1974 Ford Escort RS2000

Registration No: GLB 8N
Chassis No: BFATPP00223
MOT: Exempt

• Recent subject of a comprehensive bodywork restoration and repaint
• Understood to retain its original two-litre Pinto engine with an aluminium sump
• Finished in the original coloue scheme of Olympic Blue with Dark Blue stripes and correct style retrimmed interior in Black
• Entered from a private collection

The Ford Escort was launched at the 1968 Brussels Motor Show. Acutely aware that the Cortina was in the autumn of its competition career, Ford's competition department had been developing a race/rally version of the model throughout 1967 and had their Twin-Cam variant ready to roll. The company was duly rewarded too, winning the World Championship for Makes in both 1968 and 1969. Among the Escort's most memorable early competition wins was, however, the model's domination of the 1970 London to Mexico World Cup Rally—the 1,860cc push-rod engine cars finishing first, third, fifth, sixth and eighth. To capitalise on the success, Ford created the limited edition Advanced Vehicle Operations-built Escort Mexico in time for the 1971 season. Its specially strengthened Type 49 shell was fitted with Rallye Sport suspension and brakes and powered by a 1,600cc Kent engine. The model was even given its own dedicated race series, the Mexico Challenge. By now, the 1,600cc BDA-engine RS1600 was taking over from the Twin-Cam and in 1973 the company announced the RS2000 with the two-litre, SOHC Pinto engine. With a 9.2:1 compression ratio, the RS2000 was credited with 100bhp, 100lb. ft. of torque and a 108mph top speed, and it was produced until 1974. Production slightly exceeded the 5,000 needed to meet Group 1 homologation, although the first 2,000 were reserved for Germany.

Looking almost like it had just rolled off the production line, this 1974 RS2000 is in very good condition throughout, having recently received a comprehensive bodywork restoration. First registered in October, 1974, the number plate ‘GLB 8N’ is a London issue. According to the HPI reports, the Escort’s may owe its survival to the seventh keeper, who kept it for a full twenty-nine years, from 1987 to 2016. By the time he parted with it, however, it had been off the road for at least ten years, probably longer, and was clearly a long way past its prime.

That finally changed when one of the subsequent owners committed to an extensive restoration. It was the bodywork which needed attention more than the mechanicals, and the work was performed by a professional classic car body shop. The work not only included a full bare-metal respray in Olympic Blue with Dark Blue accents (the original colour, as indicated by a plate under the bonnet), but also involved the replacement of all the window rubbers, all four quarter bumpers, and the fresh Waxoyling of the underside. The interior had been similarly refurbished to original specification, with replacement door cards and the seats recovered in a period-correct cloth. The mechanical specification at this point was claimed to be largely as it left the factory; the two-litre Pinto is said to be the original item, while the four-speed manual gearbox is the correct type. We note, however, that the engine had by then been upgraded with an aluminium sump. Following this, the Escort led a rather cosseted life in a Carcoon.

Once the polished alloy RS wheels were shod with new tyres, the restoration was deemed complete, and shortly afterwards the Escort was offered for sale in February, 2022, and purchased by our vendor for his private collection. In August that year, the vendor submitted it for the first MOT test, which it passed with no advisories. Being a perfectionist, however, he found some aspects of the car fell short of his expectations, so in September, 2022, he presented it to Riverside Engineering in Whaley Bridge, which replaced the rear springs and bushes, fitted new front brake discs and performed a general engine service, the work costing a total of c.£4,000. Since then, the Escort has been used sparingly, however, the owner has still enjoyed fettling, and in 2025 fitted a new radiator with a Kenlowe fan and switch, as well a new Weber carburettor. Thus, the car appears now in very nice order, inside and out. The interior resembles that of a new car, and the engine bay is uncommonly clean.

With barely more than 5,000 produced, genuine RS2000s do not come onto the market very often, and condition-wise this is surely one to consider. It is supplied with paperwork including the V5C and numerous invoices and photographs from the restoration. Having spent the last four years in a private collection, the Escort has not been widely seen since its restoration, so it may well be worth considering taking it to some of the major Blue Oval events.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Cheetham
paul.cheetham@handh.co.uk
07538 667452