1971 Ford Escort RS1600 BDA

In 1970 Ford opened their Advanced Vehicles Operation at Aveley in Essex to produce the Escort RS range. It also marked the formation of Ford's RS Dealer network to sell these products to a very eager public. For the first time ever, professional teams and privateers alike could compete on an equal footing, so even the 'clubman' equipped with his RS Parts catalogue had reason to be optimistic. The Ford Escort RS1600 BDA would dominate the World Rally Championship for several years and turn British and Scandinavian drivers into household names. During the next decade the continued success of the Escort rally program helped it remain as the bestselling car in the UK, Ford Detroit were even starting to refer to the British Isles as 'treasure island'.

The RS1600 here has been restored to very high standard and retains all the originality of a BDA together with a complete history. First registered on the 5th January 1971 the first owner took until 1988 to register the car with The AVO Club and not surprisingly another Club member bought the RS in 2003. It was then subject to a very exacting restoration including an engine rebuild. At the time Harper Engineering were used by Ford to build these engines, this was the 546th built by them. Importantly many original items remain including period magnesium Minilite wheels, air-box and RS optional parts like lamp brackets and "forest' wheel arches. The absolutely standard interior, with optional Restall bucket seats, is very period and immaculate. A later close ratio Type 9 five-speed gearbox has been fitted but the standard original unit comes with the car. Because this Escort has resided with specialists all its life none of the originality has been lost, a look inside the arches and underneath clearly shows the quality and correctness of this iconic Ford.

This is a very well sorted Escort and a recent editorial in Retro Ford Magazine quoted it as being ''a fabulous car'' and ''rather special''. This really is the ultimate specification for a MK1 Escort RS1600, as the sum of the RS marque and RS parts. The 'induction roar' transports you back to those special stages of the seventies! A great investment, and like in its day, easy to run, great to drive and immensely strong.