Is This the World's Most Valuable MK2 Escort?
Discussion
With the value of Mk1 and Mk2 RS Escorts going through the roof, I had the thought about which particular one is the most valuable? There's Hannu Mikkola's Mk1 that won the 1970 World Cup rally, but that's not that complete or original. Most of the works cars were sold off to privateers and are now like Grandad's hammer, three body shells, four engines etc.
I am therefore going to stick my neck out and nominate VLE 756X, the Sutton Cars Escort RS that was prepared for one event, the 1981 Lombard RAC so that Ari Vatanen could win the WRC drivers' championship. This car finished second, Ari won the championship and the Escort was effectively mothballed and handed over to Beaulieu National Motor Museum. As such it is totally original, unmolested and complete.
When I was active with the RS Owners Club in the late 80s early 90s we borrowed this for (I think) the 1987 Classic Car Show at the NEC where we won stand of the show. We were asked by Beaulieu to insure it for £20,000!
I wonder what it's worth now? A genuine, original car with serious provenance.
I reckon at least £250,000. Any other theories?
I agree, VLE is most definitely the most original period Sutton Mk 2 in existence.
I was very kindly allowed to crawl all over VLE in Beaulieu's workshops a few years ago for a project that sadly did not get off the ground, the staff were VERY helpful
After the 81 RAC all they did was steam clean it off, spray on a bit of underseal, touch up the paint around the wheel arches and park it in the museum.
What is it worth,,,,,,,, 200k plus I am sure.
I was very kindly allowed to crawl all over VLE in Beaulieu's workshops a few years ago for a project that sadly did not get off the ground, the staff were VERY helpful
After the 81 RAC all they did was steam clean it off, spray on a bit of underseal, touch up the paint around the wheel arches and park it in the museum.
What is it worth,,,,,,,, 200k plus I am sure.
Yeap very over priced at your estimate . I had an "ex works" car in the eighties and whilst being bloody beautiful in every aspect was in fact like Triggers new broom .However there are still a couple of genuine cars in existence that I know of , so probably more lurking farther afield .
Nobody would risk damaging an original car by driving it to full potential which must reflect in the price .
Nobody would risk damaging an original car by driving it to full potential which must reflect in the price .
Whilst 200k for an Escort seems daft I'm not so sure. There have been few more successful rally cars , even fewer ones which sounded better or looked more spectacular in action.When a rusty wreck of a Dino fetches 100k and any DB4 or 5 goes for insane money (despite not that much competition heritage compared to an Escort and despite fact that a lot of the value is down to Ian Fleming) I reckon a full house rally Escort deserves its status. God knows 250GTOs are now worth the GDP of small countries so why shouldn't the Escort, which has won far more events on track and stage get its moment in the sun ?
When you think that the companies which build the top level historic spec Escorts charge well over £100k for a "new build" car, then £250k seems reasonable for the totally genuine article. One which was driven by a very top level driver to win a world championship, one which has never disappeared from public view and is totally, in every way, the genuine article. Easily £250k in my opinion.
strummerville said:
There's Hannu Mikkola's Mk1 that won the 1970 World Cup rally, but that's not that complete or original.
Be interested to know what you think is missing from FEV 1H or not that original. I know from my time on the committee of AVO OC in the 1980's that it had had an unloved period in Fords ownership during the 1970's and a few odds and sods had gone missing, but it is largely original which is pretty rare and almost unique for an example of a Boreham Mk1.One of the ex-works Safari Mk2 cars is quite original as well (can't remember which one now of the top of my head - pretty such it was one of the LVX reg numbers)
VLE is definately the most original Escort rally car though - and likely the most valuable, even though it's not technically a works car.
I still think FEV 1H wouldn't be far off in terms of value though.
On a similar vein JD Classics have the ex-John Taylor Haynes of Maidstone car for sale - 1975 RS1800 - believed to be one of the only if not the only RS1800 with original shell - would have thought that's a £200k + car. When i was a kid my mum used to know Colin Short - who bought the ex-Vatanen STW 201R - and he took me round the block. At circa 13 years old i asked him how fast it went - and he said it was geared to about 115 mph - which left me a bit non-plussed....but when he took me for a drive around some twisty bends around Pirbright i was shaking with excitement. That bloody passenger ride - together with standing in forests listening to BD's scream at 9k rpm caused a BD addiction which lasts to this day. Much that I would love to own an RS with original shell - just imagine the anxiety of using one on a stage and knowing that running out of talent would destroy one of the very few original cars left. Rallying was my first love - I still get excited seeing Mk2's running on events in Ireland/UK on MotorsTV etc - but have no interest in the vastly technically more accomplished turbocharged contemporary 4wd stuff</nostalgiaoldfartstuff>
aeropilot said:
strummerville said:
There's Hannu Mikkola's Mk1 that won the 1970 World Cup rally, but that's not that complete or original.
Be interested to know what you think is missing from FEV 1H or not that original. I know from my time on the committee of AVO OC in the 1980's that it had had an unloved period in Fords ownership during the 1970's and a few odds and sods had gone missing, but it is largely original which is pretty rare and almost unique for an example of a Boreham Mk1.One of the ex-works Safari Mk2 cars is quite original as well (can't remember which one now of the top of my head - pretty such it was one of the LVX reg numbers)
VLE is definately the most original Escort rally car though - and likely the most valuable, even though it's not technically a works car.
I still think FEV 1H wouldn't be far off in terms of value though.
I had dozens of pics of it, as we had access to it. Unfortunately They were mislaid many years ago.
final_edition said:
When I served the first half of my apprenticeship ('86-'88) at Fords Thames Technical Training Centre (TTTC), FEV 1H was kept in a room, with other old Fords, behind the canteen.
Yup, kept with the replica Gastonides Monte Zephyr Mk1, the GT70, and a couple of others IIRC.Saw this at Goodwood on Friday -
The owner says he believes it to be mostly original, and the very first twin cam...still being used in earnest for historic rallying and, from my inexpert view, enjoyed thoroughly.
He previously restored one of the Safari cars (ex Hillyar / Aird car from 1972?) having bought it in London in 1988 for £5k. His was the only offer.
The owner says he believes it to be mostly original, and the very first twin cam...still being used in earnest for historic rallying and, from my inexpert view, enjoyed thoroughly.
He previously restored one of the Safari cars (ex Hillyar / Aird car from 1972?) having bought it in London in 1988 for £5k. His was the only offer.
The Don of Croy said:
Saw this at Goodwood on Friday -
The owner says he believes it to be mostly original, and the very first twin cam...still being used in earnest for historic rallying and, from my inexpert view, enjoyed thoroughly.
My ageing memory cells says that the very first Twin Cam had a XOO or a XTW reg number.The owner says he believes it to be mostly original, and the very first twin cam...still being used in earnest for historic rallying and, from my inexpert view, enjoyed thoroughly.
Certainly it was XOO262F that was the first Escort to win a rally IIRC.
What YVW591F is famous for is being one the TC's that Boreham experimented fitting with other engines prior to the introduction of the BDA, and YVW591F was one of two TC's to be fitted with a Cologne 2.3V6 engine.
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