Background
The Ford RS200 was Ford’s second attempt at building a Group B rally car. Their first attempt was based upon the MK3 Escort converted to rear wheel drive and powered by a 1.8ltr BDT engine pushing 350BHP in full works trim. Fortunately for RS200 fans, it quickly became obvious to Ford that 4 wheel drive was most definitely the way forward and the RS1700T was consigned to history, although its engine was recycled into the RS200.
The RS200 was a brand new ground up design, exploiting the freedom available to manufacturers under Group B rules and for Ford this resulted in the road car being an offspring of the rally car rather than the other way round. The car was an amalgamation of talents, including design company Ghia (Body design), Formula One designer Tony Southgate (Chassis design) and Ford’s own John Wheeler, himself a Formula One engineer. It featured a plastic/fibreglass composite body which was built on behalf of Ford by Reliant, a company well known for its expertise in producing fibreglass bodies in the form of the Reliant Robin.
Without needing to compromise balance and handling for cabin space, the designers mounted the transmission at the front of the car, but this required that power from the mid mounted engine to go first up to the front wheels and then be run back again to the rear, creating a complex drive train setup. In terms of suspension each corner featured double wishbones equipped with twin dampers aiding handling and helping to give the car what was often regarded as being the best balanced platform of any of the Group B rally cars.
This car
Several of the 200 original built were either never completed or dismantled for spares and sold to rallycross users. This car was built up from such a set of parts, originally owned by Will Gollop (most notable for his escapades in his Metro 6R4 in the British and European Rallycross championships), before being sold on to a person in Scotland who built it up as a RHD homologated car and MSA log booked it in 2003. Its current owner purchased the car in April 2008, for use on single venue tarmac rallies.
Technical
Engine: 1.8 Litre four-cylinder 4v twin overhead camshafts
Induction: Ford electronic fuel injection, Garrett turbocharger
Body: Aluminium monocoque
Suspension: Double wishbones, twin coil springs and anti-roll bar
Power: 475 bhp
Transmission: Twin plate clutch, five speed 4WD