is for the true connoisseur: minimal, mechanical, and uncompromised.
- Modern Race – Designed for those who plan to compete, this version incorporates subtle contemporary enhancements that optimise reliability and safety, while preserving the car’s historical soul.
Each of the 24 owners will be offered the opportunity to go racing – literally. Boreham Motorworks, in collaboration with Alan Mann Racing, will host private track days, historic race event entries, and full race licence training (where required). Each customer will benefit from the support of a dedicated pit crew – ensuring they experience motorsport in its purest form.
The Start of Something Special
The Alan Mann 68 Edition marks the first release in Boreham’s new Ultra Series, sitting atop a portfolio that also includes the Collector Series – featuring road-ready reimaginings of the Mk1 RS and RS200 – and the Race Series, which optimises those same models for track dominance.
This summer will also see the long-awaited public debut of the Ford Escort Mk1 RS road car, giving enthusiasts a chance to experience the DNA of the Alan Mann 68 Edition in a road-legal format.
