Lot 122: 1971 Ford Escort RS1600 Rally Car

It was the Escort that really put Ford on the rallying map, proving capable of winning World Championship events from 1968, when the Twin Cam model was the works’ frontline rallycar, right through to 1981 when Ari Vatanen became World Rally Champion driving an Escort RS. In 1970 the Ford Twin Cam engine was replaced by a Cosworth BDA 16-valve unit to create the definitive Escort rally car, the RS1600, though the engine was, in fact, homologated at 1,601cc to enable future enlargement up to the 2-litre class capacity limit. The first full 2-litre engines were homologated in 1972 and in works trim produced 235-240bhp. In this ultimate form the Escort RS1600 proved good enough to win the RAC Rally three times on the trot between 1972 and 1974, as well as a host of other World Championship events.
This left-hand drive Escort RS1600 rally car is fitted with a 1,993cc ‘BDG’ dry-sump motor, built by Sweden’s legendary engine builder Clas G Ryrlen, producing 235bhp. Power is transmitted via a new Quaife Heavy Duty Synchro four-speed gearbox to the ZF 5.14:1-ratio limited-slip differential. The leaf-sprung rear axle is an Atlas fully floating type with four-link and Watts location. Shock absorbers are new Bilstein at the rear and fully adjustable Sellholm at the front, while the brakes are AP with adjustable pedal box. A Rallyprodukter FIA-certificated roll cage is installed. The car possesses an FIA certificate confirming its homologation for post-historic rallying in Class H3 (up to 1975) and is eligible for the British Historic Rally Championship and other FIA historic series/events. The car has been driven by Svein Lund, of Norway, since 1990, scoring many first-place finishes at events Scandinavia during the 1999 and 2000 seasons (list supplied). At the finish of the 2000 season the car was placed in storage, remaining there until it was sold to Sweden in 2004.