Lot Ended
Description
Fully rebuilt 1975cc
cast aluminum block Cosworth BDG engine; original Ford
Escort Mexico bodyshell; Custom Cages safety cage; Martin Jones-prepared ZF
five-speed gearbox; Monit trip GPS meter; Motorsport UK Vehicle
Passport
Here is
something rather special. This exceptionally well-prepared 1971 Ford Escort Mk1
RS1600 Historic Rally Car has been the subject of a comprehensive nut-and-bolt
restoration and build, resulting in a highly competitive machine that is ready
for immediate historic rally use.
Built around an original Ford Escort Mexico
bodyshell, the shell was stripped back to bare metal before being meticulously
prepared and refinished in iconic Ermine White. The underside has been protected
with a colour-coded Raptor seal coating, while a professionally installed Custom
Cages historic roll cage provides both safety and rigidity for competition
use.
Power comes
from a freshly rebuilt 2.0-litre Cosworth BDG engine featuring the highly
desirable cast aluminium block and breathing through twin Weber 48 DCO 2SP
carburettors. Fuel is delivered via twin electric fuel pumps feeding a centrally
mounted alloy fuel tank in the boot. The powertrain is completed by a brand-new
Martin Jones-built ZF direct-top five-speed gearbox, driving through an all-new
fully floating Atlas rear axle fitted with a 4.6 crown wheel and pinion,
creating a formidable and proven historic rally package.
The suspension specification is
equally impressive, featuring all-new historic rally suspension with Bilstein
dampers, adjustable spring platforms, four-link rear axle location and Panhard
rod. Braking is provided by AP Monte Carlo calipers with matching discs and
pads, complemented by a bias-adjustable pedal box and twin rear calipers
operating a road-legal hydraulic handbrake system. The Escort sits on classic
gold Minilite alloy wheels, with an additional 15-inch gravel wheel and tyre
package included.
Inside, the competition-focused cockpit
features a quick-release steering wheel, heated front windscreen, Racetech
tachometer and satellite trip meter with GPS sensor, providing all the
instrumentation required for serious historic rally competition. In keeping with
period rally practice, the front windscreen remains glass, while the remaining
windows are manufactured from lightweight polycarbonate.
Importantly, the Escort is supplied
with its Motorsport UK Historic Rally Vehicle Identity Form, issued on 13 June
2025 and valid for ten years, confirming its eligibility as a Category 2, Class
H3 Historic Rally Car. Also included is the Motorsport UK Vehicle Passport,
valid until June 2035 for Stage Rally Category One events, making this a turnkey
proposition for anyone wishing to participate in historic
rallying.
Starting instantly on the button and sounding
every inch the thoroughbred competition Escort, the BDG bursts into life with
the unmistakable bark and urgency that made these cars legends of the forests
and special stages. Combining an original Mexico shell, freshly rebuilt Cosworth
power, a new Martin Jones ZF gearbox and an outstanding specification
throughout, this is a rare opportunity to acquire a fully sorted and highly
competitive Historic Rally Escort ready for immediate use.
Paperwork includes: V5C registration
document, Motorsport UK Historic Rally Vehicle Identity Form, Motorsport UK
Vehicle Passport, photographic record of the build and a substantial file of
invoices.
A
serious piece of historic motorsport equipment, beautifully prepared and
comprehensively documented, that is every bit as impressive to drive as it is to
admire.
Contact:
david.tassell@brightwells.com