Features

Back to Library >
ti icon

Features

Our Cars: Henry’s Escort

4 years ago

Writer:

Henry Catchpole | Journalist

Date:

14 June 2021

Driving a VW Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 across to the Bill Gwynne Rally School about four years ago on a cold, grey morning, I remember thinking, ‘I should sell the Escort’. In the six or so years that I’d owned my 1979 Escort Mk2 rally car, I’d driven it very little. One rally through the forests near Ludlow was the extent of its competitive outings and I’d hardly ventured out in it on the road at all.

Yes, I loved just knowing that I owned it. Being able to wander to the garage and simply sit in it, feel the hip-hugging Cobra seats, sense the lightness in the metallic clank of the door shutting, even just seeing the Stilo headsets hung from the roll cage; it all made me happy. But was that enough? All cars should be driven, let alone rally cars.

Get full access to The Intercooler for four weeks for just £1, with no commitment!

Four weeks for £1

Why sign up for four weeks?

  • Read this article right away
  • Get full access to The Intercooler's daily articles
  • Access the entire archive of 1500 stories and more than two million words
  • Listen to The Intercooler's weekly podcast ad-free
  • Get the subscriber-only midweek podcast, Ask The Intercooler
  • Listen to our daily stories as mini podcasts
  • No commitment, no subscription. Just full access for four weeks

Already subscribed? Click here to log in.

ti icon

Library

How the R26.R got its belts

Never mind the stripped-out interior, the polycarbonate windows or the carbon fibre bonnet. The most amazing thing about the 2009 Renault Sport Megane R26.R...

Is the EV bubble about to burst?

Are EVs doomed, or is the current fall in demand just correcting their overblown introduction? Andrew Frankel reports

Car design and curry hooks

As David Twohig knows only too well, just making a car really good is no guarantee of success. Sometimes a little extra is required

Small wonder

The Dino 206 S is one of the most beautiful racing cars ever created. And, says Andrew Frankel, it is not one whit less gorgeous to drive either

Drive what you draw

If you’re reading The Intercooler it's a pretty sure bet you’re into cars and driving. You no doubt have a dream garage in the back of your mind should your numbers come up...

Postcard from Le Mans

Even before it began it looked like it could be the most exciting Le Mans in years. Then it started to rain… Andrew Frankel went to soak up the unique atmosphere of the world’s greatest race