We're delighted to offer for sale this truly rare and unique Ford Works Escort, was a pre-production built car, for press, marketing and testing. UK built unit and is now the only one of two built on the first day of manufacture on 12 Feb 1975. This makes HHJ 704N the earliest RS 1800 registered and current car, it is also referenced in the Book (Bible) Works Escort - on page 130 (2012 published) . The sister, built on the same day as our car, led a very hard life on European Rallycross circuit, where it was retired in 1976 by Ford.
HHJ 704N was deployed into the newly formed Group 2 Race Spec for European Touring car championships, Ford loaned the car to Alec Poole for 1976 and competed in all 9 of the races in the series, including Nürburgring and Spa. The car was prepared by Derek McMahon Racing in Ireland, who immediately changed the colour to a bright Orange for 1976 series, Alec Poole shared the race series with several drivers, Juan Cochesa, Venezuela, John Handley(GB) and Jody Scheckter (SA) (F1 World Champion 1979).
At the end of the 1976 season the car was retired from the series as was uncompetitive against the works BMW 320 and CSL (Batwing) cars. Alec Poole purchased the car from Ford in 1976.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0M3aDUzKDQ (check 1:42 and 2:15)
Alec Poole sold the car in 1977 to someone from Middlesbrough who kept the car until selling in 2006, who competed in Tour Britannia 2013 in the car, sold HHJ 704N to his friend in 2018. The V5 History shows all dates and transactions and is validated in publication. First time in the car’s 46-year history this Ford Works Car is being offered on the open market, unrepeatable opportunity for any Ford aficionado to buy a Works Ford Escort.
Ford Escort RS 1800 produced between 1975 and 1977.
Engine cc 1834
Engine BHP 115
Top Speed 112 mph
0 to 60 mph 8.3
The RS 1800 was in production from March 1975 to September 1977. The press cars and early road cars were built using the same body shell as the Escort Sport from Ford Halewood factory, with the exception of approximately six cars which had the new German RS body shell in November 1975.
These early cars from March to December 1975 will have the chassis number starting BBAT. Early cars also adorned the white rear spoiler, later changed to black foam for 1976 models. A handful of these early cars began the conversion at Ford Halewood factory before moving to the Aveley Vehicle Operation AVO (synonymous with RS and Works Escort Mk1 production) to be finished off.
Body plates denote RS 1800 engine codes are 1600 Kent crossflow, German November cars have R as the original code, 1800 OHC.
The later cars were originally the Mk2 Escort RS Mexico which were built in Germany at the Ford Saarlouis factory. The chassis number for these cars should start GCAT as in common with other Mark to RS cars.
These RS Mexico’s were then transported to Britain, where the Ford engineers at Aveley (AVO) then removed the 1.6 overhead cam engine, to replace with the BDA (Belt Driven A series from Cosworth) engine along with the oil cooler, the centre exhaust hanger was modified, paintwork around the car was also carried out.
In many ways the RS 1800 can be considered a BDA Cosworth powered Mark 2 Mexico Escort. It shared the same heavy duty body shell, breaks, suspension, split prop shaft, differential, and rear axle.
Apart from the engine there is very little else that other Mk II Escorts do not possess as well, even the Mk II Mexico VIN plate was retained denoting that the car still had the 1.6 OHC (overhead cam) engine still in situ.
The last fifty cars built had the third revised inlet manifold to comply with European emissions, improve pistons, steel crank and 12 bolt flywheels, these cars also have unique X0 stamping on the body plates.
RS 1800 period production March 1975 to September 1977.
Approximately 109 road cars were built in this period; no accurate figure was ever disclosed by Ford. Currently, the UK RSOC RS 1800 Registrar knows of 86 RS 1800 cars, with around 75 cars in existence in various states of build and condition – A rare car indeed!
Model variation RS 1800 Custom
Approximately 20 custom models were produced offering additional centre console, glove box, fascia mounted clock, glove pocket, fully trimmed door panels, carpet luggage compartment.
The Custom model was limited to the early BBAT cars, but a few GCAT cars were lucky enough to have these extras from new, depending on the customers’ requirements and personal requests via Ford sales team.
RS 1800 Base
The option is also available with numerous and could be bought off the shelf of any RS dealer after the purchase of the vehicle from Ford. Apart from the custom options they were also alloy wheels, remote control door mounted mirror, black vinyl roof, tinted glass, and various radio models.
All RS 1800s were produced in diamond white except for one Geneva motor show car and one press car (JJN100N) that was produced in Carnival Red, and to date another road car (XYD992S) leaving the factory in Venetian Red.
