1976 FORD ESCORT

Year: 1976

Make: Ford

Model: Escort RS1800 Custom

Registration: PRX 52R

Chassis No: GCATSA04097

Engine No: SA04097

Odometer: 50,900

Original unmodified example

One of 15 Custom examples produced

Privately owned for 30 years

Originally registered on 4th October 1976 to a James Smillie from Biggar who owned the car for just three months before it was sold to a Mr Harris Watts from Lydney, he was the owner until May 1979 when the car relocated to Mr Patterson from Romsey where it remained locally through another owner change until 1995 when the current custodian purchased the vehicle.

One of the 15 Custom specification examples out of the 109 cars that were built. Our vendor purchased the car from Ian Harwood Ltd Competition Cars and Equipment UK in November 1995 as the fifth owner. Ian Harwoods states in a letter found in the history file, that prior to purchase the only extra fitted to the vehicle is an FIA Safety Devices Roll Cage (without diagonal) which was believed to have been supplied with the car from the original Ford RS dealer.

In 1995, this was one of only six known to exist in the UK out of a total of 15 Custom versions ever made, making it a very rare car. This example is particularly special due to its originality. As the vendor states, no radio has ever been fitted to the car, the carpet and seats are all original and being a Custom Pack model it came with clock in the dash, glovebox, centre console and the more luxurious door card panels all present.

It has the original factory RS1800 (very rare) Carello headlights still fitted and the PIR (factory) stickers on the wheelarch inside the boot are still in place, proof that it is the original shell.

This RS1800 is one of the later models that were assembled in Germany and is documented on the vehicle ID plate under the bonnet.

From the day the RS1800 arrived in New Zealand it was garaged dry stored. Prior to putting the car on the road in New Zealand, our vendor decided to have the engine removed as he was not happy with the condition of the engine bay. The engine bay was stripped of all components, tidied up, painted and reassembled, the cross member and front suspension and engine bay parts were all painted while the engine was removed. He had it stripped by a mechanic, Micheal Shellock, who owned a BDA rally car and was familiar with these engines, he fitted new main and big end bearings and new piston rings, bronze valve guides and water pump. A new all steel fly wheel, pressure plate and clutch were also fitted and a list of the parts he supplied and the receipts for parts obtained from Burton Power are found within the history file. The mileage at the time of rebuild was 48,184 miles.

Accompanying the car are the Burton engine parts invoices, the sports clutch invoice and Michael Shellock's original workshop notes and parts records documenting the rebuild.

This car is available for immediate viewing at our showroom

Price on Application