- Withdrawn

Lot details
Registration No: JOJ287N
Chassis No: BFATPB00475
Mot Expiry: T.B.A.

By the time the Escort was launched at the 1968 Brussels Motorshow, Ford's competition department had their Twin-Cam race/rally version ready to roll, and the company was duly rewarded with victory in the 1968 and 1969 World Championship for Makes. It then created the Mexico to capitalise on the Escort's dominance of the 1970 London to Mexico World Cup Rally and added the similar, but larger-engined, RS2000 to the mix during 1973. Both models featured a specially strengthened Type 49 bodyshell and Rallye Sport suspension and brakes. The former was powered by a 1600cc 'Kent' engine, while the latter had a 2000cc OHC 'Pinto' unit.

With 100bhp on tap, the RS2000 could sprint to 60mph in 9.1 seconds and top 106mph flat out. A 'Works' version in the hands of the legendary Roger Clark beat Gerry Marshall's identical example to win the 1974 Avon Motor Tour of Britain outright, and the 1975 RS2000 on offer has been modified as a homage to Clark's triumphant Ford - including rally decals and competition numbers. The vendor considers its bodywork and paintwork to be "very good", the engine "mint" and the gearbox "good". The trim removed during the car's conversion to rally specification is included in the sale, as is a twin Weber carburettor kit.