RS200, behind the scenes

[rhinochopig]

PhillipM said:

rhinochopig said:

Anyone know what the second smaller lever next to the gear lever was - hi-lo box???

Nah, low range would be a complete waste of time in a car like that, probably either a diff lock or 2wd/4wd switch?

Edited by PhillipM on Thursday 15th July 13:32

That's why I asked - seemed pointless. Probably a CD-lock then.

However, I did then wonder about some of the safari events were some sections are ran very slowly over the rocks. Peaky boost + poor low rev pick up = could mean they were fitted on some events so the road cars had them for homolog purposes.

[GravelBen]

PhillipM said:

rhinochopig said:

Anyone know what the second smaller lever next to the gear lever was - hi-lo box???

Nah, low range would be a complete waste of time in a car like that, probably either a diff lock or 2wd/4wd switch?

Selectable 2wd/4wd lever. Unusual drivetrain layout too IIRC, similar to the current Nissan GTR but around the other way.

[aeropilot]

Carparticus said:

Legend has it that when the FIA inspectors turned up to check 200 had been put together, various sheds at Tamworth were packed with them but not all in one spot, but in between checking the management took the inspectors out for lunch or some such. During that break the cars were apparently shuffled around with previously counted cars rolled into unchecked sheds ! Some of the cars were apparently little more than rolling chassis too.

Ford was particularily good at pulling that type of stunt and had done so on many previous occasions over the years, as did most of the other manufacturers regarding homolgation inspections.

[PhillipM]

rhinochopig said:

Peaky boost + poor low rev pick up = could mean they were fitted on some events so the road cars had them for homolog purposes.

Wouldn't be worth the extra weight, if you can spin the wheels in 1st gear then that gear is low enough!

[Roop]

TVR Moneypit said:

mat205125 said:

Right at the top of my lottery list, aslong with an Eggenberger RS500

A Rouse or Dick Johnson Cossie for me please

Herr Eggs cars were on a different planet in terms of quality. Absolutely beautifully engineered with the best of the best kit on them. Rouse cars cost about £100k to build. Egg cars were around £250k. DJR were quick but not a whole lot better engineered than a Rouse...

[LukeBird]

Thanks for posting, very interesting!

[Twincam16]

aeropilot said:

Carparticus said:

Legend has it that when the FIA inspectors turned up to check 200 had been put together, various sheds at Tamworth were packed with them but not all in one spot, but in between checking the management took the inspectors out for lunch or some such. During that break the cars were apparently shuffled around with previously counted cars rolled into unchecked sheds ! Some of the cars were apparently little more than rolling chassis too.

Ford was particularily good at pulling that type of stunt and had done so on many previous occasions over the years, as did most of the other manufacturers regarding homolgation inspections.

Yeah - I thought that story had originated with the Lancia Stratos. Perhaps 'word got around'.

[aeropilot]

Twincam16 said:

aeropilot said:

Carparticus said:

Legend has it that when the FIA inspectors turned up to check 200 had been put together, various sheds at Tamworth were packed with them but not all in one spot, but in between checking the management took the inspectors out for lunch or some such. During that break the cars were apparently shuffled around with previously counted cars rolled into unchecked sheds ! Some of the cars were apparently little more than rolling chassis too.

Ford was particularily good at pulling that type of stunt and had done so on many previous occasions over the years, as did most of the other manufacturers regarding homolgation inspections.

Yeah - I thought that story had originated with the Lancia Stratos. Perhaps 'word got around'.

Nah, Ford had pulled the trick with the Escort Twin Cam in 1968 with less than 20 completed cars but with lots of ermine white 1300's fitted with rostyle wheels parked up in adjacent car parks

[Twincam16]

aeropilot said:

Twincam16 said:

aeropilot said:

Carparticus said:

Legend has it that when the FIA inspectors turned up to check 200 had been put together, various sheds at Tamworth were packed with them but not all in one spot, but in between checking the management took the inspectors out for lunch or some such. During that break the cars were apparently shuffled around with previously counted cars rolled into unchecked sheds ! Some of the cars were apparently little more than rolling chassis too.

Ford was particularily good at pulling that type of stunt and had done so on many previous occasions over the years, as did most of the other manufacturers regarding homolgation inspections.

Yeah - I thought that story had originated with the Lancia Stratos. Perhaps 'word got around'.

Nah, Ford had pulled the trick with the Escort Twin Cam in 1968 with less than 20 completed cars but with lots of ermine white 1300's fitted with rostyle wheels parked up in adjacent car parks

That's clearly still going on. I see loads of BMW M-series homologation special lookalikes that are clearly based on the base-model, and sometimes even the diesel. I wonder if their owners know they're in possession of such a special car?

[Richard-G]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1175944.htm

so £124k is needed!

interesting looking at the interior pics, next to the gear lever in this car the selector switch is missing, however peel back the carpet and all will be revealed!

[Mazda Baiter]

Ironic that Lancia wanted to make sure they weren't faking the homologation...

[Zad]

I have a DVD somewhere about the RS200's development history, with extended interviews with some of the people who managed and engineered the project. I'm sure one of them said that it was 2/4WD in order to be more economical on the road, and potentially faster on tarmac courses. Presumably they would have removed the front diff etc. In the event, 4WD proved faster on tarmac, and the fuel consumption wasn't an issue.

[Athlon]

I am sure the small shifter was used to change the 4WD bias on the rally/club sport cars. I can't remember now but pretty sure that was not available on the road cars or it was two position rather than variable.

[fathomfive]

Richard-G said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1175944.htm

so £124k is needed!

interesting looking at the interior pics, next to the gear lever in this car the selector switch is missing, however peel back the carpet and all will be revealed!

Thanks for the pics

Love the RS200.

I'm sure the one in the ad was for sale for £75k a couple of years back.

[pete is pistol]

awsome pics of the factory. thanks for sharing

[young_bairn]

Great pics, great car. I would do bad things to own that car.

Dare I say it....but Ford should do a re-make....although probably not viable.

[Richard-G]

young_bairn said:

Great pics, great car. I would do bad things to own that car.

Dare I say it....but Ford should do a re-make....although probably not viable.

how about a 4WD focus RS

[aeropilot]

Richard-G said:

young_bairn said:

Great pics, great car. I would do bad things to own that car.

Dare I say it....but Ford should do a re-make....although probably not viable.

how about a 4WD focus RS

How about a RWD Focus RS

Now that I'd buy

[Twincam16]

young_bairn said:

Great pics, great car. I would do bad things to own that car.

Dare I say it....but Ford should do a re-make....although probably not viable.

I personally think the rallying world should take advantage of the WRC/IRC split.

WRC had to admit production car defeat to the IRC, which despite only being shown on Eurosport has a lot more interest in it from manufacturers, and the cars have a lot more relevance to their roadgoing offerings.

In response, I think the WRC rules could be altered along the lines of Group B. Purpose-built rally machines with whatever engine and drive configuration you want. Could even have similar homologation rules to Le mans, with only one roadgoing example to keep costs down.

If manufacturers saw WRC as a technology showcase and flagship event, and IRC as the 'win on Sunday, sell on Monday' series, we'd get back to something resembling the glory days.

[aeropilot]

olly22n said:

aeropilot said:

Twincam16 said:

aeropilot said:

Carparticus said:

Legend has it that when the FIA inspectors turned up to check 200 had been put together, various sheds at Tamworth were packed with them but not all in one spot, but in between checking the management took the inspectors out for lunch or some such. During that break the cars were apparently shuffled around with previously counted cars rolled into unchecked sheds ! Some of the cars were apparently little more than rolling chassis too.

Ford was particularily good at pulling that type of stunt and had done so on many previous occasions over the years, as did most of the other manufacturers regarding homolgation inspections.

Yeah - I thought that story had originated with the Lancia Stratos. Perhaps 'word got around'.

Nah, Ford had pulled the trick with the Escort Twin Cam in 1968 with less than 20 completed cars but with lots of ermine white 1300's fitted with rostyle wheels parked up in adjacent car parks

:no: lotus steels not rostyles on a twink

Actually, yes.

The first batch of handbuilt cars incl, for example WWC 465F were shown to the press wearing chrome Rostyle wheels and they were always shown as being an optional extra in the Twin Cam brochure through the life of the car, although, 99% of owners opted for the standard plain Lotus Cortina wheels + hub caps or splashed out on a set of Magnesium Minilites available through Boreham.
The storey was that by putting the distinctive Rostyles on these first cars, an adjacent car park full of ‘ordinary’ ermine white Escorts with Rostyles fitted would make them distinctively enough like a car park full of Twinks. It worked because Ford claimed 1000 made for Group 2 homolgation by May 1968 when it’s now known that they made a few hundred less than that in the entire 3 year production run of the car...

Edited by aeropilot on Saturday 17th July 14:37