1976 Ford Escort RS1800 Custom | The Summer Serenade Auction | 18th July

• Original unmodified example
• One of 15 Custom examples produced
  
• Privately owned for 30 years
  

The Escort RS1800 Mk. II is a legend in motorsport history, revered for its remarkable performance, innovative engineering, and its unparalleled success in rallying during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Built by Ford, this car was designed to dominate the rallying scene, and it achieved just that, securing its place as one of the most iconic rally cars of all time. The RS1800 Mk. II was introduced in 1975 as a successor to the already successful Escort Mk. I. Its rallying credentials were enhanced by the adoption of the 1.8 litre Cosworth BDA (Belt Drive A-Type) engine, which was capable of producing over 240bhp in competition trim. The BDA engine's twin overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder configuration gave it outstanding performance, enabling the RS1800 to compete with and often outperform much larger and more powerful cars. In terms of chassis and suspension, the Mk. II retained the lightweight and agile characteristics of its predecessor. Its rear-wheel-drive layout, paired with a robust and finely tuned suspension system, made it a favourite among drivers for its responsive handling and balance, particularly on loose gravel surfaces. The car was rugged and reliable, traits essential for the difficult stages of rally competitions. The Escort RS1800 Mk. II's rallying achievements are legendary. It claimed multiple World Rally Championship (WRC) victories, driven by some of the most iconic names in the sport, including Björn Waldegård, Ari Vatanen, and Hannu Mikkola. Notably, Ari Vatanen piloted an RS1800 to victory in the 1981 WRC Drivers' Championship, cementing its status as a motorsport icon. Beyond its rallying success, the Escort RS1800 Mk. II remains a cherished car among enthusiasts and collectors. Its combination of performance, history, and timeless design continues to captivate fans. Restored and modified examples are frequently seen in classic car rallies and events, a testament to its enduring legacy.

Originally registered on 4^th October 1976 to a James Smillie from Biggar who owned the car for just three months before it was sold to a Mr Harris Watts from Lydney, he was the owner until May 1979 when the car relocated to Mr Patterson from Romsey where it remained locally through another owner change until 1995 when our vendor took tenure.

One of the 15 Custom specification examples out of the 109 cars that were built. Our vendor purchased the car from Ian Harwood Ltd Competition Cars and Equipment UK in November 1995 as the fifth owner. Ian Harwoods states in a letter found in the history file, that prior to purchase the only extra fitted to the vehicle is an FIA Safety Devices Roll Cage (without diagonal) which was believed to have been supplied with the car from the original Ford RS dealer.

In 1995, this was one of only six known to exist in the UK out of a total of 15 Custom versions ever made, making it a very rare car. All-important for the RS1800 is originality and our vendor states, no radio has ever been fitted to the car, the carpet and seats are all original and being a Custom Pack model it came with clock in the dash, glovebox, centre console and the more luxurious door card panels all present. It has the original factory RS1800 (very rare) Carello headlights still fitted and the PIR (factory) stickers on the wheelarch inside the boot are still in place, proof that it is the original shell. This RS1800 is one of the later models that were assembled in Germany and is documented on the vehicle ID plate under the bonnet. As detailed by Harwood when purchased, it does have the original twin choke downdraught Weber and air filter, original manifold and the original suspension ‘all round’ with a 3.5 diff not LSD. Confirming the only item fitted is the FIA Safety Devices Roll Cage (without diagonal) which he believed was fitted from new by the supplying dealer which was common for demonstrator cars with the assumption many owners would like these for competition, something this car never did.

Post purchase, it was stored in a garage in Stowmarket and while it was in the UK the vendor had a Janspeed exhaust system fitted supplied by City Speed Ltd (Bristol Road, Glouster). In November 1998 the car was permanently exported to New Zealand where our vendor resides. It was first registered on 23^rd August 2005 at 48,222 miles and to this date the car has travelled 50,900 miles with just 2,716 miles accumulated in his 30 plus year ownership. From the day the RS1800 arrived in New Zealand it was garaged dry stored. Prior to putting the car on the road in New Zealand, our vendor decided to have the engine removed as he was not happy with the condition of the engine bay. The engine bay was stripped of all components, tidied up, painted and reassembled, the cross member and front suspension and engine bay parts were all painted while the engine was removed. He had it stripped by a mechanic, Micheal Shellock, who owned a BDA rally car and was familiar with these engines, he fitted new main and big end bearings and new piston rings, bronze valve guides and water pump. A new all steel fly wheel, pressure plate and clutch were also fitted and a list of the parts he supplied and the receipts for parts obtained from Burton Power are found within the history file. The mileage at the time of rebuild was 48,184 miles.

The engine is declared completely standard, the only change made to the car was the fitting of a custom built ceramic coated exhaust manifold as the standard exhaust manifold, in his opinion, did not look as pretty but the original exhaust manifold is in the boot wrapped in foam for any owner to use should they wish. We are informed the engine is barely run in, having completed one top to bottom South Island trip in New Zealand following the Silver Fern classic rally as a spectator and odd trips to all Ford Days and shows on the island, otherwise the car has had little use, sitting in our vendors dry garage with a dust cover over it awaiting its next show or outing.

The Escort RS1800 Mk. II is much more than just a car. It is a symbol of an era where skill, engineering, and perseverance converged to create a motorsport legend. Its impact on rallying and its place in automotive history remain unchallenged, ensuring its legacy lives on for generations to come. Consigned by Mathew Priddy

The vendor has provided the following details relating to the engine rebuild.

The engine was rebuilt by respected mechanic Michael Shellock, who at the time both rallied and maintained his own Mk. II Escort RS1800 BDA. During the rebuild, the original standard crankshaft, connecting rods and pistons were retained, with the crankshaft, rods, pistons, cylinder block and cylinder head all being crack tested prior to reassembly.

The engine was rebuilt using new crankshaft bearings and piston rings, while the cylinder head was lightly resurfaced, with the valves and valve seats cleaned and reconditioned. New Burton-supplied bronze valve guides were fitted, the cylinder bores were honed and the original camshafts retained. The engine was also fully balanced and fitted with a new timing belt, idler pulley bearings, water pump and oil pump.

Complementing the rebuild, an all-steel lightened flywheel and new sports clutch were installed.

The vendor advises that the car has covered approximately 2,700 miles since completion of the rebuild, during which time the engine oil and filter have been changed twice. The original RS1800 gearbox and differential remain fitted. Whilst the oils have not been replaced during the vendor's ownership, fluid levels have been regularly checked, and the vendor reports that the car performs well with no untoward noises from either the gearbox or differential.

It should also be noted that the RS1800 features a unique gearbox specification. Although outwardly similar to that fitted to the Mk. II Escort RS2000, the RS1800 gearbox benefits from different first, second and third gear ratios. Accompanying the car are the Burton engine parts invoices, the sports clutch invoice and Michael Shellock's original workshop notes and parts records documenting the rebuild.

Ownership History

1st Owner: James Smillie from Symington, Biggar 4th Oct 1976 to 3rd Jan 1977

2nd Owner: John Harris Watts from Lydney GL15 5NB from 3rd Jan 1977 to 5th May 1979

3rd Owner: Neil Patterson from Romsey SQ5 8HJ from 5th May 1979 to 26th Sept 1983

4th Owner:: Simon James Harris Romsey SQ51 9BP 26th Sept 1983

5th official owner. Ian Harwood sold the RS1800 to our vendor I believe on behalf for Simon James Harris.