Mebetoys Model #A-55, Ford Escort Rallye Mexico

The Ford Escort Mark I was produced in the UK between 1968 and 1975. Ford later applied the Escort name to different models of cars for the North American market. The Mark I Escorts were very successful Rally cars. The greatest victory for the Escort Mark I was in the 1970 London to Mexico World Cup Rally driven by Hannu Mikkola of Finland. This Mebetoys series model appeared in 1973 in the 1973 Mebetoys catalog. It used the Mebetoys Ford Escort Mexico Rallye, Model #A-55, as its base casting. Mattel S.p.A. (Mebetoys) issued it as both Model #A-55 and Model #8551. Although a popular model in Europe it was never issued as a Hot Wheels Gran Toros series model nor packaged under the Gran Toros name.