1986 FORD RS200

The RS200 was born in the era of 'Group B' rallying, undeniably the most extreme period in rally history with all competing manufacturers turning every dial up to 11. The power was immense, the courses dangerous and no matter how high the level of a driver's skill, it was always outmatched by the sheer bravery required to pilot these machines at full chat. Whilst Ford’s competitors developed their rally cars from suitable models in their road car range - Lancia with their Delta S4, Audi with the S1 Quattro and Peugeot with their T16 205 - Ford took a more extreme route, building a competitive rally car and then using it as the basis for a well-engineered, road-legal version, purely to tick the homologation boxes.

Produced by Ford Motorsport in Boreham from 1984 - 1986, the composite body was designed by Filippo Sapino of Ghia Design Studio and enclosed a mid-mounted engine, four-wheel drive and a front-mounted gearbox for ideal 50/50 weight distribution. The chassis was designed by Formula 1 designer, Tony Southgate, in conjunction with F1 engineer, John Wheeler, so the car had real potential for greatness.

Motivation was provided by a 1,803cc Ford Cosworth BDT engine fitted with a Garett T03/04 turbocharger which produced 250bhp in standard road-going trim although, as production progressed, more power became available. At the time, 'Group B' regulations required manufacturers to assemble 200 road-going versions of their race-bred competition cars, however, with the passing of time, it's become clear that Ford did not manage to sell 200, with Justin Smith, the Ford RS200 authority, believing as few as 147 were thought to have found homes.

Offered here at the NEC Classic Motor Show is one of the rarest and most usable homologation specials from the Group B era, a left-hand-drive RS200 indicating just 12,950 miles at the time of cataloguing and presented in outstanding order. When dispatched from Ford’s Boreham factory in 1986, it was fitted with the very rare full red leather Recaro seats. These have since been removed and replaced with factory Evo seats but remain beautifully preserved and are included as part of the sale.

Originally sold new through Pleasurable Developments in the US to New York-based motorsport magnate, Jeff Elghanayan, founder of Marco Polo Motorsport, the RS200 was maintained by his own specialist team. In total, it has had just four previous owners from new, with the first retaining the car until 2009 and a documented ownership history thereafter. It is also reported to have featured in Graham Robson’s book RS200 – Ford’s Group B Rally Legend, a copy of which, signed by John Wheeler, is included in the sale.

In 2012, the RS200 was stripped back to its component parts in the US for a complete repaint before being reassembled and shipped back to the UK. It was subsequently entrusted to Oxfordshire-based rally preparation specialists, BGMsport, for a comprehensive rebuild. At this time, it was UK registered as C250 URP with a documented 11,111 miles showing on the odometer.

More recently, the RS200 has benefited from a thorough programme of work by BGMsport, aimed at improving its driveability and road manners. This included the restoration and fitting of a set of Speedline split-rim wheels, (original road wheels included with the car), an upgraded wiring loom, new injectors and sensors, a new ECU mapped and set up on the rolling road, replacement clutch and flywheel, lamp-pod installation and a full geometry set-up. The original parts are all included with the car, with the upgrades selected to utilise more modern technology whilst retaining the character of this iconic Group B machine.

The car is accompanied by a large and comprehensive history file, including detailed invoices supporting the works carried out and documenting its history.

In summary, this represents a superb opportunity to acquire a low-mileage, well-sorted RS200 with relatively low ownership and a known, documented history. As a left-hand-drive example, it also offers appeal to an international market, whilst the careful attention given to its recent preparation makes this an RS200 that is ready to be enjoyed. We welcome any inspection, and our official shipping agents are on hand to assist with delivery to any accessible location.