Ford Escort 1997 - 2.0 Luxury 3dr [LT]

0 Previous Owners, This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Iconic Sale at the NEC Classic Motor Show 2025 on Saturday the 8th of November, NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT. , Introduced in 1992, the Escort RS Cosworth was an 'homologation special' based on the fifth generation Ford Escort and its sole role was to incorporate parts that Ford planned to use in their 'Group A' rally cars to ensure success in the World Rally Championship, a 'Group A' rally car for the road - pure and simple.It was available as a road car from 1992 - 1996 in limited numbers from Ford’s Specialist Vehicle Engineering (SVE) team, combining the hand-assembled engine expertise of Cosworth and the coachbuilding crafts of Karmann. Powered by the familiar 2-litre turbocharged, longitudinally-mounted, Cosworth-developed engine driving all four wheels, the Stephen Harper-designed car was engineered in Boreham with final assembly by Karmann in Germany.The potential of the Escort was evident in its first ever event, the 1993 Monte Carlo Rally, where Delecour and Biasion came second and third respectively. The Escort continued to be very competitive throughout the 1993 and 1994 seasons but it was a 'one-off' guest drive by Tommi Mäkinen that provided the long-awaited win on the 1994 '1000 Lakes' Rally, the first of many high profile, top flight rally victories. Additionally, and true to Ford's grassroots philosophy, the Escort Cosworth provided a platform for National Rallying and Club enthusiasts throughout the world to enjoy 'off the shelf' competitive support, securing its status as a true Ford icon. Production figures suggest only 7,145 Ford Escort RS Cosworth examples were ever produced with the final examples entering production in December 1995 and leaving the factory in early 1996.Offered at the NEC Classic Car Show 2025 is this Ford Escort RS Cosworth, built in December 1995 in Rheine, Westphalia and first registered on 22nd January 1997. According to Ford archives, the final Escort RS Cosworth was also completed in late 1995, leaving the Karmann factory on 12th January 1996 with chassis number SP93313. This RS remains registered in the name of Ford Motor Company and is understood to be one of the last manufactured.Purchased on 24th March 1997 by Rodney Fletcher, proprietor of Rod Allen Cars, the Cosworth was acquired at a Ford closed sale held by National Car Auctions. At that point it had covered just 24 miles, as confirmed by the original lot sheet. Mr Fletcher subsequently added 352 miles on trade plates before placing the car in his showroom, displayed with wall mirrors and marked at £32,995. Aware that no new RS Cosworth would ever be built, he left it untouched until March 2006 when it was sold to a Ford enthusiast.The used car sales invoice from that transaction documents the £32,995 purchase price and is accompanied by two important letters. One from Rod Allen Cars requested that the new owner refrain from modifying or altering the car in any way, noting that if stored correctly and unused they would consider buying it back at 10% less than purchase. The second, from Chris Shambrook, Ford’s Manager of Auction Sales, confirmed that his predecessor recalled the car being sold with just 24 miles recorded. At the point of sale in March 2006, the Cosworth was fully serviced and had its first MOT test with the odometer displaying 353 miles.The new owner submitted it for one further MOT in 2007, with 378 miles recorded, before placing it into long term dry storage. It remained preserved until 2023 when it changed hands again and was subject to a comprehensive recommission by one of the UK’s leading Cosworth specialists.Today, this Escort RS Cosworth shows just 408 miles and is presented in superb condition. It has remained in professional dry storage and is accompanied by a detailed history file including invoices for the recent recommissioning, its original Ford book pack with manuals, and three keys including the red master key.Collectors are becoming increasingly focused on originality, provenance and minimal mileage. This RS Cosworth is one of the last produced, remains unmodified, and has been carefully stored, consequently representing an unrepeatable opportunity to secure one of the very best in existence.