Ford Escort Mk1 RS2000 Buyers Guide

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Early Left Hand Drive Escort RS2000

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Henry Ford was never one to miss a marketing opportunity. Since putting the world on wheels his ethos was to provide the public with what they want at an affordable price and make a tidy profit along the way. The Escort RS2000 took the maximum to a new level. During the Sixties, the Ford Motor Company began to realise the commercial benefits bestowed on their whole range by the racing and rallying prestige of the Lotus Cortina. In 1968 the Cortina gave way to the Escort Twin Cam as Ford's competition car and, a year later, Ford opened their advanced Vehicle Operations (AVO) facility at South Ockendon, Essex. This paved the way for their most famous set of initials yet - RS for Rally Sport. First out of the door was the championship-winning Escort RS1600, powered by the Cosworth BDA engine. For the first time, Escorts began to attract customers from the professional classes looking for a quick and cool saloon. However, the temperamental race-bred BDA simply wasn't suitable for the grind of daily commuting. Ford responded with the RS2000, using the unstressed 2-litre Pinto engine from the Cortina to provide similar levels of performance without the associated complexity, It was an instant hit.
Ford Escort RS2000 Mk1

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The rS2000 was built around the Type 49 heavy-duty bodyshell of the other AVO Escorts, delivered to Essex from Halewood for hand-finishing. Legend has it that engineers had to resort to a lump-hammer to gain adequate clearance for the power unit and four-speed gearbox but the rest of the running gear is stock Escort. Outside, the flared wheelarches, squat stance and four-spoke alloys shout serious intent, and it doesn't disappoint. Talslides on tap are the order of the day but it's fun rather than frightening. Steering is crisp and direct and the four-speed gearbox provides one of the slickest shifts of all time. The rally boys loved it and today it's difficult to find one that hasn't been modified. In today's world of soppy front-wheel drive shopping trolleys there's little to touch an RS2000 for sheer balls-out entertainment. It was created for the road but earned its strips on the track. Find a good one today and enjoy the best of both worlds. Body/Chassis The RS2000 uses the Type 49 heavy-duty bodyshell. Unfortunately this doesn't make it any less likely to rust than other MKI Escorts. Most panels are available but the flared-arch front wings are unique and scarce. Door bottoms, inner wings and strut-tops and all rot-prone; longitudinal chassis rails rust around the rear spring hangers - an instant MOT failure - and the lower bulkhead and the floorpan also decay. Interior The biggest problem inside is the seats, which are specific to the RS2000 and are trimmed in a hard-to0find fabric that wears badly. The dashboard is shared with other sporting MKI Escorts and is durable, as is the vinyl door and quarter-panel trim. Running Gear
Mk1 Escort RS2000

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If it makes no funny noises then its probably OK. The pinto engine is the same as that fitted to millions of Cortina's and is robust. Change the cam belt every 25,000 miles and listen for a ricking camshaft - the oil-spray bar can clog and starve the top end of lubrication. You may find problems in the back axle, depending on how hard the car has been driven - crown and pinion repair kits are available. Change the oil regularly. What will I love about it? Those racing fantasies will come true and you’ll be thankful for the high-back bucket seats as you pretend you’re Roger Clark at the first corner you find. The RS2000 is one of the most flickable cars around, with a fantastically slick and precise gearshift, pin-sharp steering and a lusty engine. But it’ll also do the shopping run, taxi kids around and still leave you grinning like a schoolboy in a strip joint every time you turn a wheel. This is the cheapest would-be rally weapon you’ll find. And hate? If you seek refinement, look elsewhere. Your backside will be bruised by the hard ride, you ears will be assaulted by the roaring Pinto and back seat passengers will present you with bills from their osteopath. It’ll rust away if you don’t keep on top of it and, while it may only be an Escort, there are a few unique parts which are tricky and costly to replace. What’s its heritage? Henry ford has provided cars for the common man all over the world. In post-war Britain, sit-up-and-beg Populars lived up to their name before giving away to Anglias; the slightly larger Escort came on the scene in 1968, paving the way for 30 years of a family car market dominance. Soon after its introduction the Essex backroom boys started tweaking in order to fulfil the motorsport expectations of the boardroom bigwigs. The RS200 capitalised on the popularity of homologation specials and was the hit of ’73. Which is the most desirable model? Only about 4500 MKl RS2000s were built over an 18-month period and all were virtually identical mechanically. Later models came with the improved Custom interior as standard, which proved wood trim, a centre console and nicer carpets – worth tracking down for comfort alone. The most desirable RS2000 will, however, be one which has an original shell and panels in good condition. Beware ex-competition cars with tired mechanics and battered bodywork. Will it be reliable? Just like most Escorts, the RS is agricultural but strong, and regular maintance ensures dependability. The engine is in a low state of tune and simply requires new plugs and points and an oil and filter change every 6000 miles. Renew the cambelt every 25,000 and you should go round the clock without major trouble or expense. If the worst does happen, just drop in another engine – millions are still knocking around in Cortinas. Which bits will break the bank? Nearly all the oily bits are typical Ford and typically cheap; it’s inside that things change. Even a pair of decent second-hand front seats will set you back £300. Outside front wings simply aren’t available new and pattern parts are £250 a side. It’s the same story with reconditioned doors at £200 each; a front quarter-bumper coasts £65 if you can find one. Are there ways to improve these cars?
Mk1 RS2000

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The Pinto engine is eminently tunable, from a hot cam at around £90-£110 to twin Weber 40s for £600, including manifold. There are also endless varieties of sports exhaust. For easier cruising you might consider a Sierra five-speed box, although it’s not as sweet to use. Popular are unleaded-friendly electronic fuel injection conversions at around £450 which also improves fuel economy. To stop and steer with more confidence, try Capri injection front struts and ventilated disc brakes at £300 fitted. Who should I get to know? RS Motorsport of Bedford caters for all RS Escorts offering parts, servicing, modification, restoration and sales. Also try MGC Motors on 01342 717577. AfFordable Classics of Essex can help track one down and Burton Performance Centre, Essex, will tune it. There are three major owners’ clubs who will be happy to help: the Sporting Escort owners club, the ford RS owners club and the ford AVO owners club How hard are they to find? There are plenty of ropey of RS2000s about, many of which will have been thrashed. Minters are much harder to find. Cars belonging to owners’ club members are more likely to have fully documented histories. What will the neighbours think? That you’ve turned into the worst kind of rev-happy yob. They’ll be alarmed at your ability to drive into your driveway and astonished at your inability to set off without spinning on your back wheels. Motorsport fans will be clamouring for a demonstration of how to make tarmac feel like gravel and baseball-capped lunatics in XR3s will try and take you on at the lights. Anybody knwns that balanced rear-wheel drive handling and a surfeit of power over grip are where it’s at will be green with envy.Tags:,