This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, Supercar Fest Sale of Iconic and Classic Cars 2024 on Saturday the 18th of May, Sywell Aerodrome, Sywell, Northampton, NN6 0BN. Offered directly from 'The Well Timed' Collection.
In 2002, Ford launched the Focus RS, returning those famous letters to one of its cars for the first time since the Ford Escort RS Cosworth. The new Focus RS was inspired by Colin McRae's WRC rally exploits and featured a 2-litre Duratec RS engine with an advanced turbocharging system and oil-spray cooled pistons to achieve more power, which eventually peaked at 215bhp and 0-60mph in 6.4 seconds. The chassis was developed and a Quaife torque-biasing differential fitted to ensure optimal front-wheel drive tractability. Suspension was by uprated offset coil springs with Sachs Racing dampers whilst stopping power was provided by Brembo brakes. The cabin was competition-inspired and featured leather and Alcantara Sparco seats. The exterior of the car took a number of styling cues from the WRC rally cars and even used custom 18" O.Z. Racing alloy wheels as a nod to its competition cousin.
Making the Focus RS this good on back roads meant changing almost every component. In the end, the roof, doors and bonnet remained the same as any other three-door Focus, but the rest of the exterior bodywork was new. In all, 521 parts were created just for the Focus RS, from the Sparco seats and handbrake lever, unique dials and starter button to the suspension and brakes. Ford built 4,501 Focus RS Mk1s, all individually numbered, and all thought to have been sold at a £4,000 loss to the company. Out of that total, 2,147 RS Mk1s were sold in the UK and, although the car still splits drivers' views, what isn't in doubt is that this is now a prized modern classic.
It's finished in Imperial Blue as they all were, with the Sparco front seats trimmed in contrasting black and blue leather with Alcantara inserts. The rear seats are similarly trimmed and the handbrake and gear knob are finished in machined aluminium. The interior is further enhanced by the addition of carbonfibre to the gear stick surround and the door cards have blue-trimmed inserts.
This example was supplied by Hilary Brock Ltd of Buckinghamshire to its first and only registered keeper, our vendor, on 25th November 2003. It has always lived a cushy life, living in a temperature-controlled garage and parked on padding to ensure the wheels never squared off when not driven for a while. As expected, the V5C shows zero previous registered keepers.
It's now presented to auction in exactly the condition that one would expect with a car that has covered just 3,235 miles from new, if anything, it's even better, a testament to our vendor. The paintwork is simply perfect and untouched, the interior is spotless and the engine bay is wonderful, all in 100% original condition.
The history file contains the RS-monogrammed book pack including the original purchase invoice, all manuals and stamped service book and the monogrammed key fobs are still attached to both keys.
Here at Iconic, we are very lucky to deal with a vast array of special cars, but this is up there with the best, with incredibly low mileage, single ownership and undeniable time-warp condition. The 'Fast Ford' market has always been led by low-mileage, factory-original cars and none come better than this lovely Mk1 Focus RS.