1970 Ford Escort RS1600
Reputedly one of the Ford press and development cars

Registration No: GNO 468H
Chassis No: BB49KL22447
MOT: Exempt

• Reputedly one of the Ford Press and Development cars
• Carries 'GNO' registration number, synonymous with Ford factory marketing and development cars

Where the Ford ‘RS’ moniker started. First came the famous tie-up with Lotus in 1963 that produced the Mk1 Lotus Cortina. To maintain this success, the company decided that future performance models would come from a dedicated unit based in Aveley, Essex. In 1970 it established Ford Advanced Vehicle Operations (AVO) and the Ford Rallye Sport (RS) dealer network. The special division's brief was simple: design, develop and manufacture high-performance derivatives of standard production cars, for use on the road, track, or both.

The RS1600 was announced in 1970 and was the successor to the Escort Twin Cam model. 1970 was a year when the Daily Mirror World Cup Rally was won by Hannu Mikkola driving a Ford Escort whilst Escorts also won 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th positions. A 16 valve double overhead cam replaced the twin cam of the earlier performance model, the Twin Cam. Originally conceived by Mike Hall (Cosworth Engineering) as a belt-driven version of Cosworth’s FVA power plant, the RS1600 16 valve engine is based on the Ford 1600 X/Flow bottom end with a double overhead cam 1599cc, BDA 16 valve setup. It made its first appearance in the Mk1 Escort in 1970 and replaced the Lotus twin cam engine as the new high-performance engine for the Ford Rally Sport models. As well as higher performance engines and sports suspension, like the Mexico these models featured a strengthened bodyshell.

'GNO468H' is believed to be one of the Ford press and development cars. It carries the 'GNO' plate, so often seen on these related to the Ford factory marketing and development activity and 'Works' cars, in fact it is '53' number plate digits different than a Hannu Mikkola 'Works' Escort Twin Cam. An article in a club newsletter by William Arnold refers to the car as one of the Escort RS1600 'Press cars...' also used 'for development purposes'. The car has spent many years in Northern Ireland, however, it has also been a resident of the northwest of England and in earlier years, Essex, of course.

Evidently, the Escort has been used in Historic Rallying, with much of the specification retaining factory spec. or typical 'in-period' motorsport upgrades. 'GNO 468H' competed regularly as an RS2000 Mk1 between 2002 and 2010 as part of the British Historic rallying season, entered into Class C3 for the Bulldog Historic Rally 2002/2009; Harry Flatters Historic Rally 2008/2009; Robin Hood Historic Stages 2003/2004/2008; Pirelli Historic Rally 2009/2010 and the Isle of Man Historic Rally in 2009/2010, amongst others.

The 2002 MSA Competition Car Log Book is present, showing that in 2002 MSA documents state an engine code of D179428 (Pinto engine) and the specification uprated to RS2000 specification and a 2038cc fitted with twin Weber 45 DCOE carbs. Other details from the early 2000s, state the car fitted with an alloy dry sump tank and oil pump, alloy 13" x 6" Minilite 8 spoke alloy rims and Polycarbonate windows. The addendum to the MSA Historic Rally Identity Form was last updated in 2008 (details of dry sump added). There is a Brantz 2 rally navigator trip computer and motorsport seats and roll cage etc. Accompanying this RS Escort are multiple MSA documents, a copy of the ownership history from the DVLA and invoices relating to the maintenance of the car in recent years.

For more information, please contact:
Mike Davis
mike.davis@handh.co.uk
07718 584217