1972 Ford Escort RS 1600 MkI FIA Race Car

Ralph Broad was a Birmingham-born racing driver and more famously an exceptional engineer. His company, Broadspeed, was part of a huge industry that grew up around the British Motor Corporation (BMC) Mini in the 1960s. Throughout the sixties, the Broadspeed cars were very successful in European saloon car events and the British Saloon Car Championship, winning their class at Monza, Spa, and Zandvoort with their Cooper 'S' in 1965. In the same year, John Fitzpatrick won the British Saloon Car title in a Broadspeed Ford Anglia. The partnership with BMC was ended on a friendly basis when Broadspeed's allegiance moved to Ford, however, successes continued with the Ford Escort and in 1971 John Fitzpatrick won four rounds of the BTCC.

Offered here is a replica Broadspeed Escort RS1600 BDA from that period, built by ex-Jaguar and Ford race engineer David Silcox. It enjoyed considerable success driven in New Zealand by Dave Crowther before being acquired by our vendor in 2009. Preparation and engineering input were then entrusted to Mass Racing and a dyno sheet shows the Ford Cosworth BDG with Lucas fuel injection producing 271 bhp at 8500rpm.

The all-alloy 1975cc BDG with Broadspeed-correct, exceedingly rare, Lucas mechanical slide throttle injection and steel cranked engine is mated to a five-speed close ratio gearbox. The rear axle is a Watts linkage/Panhard rod set-up with a limited slip differential. All the pick-up points are heavy duty with Koni coil-overs all round.The rack and pinion steering is unique with the rack passing through the front cross member, and discs are fitted all round which are bias adjustable. Weight is kept to the minimum with a fibreglass bonnet, boot, and doors and the rear screen and side windows are Lexan. The bubble wheel arch extensions are steel.

We are informed by the owner that the Historic Technical Passport has recently been renewed and the Escort is mechanically ''race ready''. We advise any interested parties to satisfy themselves on the validity dates of the safety equipment. In the hands of our vendor, this well-prepared car has enjoyed outings at the Algarve, Donington, and Masters Historic Festivals. This superb, period correct, 1600 BDA Escort is potentially eligible to compete is some of the finest historic events in the race calendar. With this level of preparation it surely represents exceptional value and is probably one the most rewarding historic saloon car racers on the market today.