Zakspeed Ford Escort: You Know You Want To
This Group 2 Escort has been left unsold after an auction; anyone brave enough?
So after Thursday's classic touring car video, the hunt was on for an historic tin-top racer. And boy did we find one; a Zakspeed Group 2 Escort.
Well, it's a sort of Zakspeed. This Escort was built on an original shell with chassis number ZAK068 but is a replica rather than a genuine racer of the 1970s. This may put some off, but this car has been successful in various historic championships and when genuine rally Escorts are £50K without an engine, it's perhaps less of an issue.
But then all rational justification disappears on looking at this. It sits on split rim Compomotive wheels, the rears 14 inches in both diameter and width (!) lending it a properly mean stance. The fronts are a mere 10 inches but, combined with some negative camber, further bolster the aggression. The box arches are predictably huge to accommodate such ridiculous wheels. The centre-exit exhaust is very cool too, and how is it that old race liveries just look better?
This 1975 car has been prepared by Mark Wright Motorsport and comes with MSA and HTP papers. The dry-sumped 2.0-litre BDG makes 265hp with a whole host of race-spec components from the block to the exhaust. The Stack tacho reads to 10, so suffice to say it'll probably rev a bit...
So how much stands between you and being a classic touring car hero in this Group 2 Escort? It's difficult to say actually. This car went to Silverstone to be auctioned at the end of July with an estimate of between £75-£85,000 but didn't sell. We spoke to Silverstone Auctions, who have confirmed the car is now back with its owner, and are awaiting further details on its availability.
Until then, we can enjoy the pictures (there are more on the auction website) and hope it reappears on track imminently; it's not the real deal, but which grid wouldn't look better for its presence?
Ford Escort Zakspeed Group 2 replica
Why you should: It's a proven historic touring car winner, and looks outrageous.
Why you shouldn't: It will always be a replica, and wouldn't you rather rally an Escort?
See the original advert here
Car 68 - Mark Wright - 1975 Ford Escort RS1800 Zakspeed by retromotoring, on Flickr
However, can I also tempt 'Sirs' with this lively run-a-round!
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C327799
One may find it a bit of a handful in the wet!
There are still loads of old RWD stuff out there that would suit, E30's, Merc 190's, 924's, Manta's etc, ok they arent wide arched Escorts but what I am saying is you dont need to spend all that much to have something fun like that.
However, can I also tempt 'Sirs' with this lively run-a-round!
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C327799
One may find it a bit of a handful in the wet!
several previous owners.... all wearing brown trousers....
There are still loads of old RWD stuff out there that would suit, E30's, Merc 190's, 924's, Manta's etc, ok they arent wide arched Escorts but what I am saying is you dont need to spend all that much to have something fun like that.
You can also have it FIA approved K-reg.
You could build it for about 60-70K€ (the engine they claim is in there is about 20k€), the shell would be about 10K most of it labour, suspension plus setup 3K, the BBS about 2K€ if you can find them. Brakes about 2k€ all around. The rest is for all the simple stuff. Interior, gauges, fire-fighting system, paint/body, exhaust system,....
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