1976 FORD ESCORT

One of the most intriguing chapters in the history of Ford’s celebrated rally-bred Escort, this Diamond White Mk2 RS1800, registration PHU 985R (Formerly ‘DZP700’ in Ireland), boasts fascinating Irish provenance, a distinctive ownership history and a compelling connection to the homologation specials that helped establish Ford’s competition pedigree.

This particular RS1800 was first registered on 1st October 1976 and is understood to be the only example supplied new by Ford and registered in the Republic of Ireland. Specially ordered through Friel’s Garage of Creeslough, County Donegal, it was originally registered DZP 700, the registration by which it became known during its time in Ireland. Its unusual beginnings were documented in a feature published in Rallye News in January/February 2015, which recounted the car’s early history and subsequent return to the UK.

The Escort RS1800 was created to satisfy international motorsport homologation requirements, with Ford developing the model from the production Escort 1600 Sport. The conversion involved extensive mechanical changes, including the installation of the celebrated 1,834cc BDA engine, revised transmission and suspension components, uprated braking and distinctive RS bodywork. With its motorsport-derived engineering and purposeful styling, the RS1800 became one of the most significant performance Escorts of its generation.

According to the contemporary account, the car was originally ordered by Willie Sheridan through Friel’s Garage. When Ford initially supplied an RS Mexico instead, Sheridan refused to accept it, insisting on the RS1800 he had ordered. Following some reluctance on Ford’s part, the correct car was eventually delivered. Sheridan retained the Escort until 1988, beginning an ownership history that would see it spend some 37 years in the Republic of Ireland.

The next custodian was Colm Dillon, who kept the Escort until 1992, followed by David Greer, whose ownership continued until 1998. The car then passed to Douglas Richardson, who embarked upon a programme of refurbishment. The bodyshell reportedly required little work, while mechanical repairs and reassembly were entrusted to specialists. The BDA engine was rebuilt with Arrias custom-made pistons and twin Weber 45 carburettors, with the decision taken to fit a five-speed gearbox - a correct four-speed gearbox is supplied with the car.

Richardson enjoyed the car until 2010, when it passed to a collector in Northern Ireland. In September 2013, it was acquired by its next UK-based custodian and returned to England, bringing to a close more than three decades of Irish ownership.

Adding a particularly special chapter to the story, in 2025 the Escort was reunited with its original owner, Willie Sheridan, and Noel McGinley, the original supplying salesman, at the 50th anniversary of the Ford Escort MK2 RS, in Donegal. A video of the reunion, available on YouTube, captures the two men recounting the car’s original order and the circumstances surrounding its eventual delivery. This remarkable encounter provides a wonderful first-hand insight into the Escort’s early history, bringing the story full circle almost five decades after it first took to the road.

With the odometer now showing 84,743 miles and offered fresh to market, this RS1800 presents a rare opportunity to acquire a car whose appeal extends beyond its considerable significance as a Ford homologation special, with an unusually personal history supported by contemporary magazine coverage, surviving documentation and a recorded reunion of two key figures from its early life.

Accompanying the Escort is a valuable collection of supporting documentation, including the genuine Ford RS1800 Operation and Care pamphlet, Ford owner’s manual, original Irish registration book and various invoices. A folder of photographs documenting the Escort at shows and events, together with period and subsequent written features, further illustrates its place within the RS community. A UK V5 is also present.

With its distinctive Irish provenance, fascinating early history and documented mechanical refurbishment, this RS1800 offers considerably more than the appeal of a classic performance Ford. It represents a significant chapter in the story of Ford’s rally-bred road cars, with a background that sets it apart from more familiar examples of this increasingly sought-after model.