"It is no secret that the Oval Badge is enjoying something of a renaissance at the moment with high quality examples bucking the trend. Indeed, looking at results, one could postulate that high quality example across the board are doing well. The age-old adage of ‘allowing someone else to do the work’ certainly applies here and what superb work indeed has been undertaken.
Indeed, whatever is written below will not prepare you for car shown in real life. This luxury Custom model has only covered 4,200 miles in the last 16 years with 6,278 believed recorded since the rebuild and four previous keepers before being rebuilt in 2007 by Peter Haines. It was completely disassembled before undergoing a full respray in OE Midnight Blue with satin black detailing (bumpers, door handles and droop snoot front end). The replacement graphic and side stripes, rear-lip spoiler were then re-applied. The interior is equally good and something of a rarity to boot. The tan cloth seats are refurbished factory RS items with new Aldridge carpets, correct RS floor mats and even period dealer window stickers. The 1,993cc Pinto engine, again the subject of a top to bottom Peter Haines rebuild, includes an unleaded cylinder head and valves, an H&H electronic ignition kit, original RS exhaust manifold and heat shield and a ‘Slick 5 Fabrications’ downpipe and stainless-steel exhaust system.
The rear-wheel drive, factory four-speed gearbox was stripped down and rebuilt with fresh oil seals, a Helix fast-road clutch, quick shifter, original English axle, a Quaife limited slip differential with Group 1 two-piece, half shafts.
The suspension consists of Span adjustable dampers with Gartrac 145lb standard height front springs and Gartrac de-cambered rears. There is a twin-cam edition anti-roll bar, adjustable control arms, replacement steering rack, OE 'Green' track rod ends with Superflex black polybushes throughout. Ford Capri 2.8i powder-coated calipers hold the fast-road pads to the Group 1 vented discs in each corner together with original date-stamped RS wheels, refurbished and powder coated in silver.
This must represent one of the finest RS2000s in the country with specialist valuers, Hagerty, rating concours examples at £58,000. It is little surprise that this was the cover car (and seven page spread inside) in Retro Cars Modified Classic Magazine, Issue 67, January 2014. And latterly, was invited onto the hollowed turf as just one of only 50 cars selected for the prestigious Hurlingham Club Concours D'Elegance in June 2017. High praise indeed.."