Background
Whilst Ford’s rallying history can be traced back to before the Escort, with cars such as the Anglia and Lotus Cortina, 1968 is the important year as far as blue oval rally fans are concerned, as this year saw the launch of the Escort Twin Cam.
The Escort’s future in rallying was quickly cemented, as it secured wins on the Circuit of Ireland, Dutch Tulip, Austrian Alpine, Acropolis, Scottish and the Finnish 1000 Lakes rally and in so doing took the manufacturer’s title in its debut year. In 1969, the wins kept coming, as the Escort once again took the championship.
Further success came in 1970, when the Escort truly dominated arguably the toughest event in the world at the time, the London to Mexico World Cup Rally. When the cars finished in 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th and 8th, it prompted Ford to release the iconic ‘Mexico’.
Shortly afterwards Ford replaced the Twin-Cam, with the RS1600, this upgrade further enhanced the car’s rallying pedigree as it secured wins on the RAC Rally in 1972,’73 and ’74, and on that year’s Scottish Rally every position in the top ten was occupied by an RS1600. The Escort was also a highly adaptable car, a trait demonstrated by securing wins in the mixed rallying and racing Tour of Britain in 1974,’75 and ’76.
In 1975 the new Mark II Escort was launched, resulting in a ‘the King is dead long live the King’ situation, as the Mark II RS1800 firmly picked up where the Mark I RS1600 left off.
This car
A00 674L was built in 1973 from a left hand drive test vehicle at Borham, for Roger Clark to use on the 1974 Mintex Dales rally. At the time this was one of the UK’s top gravel rallies which Roger duly won. The outing served as a test bed for the RS 2000 that was being launched in the UK, as a clubman’s rally car. The car was then driven on the 1974 RAC rally by Benson Ford Jnr/Kaplan but did not finish.
1975 saw the car competing in Finland for Ford, still as a works car. It did several events including the ‘Itaralli Rally and driven to victory by Ari Vatanen.
It was then driven on the 1000 lakes rally by two finish ladies, Avomeri / Valtaharju before returning to the UK at the end of 1975 and sold by Ford. There have only ever been 4 Works MK1 RS 2000, two were grp 1 (Standard), used on the Tour of Britain, this car and the one used by Russell Brookes.
Technical Specification
Engine: 1800cc 4-cylinder, 16v
Induction system: Naturally Aspirated Twin Webber 40s
Transmission: RWD
Power Output: 160 bhp