1983 Ford Escort RS 1600i 'Group 1' Touring Car

Followers of saloon car racing in the mid-1980s will certainly remember the distinctively presented 'Group A' Datapost RS1600i Escorts prepared by Richard Longman Racing for himself and Alan Curnow. Whether it was the fact that the staid old Post Office had decided to go racing, or the fact that the cars were very competitive, or simply that they were painted Post Office Red and looked great is not clear, but they are well remembered and have been the subject of diecast scale models from half a dozen different companies.

The Datapost-liveried Escort on offer here is not one of those early Richard Longman cars but was built to a high standard in the early 2000s from a rust-free shell to RS1600i specification and raced successfully in CTCRC with numerous class wins. It subsequently spent 10 years in a heated garage before our vendors instructed classic Ford Escort RS1600i specialists, Lavant Garage in Chichester, to recondition the car and fully prepare it to return to the circuits.

All the safety equipment is up to date including a new fire extinguisher with 16 years of life and all correct nozzles and mountings. Most importantly, the list of components renewed or serviced on this RS is exhaustive (full details in the history file) The CVH engine features Accralite forged high-compression pistons, ARP big end bolts, Kent race cam (solid lifters), Vernier cam sprocket, Bosch K Jetronic PI, DTA management, an Ashley 4-1 tubular exhaust manifold, Mocal oil-cooler and Direnza alloy radiator, all of which contribute to a willing and respectable 145bhp. The Quaife 5-speed gearbox is straight-cut with a Motorsport LSD and ZF Sachs paddle-clutch. Much of the drive train and brakes (AP) are new as is most of the fuel system with a high pressure fuel pump, injectors and 25-litre foam-filled tank. All the bearings are new with ZX1 Super Grease and the car is fitted with a race wiring loom and the essential heated screen.

This beautifully-presented 1980s 'homologation special' with its period correct livery could be a very cost effective way into some lovely championships, including the HRDC Gerry Marshall Trophy and CTCRC 'Group 1' and is a very rewarding car to drive, after all it has 'Group A' underpinnings. It's been prepared by the best and should represent cost effective and reliable racing for the coming seasons.