• UK-supplied, right-hand drive RS1600 indicating 41,631 miles
• Aveley-built in February 1972 and finished in Daytona Yellow
• Bare-shell rebuild commenced 2002 to standard Type 49 heavy-duty spec with full details on file
• BDA engine and gearbox were fully rebuilt and upgraded
• Raced at Goodwood in 2006, featured on the AVO Club stand NEC, 2006
• Previously formed part of the highly respected Mike Bell Collection

Offered here is a very well presented Ford Escort RS 1600 built in February 1972 and first registered the following September. It was finished in Daytona Yellow and optioned with dealer-fitted contour cloth bucket driver’s seat, map light, extinguisher and alloy wheels.

For a long period of time this RS formed part of the highly-regarded Mike Bell collection and was subject to a bare-shell rebuild in 2002 including a mechanical overhaul with bodyshell, engine and gearbox expertly rebuilt. The old RS then made a little bit of history by entering the first competitive event for members of the Goodwood Road Racing Club since the circuit closed in the mid ‘60s. The car also featured on the Ford AVO stand at the NEC in 2006.

Overview of the restoration;

• Sourced from a deceased estate in 2002 from 25 years private ownership
• Bodyshell stripped, assessed and rebuilt with NOS panels where needed. Amazingly chassis rails, inner-wings with AVO strength plates floors and boot floors were solid
• Professionally rebuilt and painted inside and out in original Daytona Yellow
• Engine rebuilt to competition spec with uprated cam-carriers, BD3 cams and Vernier pulleys. Gearbox rebuilt new bearings, seals and synchro rings.
• New Minilite alloy wheels as per period comp cars
• Standard 3.7 ratio axle with rebuilt Salisbury LSD and Group1 half-shafts
• Set up on a rolling road and peaking at 180bhp @t 6,500 rpm
• Inspection is highly recommended and very welcome.

After a long period of time dry-stored correctly in a diverse classic car collection, the car is now well presented, fully detailed, recently serviced and absolutely on-the-button. It's accompanied by a history file containing a restoration file which documents the entire process stage by stage, a wealth of related paperwork, an original Owners' Manual and its current V5C.

Silverstone Auctions are fortunate to have offered a number of interesting ‘Fast Fords’ over the years including a few RS1600s. Popular and collectable for all the right reasons, this example appears solid, mechanically excellent and perhaps further value could be added with some further carefully considered detailing.