Ford RS200 Evo: Pic of the Week
In amongst the Ferraris and Porsches at RM's Arizona sale is a little slice of Ford WRC history
Given the introduction of Group B regulations for the WRC are closer to 40 years old than 30, it says a lot about the calibre of cars and racing created that the era is so fondly remembered. Every motorsport fan will have their favourite car and driver combo, with hours still spent watching the prolific amount of historic footage available.
The major manufacturers were involved to a degree that would never happen today. Ford was no different - indeed, while some Group B racers were at least vaguely recognisable against more prosaic road cars, the RS200 bore no resemblance to anything else under the blue oval badge. A 205 T16 looked absolutely bonkers, but could at least be identified as some kind of 205. The mid-engined RS200 must have seemed like a spaceship at a time the Sierra was deemed futuristic.
The RS200's bespoke nature and outrageous styling, combined with the fact that it never really got the chance to prove itself, bestows upon it special status amongst the homologation specials. No more so than in the 20 Evolution cars - of which this POTW subject is one - built with a larger 2.1-litre engine (the regular RS200 used a 1.8) as well as tougher suspension and brakes.
Although 20 were slated for production, 24 RS200 Evos were eventually built. This one was owned by Robert Sutherland (creator of the Colorado Grand Rally) originally, and has had only two owners since. It's being sold by RM Auctions next week at its Arizona sale, the car described as "ready to impress" with some recent mechanical work.
In the iconic Ford Works livery and with possibly the widest roof scoop ever known, the RS200 looks every inch the Group B outlaw. The estimate? $500-700,000. Likely to remain a dream for many, then, but what a reality should be in store for one fortunate bidder.
I seem to remember being offered a genuine evo for £70,000 ish in the mid 2000s.
I don't know how much of a premium an evo attracts but that seems like an ambitious price target to me, more than double some prices for the 'standard' ones these days.
Was a real bugger to sell 10 years ago when he sadly passed on. Times have changed. Maybe.
I remember as a kid staring at one for ages in a showroom in Harrogate (Harrogate Horseless Carriages for anyone who knows it). At that time it eclipsed any other car for me.
I never got to see any Group B but I went to see these blasting around croft rally cross track along with the 6R4 back in the day, what a sight and experience that was. I believe many motors moved into RC after the demise of Group B.......correct me if I am wrong.
You used to be able to buy a Kit car replica, using many parts from a sierra, powered by a YB and only RWD, i think they used a Renault gearbox, possibly renault 21?
- Ford never built a single so-called 'RS200 Evo'. Production of the original cars ended at VIN No. 200, and all those cars were originally 1.8-litre types.
- In the meantime, Brian Hart Ltd had completed the design of a 2.1-litre derivative of the engine, which was called BDT-E, ready for use in the so-called 20-off RS 200 Evolutions which Ford planned for 1987 (which would have been rebuilds of new/so-far-unsold 1.8-litre cars. The cancellation of Group B killed off that strategy, Hart was paid off (and handsomely ....) for the work he had done, and he then sold off the 2.1-litre engines, unit by unit, to private owners, mainly for use in rallycross where Group B no longer applied.
- Any so-called 'RS200 Evolution' cars which are described, and/or come up for sale, were privately built/developed - but not by the factory.
- Ford never built a single so-called 'RS200 Evo'. Production of the original cars ended at VIN No. 200, and all those cars were originally 1.8-litre types.
- In the meantime, Brian Hart Ltd had completed the design of a 2.1-litre derivative of the engine, which was called BDT-E, ready for use in the so-called 20-off RS 200 Evolutions which Ford planned for 1987 (which would have been rebuilds of new/so-far-unsold 1.8-litre cars. The cancellation of Group B killed off that strategy, Hart was paid off (and handsomely ....) for the work he had done, and he then sold off the 2.1-litre engines, unit by unit, to private owners, mainly for use in rallycross where Group B no longer applied.
- Any so-called 'RS200 Evolution' cars which are described, and/or come up for sale, were privately built/developed - but not by the factory.
So the provenance of this one is a little less clear cut then....
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