2003 Ford Focus RS Mk1 Three Door - Single Ownership, Delivery Mileage

In 2002, Ford launched the Focus RS, returning those famous letters to one of its cars for the first time since the Ford Escort RS Cosworth. The new Focus RS was inspired by Colin McRae's WRC rally exploits and featured a 2-litre Duratec RS engine with an advanced turbocharging system and oil-spray cooled pistons to achieve more power - which eventually peaked at 215bhp and 0-60mph in 6.4 seconds. The chassis was developed and a Quaife torque-biasing differential (when you turned into a corner and applied the power, it dug in like no other front-drive car to make the Focus remarkably quick across country) fitted to ensure optimal front-wheel drive tractability. Suspension was by uprated offset coil springs with Sachs Racing dampers whilst stopping power was provided by Brembo brakes. The cabin was competition-inspired and featured leather and Alcantara Sparco seats. Only sold in Imperial Blue, the exterior shared many styling cues with its rally sibling and even used custom 18'' O.Z. Racing alloy wheels.

Making the Focus RS this good on back roads meant changing almost every component. In the end, the roof, doors and bonnet remained the same as any other three-door Focus, but the rest of the exterior bodywork was new. In all, 521 parts were created just for the Focus RS, from the Sparco seats and handbrake lever, unique dials and starter button to the suspension and brakes. Ford built 4,501 Focus RS Mk1s, all individually numbered and all thought to have been sold at a £4,000 loss to the company. Out of that total, 2,147 RS Mk1s were sold in the UK, making it by far the biggest single market, and although the car may still split drivers' views, what isn’t in doubt is that this is now a prized modern classic.

The gleaming 2003 Focus RS Mk 1 on offer here is finished in Imperial Blue, as they all were, with the Sparco front seats trimmed in contrasting black and blue leather with Alcantara inserts. The rear seats are similarly trimmed and the handbrake and gear knob are finished in machined aluminium. The interior is further enhanced by the addition of carbon fibre to the gear stick surround and the door cards have blue-trimmed inserts. The odometer reading when the car was consigned indicated 13 miles from new although this may go up slightly as the car is moved around the sale.

The Performance Fords on offer today from the Focus on Ford Collection have remained in storage for a number of years but, despite having only covered delivery mileage, our vendors took the sensible decision to bring them to sale in the very best condition possible and ready to drive away. Their recommissioning has been carried out by the respected Tremona Garage of Southampton and has involved a meticulous inspection of each car, commencing with a check for contamination of fuel. Subsequently the engine oil and filter were changed, spark plugs changed, air, pollen and fuel filters replaced, gearbox oil replaced, as well as the cambelt, idler and tensioner being replaced. The alternator belt was replaced and brake fluid and anti-freeze renewed. Only genuine Ford parts were used. Checks were also carried out on the fuel pumps and ECUs, the brake system and all electrics were tested, and new batteries were fitted in the cars as well as in the keys.

Finally, once satisfied that the car was ready to be driven, they have been sensitively valeted to maintain the 'fresh from the showroom' look, so factory stickers and plastic trim covers remain in place and the cars have been cleaned to a standard one might expect at initial delivery. However, it will not have a current MOT as our vendor has chosen not to register the car on the MOT system, leaving that decision to its new owner.