This is the 1973 Ford Escort RS1600 Works Rally. A car that comes directly from the heart of international rally competition and one that played an important role during one of the most successful periods in Ford rally history.

The Escort was the model that established Ford's reputation in rally competition around the world during the late nineteen sixties and early nineteen seventies. While the success began with the Escort Twin Cam, the car that would ultimately become the face of Ford in rallying arrived in 1970 with the Escort RS1600.

This version combined the light and perfectly balanced Escort chassis with a completely new engine that was developed together with Cosworth. The result was the legendary BDA engine, a sixteen valve four cylinder with dual overhead camshafts designed specifically for competition use. With output figures that could exceed 230 horsepower in factory specification, the RS1600 offered performance that was truly impressive for its time.

Thanks to that combination of power, agility and reliability, the RS1600 quickly became one of the most successful rally cars of the nineteen seventies. The car achieved victories in rallies across the world, from the fast gravel stages of the 1000 Lakes Rally in Finland to the famous RAC Rally in Great Britain and even the legendary Safari Rally in East Africa, one of the toughest motorsport events ever created.

The example presented here is a genuine Ford Works rally car, built and prepared by the legendary Ford Boreham Competition Department. This was the facility where official factory cars were developed and prepared for the most demanding rallies in the world.

What makes this Escort even more special is the impressive list of drivers who competed in it. Among them was none other than Roger Clark, one of the most celebrated names in British rally history and the first British driver to win the famous RAC Rally. The car was also driven by Tony Pond, another highly successful British factory driver.

In 1973 the car was entered in the famous East African Safari Rally with Roger Clark behind the wheel. This rally was widely known as one of the most demanding events in the world. Later that same year the car also appeared at the start of the Scottish Rally and the RAC Rally, and in 1974 it competed in the World Cup Rally.

This Escort still retains its original factory body. That is particularly noteworthy since many rally cars from this era no longer have their original bodywork. The shell was strengthened to Group 2 specification by Gomm Metal Developments, a well known name within British motorsport.

During the nineteen nineties the car underwent a comprehensive restoration to full Works specification. Nearly every component was rebuilt with careful attention to the original factory configuration.

Technically this Escort is equipped exactly as a proper rally car from this period should be. The car features a Cosworth BDG engine with Weber carburetors, a ZF five speed competition gearbox and a reinforced Atlas rear axle with limited slip differential. The suspension consists of Bilstein competition dampers and the car sits on the classic Minilite wheels that are so characteristic of rally cars from the nineteen seventies.

The interior is equally rich in rally heritage. The dashboard with chronometric instruments, the map reading lamp and the additional rally lighting are still present, exactly as the car would have been used in competition during its active years.

Following the restoration the car remained active in historic rallying, where it achieved success including a championship victory in the Historic Rally Car Register series and later participation in several prestigious historic rally events.

What you see here is therefore far more than just a Ford Escort RS1600. This is a genuine factory team rally car with an impressive competition history, driven by legendary drivers and originating from a time when rallying was still raw, spectacular and adventurous.

For enthusiasts of historic motorsport this is exactly the kind of car where everything comes together: an original Works Escort, a documented rally history and a name that is inseparably linked to the golden era of rally competition.

Are you interested? Please contact Gallery Aaldering today and discover this legendary Ford for yourself. Worldwide export is available and we will gladly inform you about the possibilities.

* Driven by two of the biggest names in British rallying: Roger Clark and Tony Pond
* Extensively documented as you would expect
* In full Works (Safari) specification
* A genuine factory Ford Company Ltd rally car with the correct rally participation and history
* An important car from the world of motorsport
* In restored condition
* "A definite must-have"