It's beige. It has a chocolate interior. And it has been subjected to a £57k restoration. Enthusiasts call this 1979 Ford Escort MK2 RS2000 the finest example of its kind – and now it could be yours!
Classic performance Fords command a hefty premium on the collector car market. Nostalgic investors seem adamant in paying ludicrous amounts for tuned vehicles boasting Brentwood’s blue oval. When it boils down to mortgage payments verses Ford ownership in the eye of the enthusiast, the house is quickly liquidated. Sometimes, the partner goes too.
It should therefore come as no surprise to find this concours 1979 Escort RS2000 is advertised for £75k. Well-known by Ford enthusiasts, the oh-so-70s vehicle has taken several concourse events by storm. Aficionados of the marque worship this vehicle, regarded as the finest example in existence. You can view the RS2000 here.
Affectionately dubbed ‘Werthers’, the Escort is finished in unmarked Tuscan Beige with incredibly rare chocolate ’76 trim. Offered for only seven short months, the seat fabrics radiate a ginger tint between the retro brown threads. As such, it’s the only car of its exact specification left in existence.
Regarded as the best example of an Escort (careful now) by the UK Ford scene, the vehicle is presented in mint condition with phenomenal attention to detail. Not that the Ford has gone without controversy.
Restored between 2006 and 2007, the vehicle’s renovation caused upset within the well-vexed domain of Ford Club infighting. Forum users claimed the RS2000 did not require refurbishment work, as its unrestored original condition was both cherished and admired by enthusiasts.
Driven sparingly by its previous two owners, the new custodian (as of 2006) pushed on with restorative work regardless. Seeking to build the greatest Escort 2000 possible, the car was stripped and every component either fully refurbished or replaced with genuine Ford new-old stock.
Setting a new standard in quality of work, the car broke new ground as the first MK2 RS shell to receive a £10k paint job. The total rebuild cost? Well, that came to £57k. Eye-watering, we agree, but then you get what you pay for. And in this case, it was the finest RS2000 in existence.
Some 11 years after completion, the 1979 Ford still claims show trophies. It won the Footman James Manchester Classic Car Show last year, adding to its provenance alongside a plethora of old MoTs, tax discs, dealer letters and service history. The original spare key is also present, having never been used.
Despite exhaustive restoration work, the cabin escaped modification and retains the original interior trim. Even the tires are original, having been cared for and kept in storage. In the world of classic Fords, these are regarded as black gold.
This all begs one question, however. Currently resting at 57,392 miles upon the odometer, and claiming celebrity status within the owner's scene, would you dare drive it?
Get a closer look at the 1979 Ford Escort MK2 RS2000 with Yorkshire Classic and Sports Cars.
