{"product_id":"corgi-vanguards-1-43-1973-ford-escort-mk1-1300-gt-marine-blue-va09534","title":"CORGI VANGUARDS 1:43 - 1973 Ford Escort Mk1 1300 GT, Marine Blue - VA09534","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Escort GT modelled was initially purchased from Mayne’s Garage, Redruth, Cornwall, on August 1st, 1973, by a retired army major who actually bought a pair of 1300GTs that day, this blue example for himself and a red one, which is believed to have had a sequential number plate, for his wife. He had both Ziebart rust-protected then painted inside the bumpers and hubcaps himself to prevent corrosion. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe covered 72,000 miles before taking this car off the road and, eventually, both Escorts were purchased by a local 15-year-old enthusiast for £25 each. In 2013, he sold the blue example to Berkshire-based Ford enthusiast Gary Cook, who stored it under a cover for several years. In January 2018 Gary’s close friends, Ford enthusiasts Maria and Kevin McDermid, purchased it for Maria’s 50th birthday.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt looked solid but, after stripping and blasting the bodyshell, they realised nearly every panel was perforated. Because Kevin already owns a modified Escort, they decided to restore this rare survivor to its original specification. Ford specialists, Bishop’s Bespoke Builds, rebuilt the bodyshell and it was painted in the original Marine Blue by Tony Littlejohn of Porsche specialists GTR Motorsports. The pair then reassembled it, refurbishing components, and scouring the world for rare trim parts. It was finished in August 2021 and featured in Classic Ford magazine in June 2022. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaria loves driving it to retro Ford events, where it is often the only unmodified car.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"a-unordered-list a-vertical a-spacing-mini\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"a-spacing-mini\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003ePart of Corgi's Vanguards collection.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"a-spacing-mini\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003eLimited Edition of TBC pieces with numbered card included.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"a-spacing-mini\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e1:43 Scale Diecast Metal Model\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Corgi","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56482921808250,"sku":"VA09534","price":35.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0765\/6033\/5159\/files\/va09534_1.jpg?v=1768421877","url":"https:\/\/superfastdiecast.co.uk\/products\/corgi-vanguards-1-43-1973-ford-escort-mk1-1300-gt-marine-blue-va09534","provider":"Superfast Diecast","version":"1.0","type":"link"}