1996 Ford Escort Cosworth Lux 2.0 - 76 miles

Silverstone Auctions are renowned worldwide for offering the best Fast Fords on the market at auction. As such occasionally we come across what can only be described as an unrepeatable car, and we have little doubt that this offering is unlikely to ever be matched in terms of its originality and 'as new' condition.

Just like the Lancia Integrale and Subaru Impreza, the Escort Cosworth was a Group A rally car for the road - pure and simple. It was actually underpinned by a shortened version of the Sierra RS Cosworth's platform and powered by the same 2.0-litre turbocharged, longitudinally-mounted, Cosworth-developed engine driving all four wheels. The car was designed and engineered in Boreham, styled by noted designer Stephen Harper, and ended up being assembled by Karmann in Germany. At the car's launch in 1994, two models were available, the Club-spec standard car and the Lux version, which included electric windows, heated screen, sunroof, and Recaro seats. Power was up slightly from the Sierra RS Cosworth, at 227bhp, and performance consequently improved. The first 2,500 cars up to May 1994 suffered from slight turbo-lag, but the next 4,500 were improved, thanks to their smaller Garrett T25 Turbo. In 1995, the RS Cosworth was treated to a mild facelift, receiving a new honeycomb grille, restyled bumpers, a more attractive fascia, and revised alloy wheels. Manufacture continued until early 1996 when emissions regulations forced it out of production. Like pretty much every RS Ford, it was a classic from the moment it arrived on the market.

The car we offer here is one of the very last Escort Cosworth Lux produced, and astonishingly has been enjoyed by just two keepers from new. The first owner kept the car of his dreams for 13 years and our collector vendor acquired it 14 years ago. When he set out to find the best example available, he found this one. We understand that an industrial accident had allowed the car's first owner sufficient funds to acquire the top of the range Escort Cosworth that he had always dreamed about, however, the nature of his accident meant that it was unlikely that he could ever enjoy it. Miraculously, he regained his health several years later but, after much consideration, decided to leave it safe in its cosy storage.  Our vendor felt the same way when he bought the Cosworth in 2009 and the car continued to be cossetted and maintained as it had been in the care of the very well known Ford specialists, Tremona Garage of Southampton. They confirmed "We have maintained the car since 2009 and when he bought it. Every six months we would go the storage facility and start and run the car, checking it and cleaning it. Subsequently, we agreed to check it over once every year since 2014 without starting it, until preparing it for this sale."

That time has now arrived, and Tremona have recently carried out a full recommission which included a new cambelt and tensioner fitted, all transmission and axle fluids drained and refilled, coolant system drained, flushed and refilled with Motorcraft anti-freeze, engine oil and filter change with period correct Motorcraft  EFL90 oil filter, new fuel pump fitted, all fuel lines flushed and N/OS Motorcraft fuel filter EFG32 fitted, new 097 battery with factory correct decals, new platinum AGPR12PP spark plugs and the original factory-fitted air filter was cleaned.