What was the predecessor to the Ford Escort?
In Europe, the Ford Anglia 105E is widely recognized as the direct predecessor to the Ford Escort, which debuted in 1968 as its replacement. This article traces that lineage and notes how the relationship differs in other markets.
Beyond Europe, Ford's US lineup followed a different path: the Escort arrived in 1981 as Ford's compact car and did not directly succeed a single Anglia-type model, instead filling the role previously occupied by the Pinto’s small-car segment.
Regional lineage
Europe and the United Kingdom
Key facts about the European predecessor and replacement are summarized below.
- The Ford Anglia 105E, produced from 1959 to 1967, was Ford's entry into the small family car segment in the UK.
- The Ford Escort (Mk1) was introduced in 1968 as the direct replacement for the Anglia in Europe.
- The Anglia’s design and market position set the stage for the Escort’s later, more modern iterations.
In Europe, the Escort lineage is generally viewed as a straightforward replacement for the Anglia 105E, marking Ford's shift toward a more contemporary compact family car.
United States and other markets
The US market did not have a direct Anglia predecessor for the Escort. When Ford launched the Escort in North America in 1981, it filled the role of Ford’s smaller, practical car, effectively replacing the Pinto's position in Ford's lineup rather than a direct Anglia-style predecessor.
Summary
The Ford Anglia 105E is regarded as the immediate European predecessor to the Ford Escort, with the pair spanning a critical era in Ford's compact-car strategy. In the United States, the Escort followed a different development path, replacing the Pinto's compact-segment role rather than being a direct Anglia successor.
What was before the Ford Escort?
The direct successor of the Ford Pinto, the Escort also largely overtook the role of the European-imported Ford Fiesta as the smallest vehicle in the Ford model line in North America. Produced across three generations, the first generation was a subcompact car; the latter two generations were compact cars.
What car took over the Ford Escort?
Ford Escort (Europe)
| Ford Escort | |
|---|---|
| Related | Ford Orion (1983–1993) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Ford Anglia (UK) |
| Successor | Ford Focus Ford Laser (Australasia) Ford Meteor (Australia) Ford Transit Connect (for Escort van) Ford Escort (China) |
What did the Ford Escort replace?
The Ford Focus replaced the Ford Escort in North America, with the Focus being introduced for the 2000 model year and the Escort being phased out by 2002. Ford initially had the two models coexist for a transition period before the Escort was discontinued completely.
- Successor: The Ford Focus is the direct successor to the Escort in the North American market.
- Transition period: The Focus debuted in 2000, while the Escort was still being produced. The two models were sold side-by-side for a few years.
- Discontinuation: The final Ford Escort was manufactured after the 2002 model year, making way for the Focus to be the sole model in that segment.
What is the American version of the Ford Escort?
Focus
The North American Ford Escort was a car produced by Ford Motor Company from 1981 to 2003. Its successor, the Focus, was released in 2000. The first generation was made from model years 1981 to 1990.
