Recognising a genuine RS2000

[Skyedriver]

I seem to remember that the genuine Mk 1 RS2000 was a better bodyshell, was there any differences with the Mk 2 (droop snoot) RS or was it a standard shell?
thanks
Tony H

[neiljohnson]

From memory they have a extra plate on the top of the front shock mounting which is the quickest way to check but this is easy to copy best checking RS owners site against the chassis number.

[big.eck]

i'm sure it was called a type49 shell ? but i'm not 100% on that..............

[Matthew-TMM]

The type 49 shell was used for Mk1 Mexicos and RS models.

[clubsport]

Chassis number should start with BFAT if it is a genuine AVO car.

[escortmad79]

Genuine Mk2 RS2000s (What this thread is about) have vin numbers starting GCAT which signifies it's a 2 door Escort built at Saarlois in Germany (The same factory built Mk2 Ghias most of which were 4 doors & had GCAF vins, but be aware that Ford built 2 door 1300 Ghias, which are also GCAT plates but are rare).

The shell should have strengthened strut top plates matching these:


The shells have tramp bar mounts in the floor pans in front of the rear axle.

The gear lever hole is also an inch or so further back than standard Escorts

Edited by escortmad79 on Thursday 28th February 18:53

[Skyedriver]

Thanks for all your help, the RSOC Website has a recoqnition page which lists GCAT etc but then goes on to say other references apply as well. The antitramp bars are sometimes added "aftermarket" but the strengthening plates I guess are harder to fake.
There are so many "fakes", "replicas" or whatever out there it gives cause for concern. Went to look at one at the weekend but undecided as it needed a lot of, mainly cosmetic and interior trim, work. There had been a fair amount of welding done too. It was genuine though.

[escortmad79]

Strengthening plates are available.

You're able to buy all you need to convert a standard type 48 Mk1 Escort body to a strengthened type 49 Mexico style shell fairly cheaply.

[Skyedriver]

escortmad79 said:

Strengthening plates are available.

You're able to buy all you need to convert a standard type 48 Mk1 Escort body to a strengthened type 49 Mexico style shell fairly cheaply.

Thats the problem of course, easy to make a replica or duplicate of the real thing, but can you do the same to a Mark 2, presumably yes.

thanks for the guidance

[escortmad79]

Yep strengthening plates are available for the mk2, the most common are the ones which are the strut top & halfof the inner wing top.

Over the years a high number of genuine RS's will have been plated at some point during their lives.

Sadly these days it's far too easy to buy logbooks for RS's

[DennisTheMenace]

IIRC Type 49 shell has the battery in the boot as well.