For Ford aficionados, moments like this are the stuff of folklore. This November, Iconic Auctioneers will bring not one, but two Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800s under the hammer at the NEC Classic Motor Show, a pairing so rare it borders on the unbelievable. Earlier this year, we all witnessed an identical RS1800 cause bidding mayhem, finally fetching a staggering 278,848 pounds, a figure close to 100 times the cost of the car when new and a new record firmly set in the Escort world. With only 109 RS1800s ever built, it makes the idea of seeing two more offered in the same sale feel like a once-in-a-lifetime alignment of the Blue Oval stars.
Born between March 1975 and September 1977 as a road-going counterpart to Ford’s all-conquering rally hero, the RS1800 was a wolf in homely, two-door saloon clothing. Tucked beneath the bonnet sat Cosworth’s 1,835cc BDA engine, a 16-valve masterpiece bred for competition glory. A strengthened bodyshell and heavy-duty running gear linked it to the Escort Mexico, yet the RS1800 always stood apart as a homologation special engineered not simply to compete, but to dominate.
The first of the pair headed to auction, chassis BBATRL08628 (KPR 111P), is a car that has already achieved near-mythical status. Recognised as the first production RS1800, it carries the weight of a legend, yet presents with a level of purity and precision few restorations can dream of. After a decade-long rebuild at the hands of Neil Arnold of Auto Restoration, with mechanical expertise from Kevin Franks of Richard Burns rally fame, it stands today as the definitive restored example, a car where every nut, every hose clamp, every period-correct detail speaks to obsessive devotion. Its concours credentials are well documented, with a trophy cabinet groaning under the weight of over 200 awards. Named Concours Car of the Show at the RSOC National Day in 2022 and immortalised as a 1:43 scale Corgi model, this RS1800 has just as much silverware as the cars that went rallying.
Its counterpart takes an entirely different approach to greatness. Chassis GCATTB01873 (SCE 383S), a 1977 example, remains gloriously untouched. Believed to be the most original RS1800 in existence, it wears its factory paint, interior, drivetrain, and even pre-delivery stickers like badges of honour. With a modest 34,811 miles and benefitting from the kind of gentle, dehumidified storage usually reserved for fine wine, it embodies the mantra that has become gospel in the collector world: they are only original once. For those who seek authenticity above perfection, this car is the benchmark, and is a true time capsule to 1977 and an anchor for those who believe preservation can be as heroic as restoration.
With the gauntlet set earlier in the year, will we see these two varying icons steal the crown? Time will tell, but it’s fair to say Iconics Auctioneers have positioned themselves as the go-to for Ford collector cars within the United Kingdom, with a plethora of classics and future classics heading to Birmingham’s NEC for their sale on November 8th!
