Formula Ford was a specification racing series created on the idea that the best drivers would win if they were racing identical cars. The idea for this low-budget Formula was created by an Englishman named Geoffrey Clarke, who had a driver’s school called Motor Racing Stables based at the Brands Hatch Circuit. Clarke received support from Ford’s competition manager, Henry Taylor, and Ford’s director of public affairs, Walter Hayes. Ford supplied its 1600-cc Cortina GT engine—also known as the “Kent” engine—as well as its backing and name. Lotus Components built a car based on the Lotus 31 Formula Three car, calling it the Lotus 51 Formula Ford. Ironically, this early car had a Renault gearbox. They sold for the affordable price of just under £1,000, making racing in this series very affordable, since a Formula Three car of the day cost over £3,000. The Royal Automobile Club, Britain’s motorsports’ governing body, established a set of racing regulations. The first official race was held at Brands Hatch on July 2, 1967. From 1967 to the present, the Formula Ford series has produced some very exciting racing in many different makes of racing cars, as well as some great drivers and future champions, including Andretti, Fittipaldi, Schenken, Scheckter and Senna. Today, historic Formula Ford is an entry-level racing category and for the purposes of this guide, covers cars from 1967 to 1972. Keep in mind the greatest single factor in determining the value of a Formula Ford is the quality and cost of its preparation.
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