The Focus RS uses a unitary construction steel body the same as any other Focus. It also shares its bonnet, doors, tailgate and roof panel with the standard three-door Focus. Unique pressed steel wings are uses to cover the wider track of the RS, which is 65mm broader than a standard Focus to give it the same front track as the then-current Focus WRC rally car. The downside of this is many of the unique Focus RS body panels are now hard to source and expensive. This situation has been improved a little by Foray Motor Group taking on a £1 million spare parts collection for the Mk1 Focus RS, which includes several body panels.
Broader wings are unique to the RS
Due to the scarcity of some panels, it's essential to make sure any potential Focus RS you want to buy is ding-free and has not been in an accident. Look for signs of overspray, straight panel joins and no creases in the inner front and rear wings and the boot floor. Rust should not be an issue, so any car with crusty edges has been badly repaired.
Every Focus RS left the Saarlouis factory in Germany with Imperial Blue paint, new unique front bumper with more air intakes and foglights, and an RS rear bumper with dummy diffuser moulded into its shape. There's also a small spoiler on the top edge of the tailgate and sill extensions.