1985 Ford RS200

Ford had been working on a turbo charged machine that would tackle the new breed of 'Group B' Rally cars like the Audi Sport Quattro, Peugeot 205 T16 and the Lancia Delta and 037. Unusually for Ford they failed miserably with the Escort RS 1700T so they were forced to return to the drawing board and start all over again, the result was the RS200. The project commenced in 1983 with production of 200 cars planned to meet Group B requirements.

Ghia designed the RS200 and, unusually, the bodywork was entrusted to a company who knew a fair bit about building fibreglass cars. Reliant. F1 gurus Tony Southgate and John Wheeler looked after the chassis engineering and the result was spectacular. Ford bosses demanded that it must have four-wheel drive and it was built round a space frame chassis, with a potent mid-mounted turbo-charged engine. The car was fitted with the 1.8-litre 16-valve Cosworth BDA engine (the BDT) engine courtesy of well proven race engine builder Brian Hart. Add to this an innovative front mounted gearbox for better weight distribution plus a variable torque split differential from Ferguson and you had a real beast of a car.

It looked like Ford finally had the package to beat... However a series of tragic accidents spelt the end of Group B, and it was also the end of an era for the fastest, most dangerous, most spectacular period in modern rallying. As a result, after just one year in competition, it was all over for the RS200, and so it never got to show off its full potential. However it did prove that it had enormous promise when many of the cars were spectacularly successful in Rallycross.To get FIA homologation Ford had to build 200 cars, it seems that six were classified as 'prototypes', so only 194 actually left the factory 46 of which where dismantled for spares, whilst just 90 of the cars built where converted and sold as road cars.

This legendary Ford RS200 build #114 was delivered to its first owner a Mr N Turner on 02/05/1985. The Extras included the very rare 350BHP "Rally Spec' upgrade. Whereas a standard car could reach 60 mph in 4 sec and do 140mph, when upgraded with the Ford-supplied 350bhp 'Rally Kit', as fitted to this car, the acceleration became even more impressive and, depending on the gearing, the top speed could be as much as 180mph. The upgrade also includes a red shift lever for selection of 3 options of drive, rear-wheel drive, 50:50 four-wheel drive or 37:63 four-wheel drive. Unlike most road cars that left the factory with the differential gearstick removed and the car being fixed in 37:63 four-wheel drive option.

Also optioned on the car from new was a Radio Cassette, central locking and alarm, electric windows and mirrors, leather Recaro seats and one of just twenty Momo Steering wheels signed by the Group B hero Stig Blomqvist. The car was delivered unregistered and it is understood that the car stood as a showpiece in his trendy nightclub before being sold to the second owner a Mr R Forshaw who proceeded to register the car with the registration number R 250 on 04/06/1993. While in his ownership the car was meticulously maintained by Gordon Spooner a respected RS200 expert.

In 1998 the car changed hands and was re-registered by DVLA as K648 XEL, before being changed to the number plate it bears today C20 ORS in 1999. During this ownership the car was also featured in Jeremy Clarksons video "Car years'.

The car was later sold to its fourth owner in 2002, who used the car on rare occasions. It was also subject to use as the basis for a Ford RS200 1/18th scale model at this time.

Our vendor then purchased it in 2010 he fell in love with the car as one would easily imagine. He has maintained the car regardless of cost until the present day. The car has been regularly used and shown (weather permitting of course) and now shows just 11,133 miles. On purchasing the car the decision was made to make the car truly road usable and the clutch was replaced with a hydraulic version and an electronic engine mapping system was fitted, which improves the driving experience hugely and makes it a very useable car as well as a fantastic show piece.

The car has also benefited from a total engine rebuild by DS Motorsport just 2,500 miles ago to the tune of over £5,000. It has recently been fitted with a new turbo to ensure that the car is in perfect order unlike so many that have stood languishing in private collections for many years.

This stunning high specification Ford RS200 is presented in superb condition and with a superb history file having been fastidiously maintained. Benefiting from desirable upgrades making it a very useable car. Offered at todays guide price the car is sure to provide not only long term enjoyment but also long term investment.