While not on the same league as the Ferrari, another auction record was achieved. This 1974 Ford Escort Mk1 RS2000 sold for an eye-watering sum of A$206,000 – more than double, a prior auction benchmark.
The Escort RS2000 was the final car introduced to Ford’s ‘Advanced Vehicle’ range in June of 1973, and boasted similar performance of the more complex RS1600 Escort, but with the reliability and ease of maintenance of the Mexico.
Utilising the same Type 49 bodyshell as the Mexico and RS1600, the newcomer received a bigger two-litre, overhead-cam, 100 horsepower ‘Pinto’ engine, which seemed on paper, ideal. However, the major issue was getting the Pinto engine to fit the small engine bay, something it wasn’t designed to do.
To achieve this, engine-driven cooling was replaced with a thermostatically controlled unit. The gearbox in the RS2000 was the German ‘E-box’ that was totally different to the one in the RS1600. When launched in November 1973 it sold for A$3028.
Bought by the vendor, a mechanical engineer and self-confessed perfectionist in 2015, an annoying oil leak oil leak set in motion the five year restoration bringing it to concours condition in every way.
At the body shop all removed parts were either refurbished, replaced, repainted or re-plated with a fastidious attention to detail, presenting them as if they’d just left the factory in 1974. The two-litre Pinto engine is the original unit and the shell still displays its original Type 49 stampings.
After completing the restoration, the vendor decided it was too good to use and put it up for auction. It went with a copy of the original registration documents from 19th April 1974, various invoices, the original owner’s manuals and a magazine feature from around 2000.
The restoration process was well-documented with over 200 photos taken throughout.
From Unique Cars #486, Dec 2023
Photography: Iconic Auctioneers