Description
1976 Ford Mk2 Escort RS2000 Period Rally Car.
XWL 18R – Early Broad stripe RS with GCAT Chassis number.
Completely rebuilt as a period correct clubman car, this Escort has wanted for nothing. The car was built not only to be period correct, but to be used in various HRCR events and European road rallies. To that end, its built to be reliable over outright speed (though a 175bhp mk2 is no slouch!), quiet internally and adaptable to fit in with various regulations. It’s also practical to own and maintain. Parts were either new old stock, or reconditioned. Its been used in 12 cars, scatters, touring events, sprinting, hill climbing and display/ demo events. The car (not me!) has been invited to the likes of Race Retro and Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, has appeared in Evo magazine, has competed in the HRCR Sprint Championship (first event out – 1st in class, fastest car overall in classics!). That said, it’s never been abused and has had much love and money spent on it (and I mean much money!). If you want a step back in time to that golden period, then this is the car. People from the day (inc Russel Brookes) said how much it reminded them of that period. It even smells of Feu Orange! Good Mk2 Escorts are now very much harder to get hold of and this one is one of the best. The shell alone is in incredibly original condition (bar the shell modifications). It was built over a 2-year period approx. 5 years ago and still looks as new. It’s regularly serviced with quality oils, never left wet (it’s actually hardly seen the rain!!) and lives in a nice dry garage. There are 2 small blemishes in the paint, but you would have to be looking hard to see them. The underside is still in its white paint, engine bay and boot area are gleaming, the interior is fantastic and a talking point by itself. Simply, it’s a beautiful Mk2.
If you want to own a period correct rally car, use it for touring and continental rallies, sprint, hill climb or get free invites and generally swank around at the premium motorsport events, then this car is for you. Heaven forbid, you could even fit the latest seats and harness’s, logbook it and take it too the forests (don’t tell me – I’ll cry)
Not cheap, but good ones like this will always at least hold their price if not go up. To build it today would be a very, very expensive and timely exercise. Trust me, this is not some old battered up rally weapon. I’m simply not using it and it’s a shame, so I’m going to clear a space in my garage and work on my other cars. I think I will regret this eventually, but that’s the way it goes.
Shell:
Genuine Saarlouis (Germany) shell with additional strengthening at factory. Tubbed rear arches, large diff (Pigs head) cover, Turreted, Fillets to the chassis, big radiator clearance, flanged around the front and rear arches for strength, Exhaust valance cut. Strut brace. Bare metaled and 2 pack painted inside and out in Ford Diamond White with Midnight Blue painted stripes. Ralloy Arches, front and rear spoiler.
All its original doors, boot and bonnet. No rust, no repair welding and none needed!! All panels were like new due to the Ziebart treatment since new. Its shut lines are as new, no wear in the hinges and the doors close with a click, not a clunk!
All new window rubbers all round. Laminated Heated front screen and very rare (as per works) opening quarter lights. Genuine grill, bumpers and light units. Period correct decals and magnetic door squares (can be removed for touring events). Genuine Ford RS Group 1 “Big” tank (plastic, so no ethanol issues) – very rare and expensive now. Red top pump. Firewalled, Boot mounted Varley Red-Top and twin or single wheel post with Willians wheel strap. Ralloy wheel brace and bracket. Genuine Jack in original Ford Bag, Original Ford Europe Triangle in its blue box!!
Engine:
Mike Stewart race engines bottom end with 1mm oversize pistons (+40 thou), New Injection crank and rods, lightweight flywheel, all lightened and balanced with ARP fixings. Rick Wood’s CNC Group 2 head with a port match inlet manifold. Kent RL22 cam with correct valve springs and followers. Regular new spray bar at oil changes. 11:1 CR. Brand new Twin DCOE Weber 45’s with Pipercross airbox and ram pipes. Magard Linkage. Mocal oil cooler and catch tank. Luminition ignition system. Filter king regulator. Ralloy Radiator with Kenlow fan and override switch. Samco classic silicon hoses (no white writing!). Tony Law 4-2-1 manifold (work of art). High Torque starter. Genuine RS sump and Bell housing. 2 ¼ twin box system – will pass most noise tests and not drive you mad! Various rolling road print outs but puts out a good solid 175 BHP, plenty of midrange and bottom end grunt…in a car that weighs 940 kg. Goes really well and without the cost of a regular rebuild on a BDG!!
Gearbox and diff:
BGH Geartech Type 9 – Semi helicoil gearset with long first gear. Very strong but quiet. Capable of taking 280hp if required!! With the addition of 5th gear, the car will cruise on the motorway at 70 mph without issues. Also comes complete with original RS 4 speed gearbox. “Big”Atlas rear axle with new ZF Motorsport LSD and 4. 6 crown wheel and pinion. One-piece prop. AP Breather expansion bottle located in the boot.
Brakes:
Group 1 brakes – Vented front disks as per 3 ltr Capri and brand new callipers. Running EBC Greenstuff pads, but comes with road and MIntex DS sets also. 3 ltr Capri rear drums with Mintex linings (as period), mechanical and hydraulic flyoff handbrake (MOT compliant and either can be disconnected for certain events that don’t allow hydraulic). Rix Motorsport adjustable peddle box – serious piece of kit, not like some of the cheap aftermarket ones out there. In seat adjuster removed but supplied (again, some events don’t allow you to be able to adjust on the go). Very good and usable package that has plenty of feel and won’t break the bank to service!
Suspension and steering:
Front - Bilstein Tarmac Group 4 struts up with a selection of springs to fit (currently fitted with 180 lbs, but also have 225 and 280 lbs to go with the car), Adjustable height, Group 4 hubs, New genuine fixed TCA’s and Gartrac twin cam anti roll bar kit with double width, 2 degree brackets. Rear - Bilstein Group 4 Turret shocks (over axle, in turrets), 120lbs rear multi-leafs, adjustable group 4 panhard rod, RS anti-tramps (4 link not needed until over 200bhp) – this means the suspension is controlled well and not too harsh. Ideal for longer events. Brackets are in place on the axle if you wish to convert to 4 link in the future. Heavy duty quick rack. Handles really well with good feedback, balance and control.
Wheels and Tyres:
Car comes with 2 sets of rims depending on your use – 1 set are genuine Minilite Sports 6x 13 and are as per early RS1800’s in light blue – very rare now and converted to Group 4 fitting. Fitted with New, but period correct Dunlop A2’s. Fantastic tyre in wet conditions, pretty good in the dry and were de-rigor for escort rally cars in the day in the day (still available from Mr Tyre Motorsport - £146 each when I last looked!). They measure up at 205/ 60/ 13 and these wheels really do capture the period look of the early rallying Mk2 Escorts. The second set were bought last year for sprinting and hillclimbs. These are genuine Minilite 7x13’s in Gold, fitted with Toyo Proxy R888’s. Loads of grip and the wider off-set really make the car look and handle like a tarmac car should. All road legal. All like new.
Interior:
Seats – Scheel works bucket seats – very rare - very expensive and completely correct for the period, including headrests. Very comfortable too, which is nice! Willans 4-point harness’s (as per the works cars) 3-inch chest, 2-inch waist straps with aircraft rotary buckle. Safety devices 6-point cage with diagonal and door bars. Springalex type dished steering wheel, Avanti map light, period Terratrip 2 and Halda trip meters in navigator’s dash pod (inc. sun shade) all set up and working. RS dash pod with “Idiot” light replacing oil pressure gauge (gauge is included). Fuse panels moved to inside the car with separate loom for the additional lamps/ electrics. Custom under dash with P-light to illuminate additional switches. Regulation Lifeline AFFF hand held and plumbed in extinguishers (feeds engine bay). Navigators foot rest and additional door car pockets. Rear seat squab and back (with some padding removed to tit over larger pigs head) plus rear seat pocket tidy as per works cars – some continental events require classics to run full interior trim (but you could still squeeze the kids, dog or wife in there if you really must). Fully sound deadened (modern materials) and carpeted.
Price:
£29950 or very near offers. For this you get the car, all the wheels and spares I have tucked aside for it. I will even deliver it if the price is near this, within reason, within the UK. European buyers we can always have a chat, but regardless all funds would have had to have cleared before setting off. The car will also come with a full MOT and it now qualifies for free road tax (Historic).
Try pricing one up at this quality, plus labour.
Your welcome to come and see it (its near Warrington, Cheshire, UK), but I won’t entertain timewasters. People tell me I’m a really nice chap but after a while my patience can be tested and my time is precious. No test pilots or dreamers please. I’m not wasting your time, please don’t waste mine. No exchanges, I have enough cars to see me out!! No banker’s drafts from Rwanda, no poverty cases (my dogs leg fell off and I need $4000 to stich it back on again, can you help me when you sell it).
Trust me, unfortunately I’ve had a few of these approaches in the past. So, if its anything along those lines, please save yourself the effort. I’m not a dealer, I’m an enthusiast, an engineer and I built this car from 30 years of motorsport knowledge and experience.
However, if your genuine, you’ll find me honest and approachable, I’ll even stretch to biscuits and tea or coffee if you like!
David
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