Lot details
Registration No: DRS 27J
Chassis No: SABTVR03057281154

- Past Winner of the CSCC's Swinging Sixties series and Valetta GP

- AGRA 1760 BDA engine, Quaife straight-cut gearbox, baby Atlas axle

- Cost an estimated £50,000-plus to build, MSA logbook

Further Info:

The Escort's motorsport career began in 1968 with the Twin Cam, which the company's competition department had ready to roll at the same time its standard siblings were finding their way onto the public roads. Arguably the most famous of all Twin Cams was the Gold and Red FVA-engined Alan Mann car with which Frank Gardner comfortably annexed the 1968 Championship British Saloon Car Championship. The subsequent Aveley-built Mexico, RS2000 and RS1600 models quickly built on the Twin Cam's platform of success, making the Escort one of the most successful competition cars of all time.

The immaculate and reportedly very well-sorted RS1600 evocation on offer is described as a Ford Escort Mexico on its V5C, but is nothing remotely so tame, as can be gathered by its overtly muscular appearance and mightily impressive competition record, that includes:

- Outright victory in the Classic Sports Car Club's Swinging Sixties series
- Outright and class wins in the Valetta Grand Prix
- Second place in the Valetta hillclimb event

It comes as no surprise that an estimated £50,000-plus was invested in the creation of this very fast Ford. At its heart is an AGRA-built 1760 BDA based on a brand new AX block. The dry sump engine features an all-steel bottom end and is fed by a pair 48DCOE Webers - the unit has been dynoed at 225bhp. It drives via a Quaife straight-cut gearbox to a baby Atlas axle with Gripper differential, positioned by and four-link suspension set-up. The Group A Minilite wheels are shod with fresh Yokohama tyres. Other salient items of specification include: Perspex windows, a bias pedal box for optimum braking, Safety Devices roll cage and plumbed-in fire extinguisher system. This winning package is finished in the iconic combination of Gold over Red and comes complete with MSA logbook and a myriad of bills and photographs.