Ford Planned 500 Mid-Engine Rally Cars, Then Built Only A Handful

Ford’s rally history is rich with famous nameplates, but one long-rumored idea—mid-engine “500” rally cars—apparently never became more than a small experiment. The article traces how Ford’s 1960s-to-1970s rally approach relied on transforming mainstream cars like Escorts and Cortinas with heavy engine tuning, roll cages, and lights—an effective formula against rivals such as Porsche 911s and Alpine A110s. It then describes a pivotal moment at the 1970 Monte Carlo rally involving Ford competition director Stuart Turner and driver Roger Clark, where the need for a faster, more modern concept took root.