1974 Ford Escort Mk1 RS2000 Rally Car
Chassis no. BFATTP70041

It was the Escort that really put Ford on the rallying map, proving capable of winning World Championship events from 1968, when the Twin Cam model was the works' frontline rally car, right through to 1981 when Ari Vatanen became World Rally Champion driving an Escort RS. Ford customers could choose between GT and 1.6-litre Twin Cam or - later on - RS1600 and Mexico models. Manufactured at Ford's Advanced Vehicles Operations plant, the latter pair were closely related, the Mexico being, in effect, an RS1600 fitted with a 1.6-litre ohv 'Kent' engine in place of the RS1600's 16-valve Cosworth BDA. Both models had shortcomings: the Mexico being not fast enough for many while the 'homologation special' RS1600, although very quick, was expensive to produce and required careful maintenance. The answer lay in a new model: the RS2000. Powered by the 2.0-litre single-overhead camshaft 'Pinto' engine, the RS2000 was a huge success, proving quicker than the Mexico and easier to live with than the RS1600. Registered in France before being brought to Belgium, this Escort RS2000 was bought by the last owner in 2011 and in 2012 was completely restored by historic rallying specialists Glory & Legendary in Brussels, though there are no supporting invoices for the work. The rebuild included up-rating the engine to produce 170bhp while the interior has been fitted with a roll cage and OMP competition seats. The car has been driven only 200 kilometres since the rebuild and is described as in generally very good condition and ready to rally. Raced previously, the Escort is offered with FFSA (Fédération Française du Sport Automobile) papers and passport, Ford Motor Company Certificate of Conformity, Belgian import documents and Belgian certificate of title.