Ford Escort 1971

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. , The original Ford Escort was introduced at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1968 and soon became a commercial success. Ford had, for a number of years, used active participation in Motorsport as a means of getting their ‘showroom doors swinging’, and the new Escort was to prove no exception. Popular at Club level in every discipline of the sport, it was at an International level that the name Escort became synonymous with winning. The Ford Works Team was practically unbeatable in the late 1960s early 1970s, and arguably, the Escort's greatest victory was in the 1970 London to Mexico World Cup Rally being driven by Finnish legend Hannu Mikkola. This result and the ensuing acclaim prompted Ford to produce the famous Escort Mexico road version in honour of the rally car.Definitely a step-up from the Mexico, the Escort RS1600 was developed using an engine that was essentially a FVA Formula 2 unit, designated BDA (Belt Drive A-Series), that produced 115bhp and 112lb/ft of torque and allowed the RS1600 to accelerate from 0-60mph in 8.5 seconds. Both the Mexico and RS1600 were built simultaneously at the Ford Advanced Vehicle Operations (AVO) facility located at the Aveley Plant in South Essex. As well as higher performance engines and sports suspension, these models featured strengthened bodyshells, making them ideal for rallying. Only 1,137 RS1600s were ever produced, and many were used for competition, leading to a high attrition rate.The car presented here is a 1971 Ford Escort Mk1 RS1600 which, as well as being a highly desirable matching numbers/original shell classic Performance Ford, has enviable provenance. With its LVX number plate - the same registration prefix as seen on numerous Ford Works press/rally cars - this car also retains what are believed to be original factory-fitted aluminium bonnet, boot and doors, a 'nod' to its significance (confirmed with an accompanying Owners Club document, which also suggests it might have been a development car earlier on in its life). A ‘Show Unit’ stamp on the build plate confirms it was built for factory press use, however companies like Ford typically didn’t always publish the full list of VINs for their entire press fleet, due to privacy and security concerns. We do know that this significant car has not been offered for sale on the open market for a very long time.The car was tucked away in storage for a very long time, having been acquired in an original state by the RS1600 AVO Owners Club Registrar, William Arnold. Our vendor was intrigued by this Maize Yellow car, and marvelled at just how untouched it was. Having eventually bought it, his mind turned to how best to 'restore' it. Over the years, he has owned and restored numerous classic Fords, and always to a superb standard, entrusting the cars to master engineer, Andrew Stapley of ASM Classics in Kent, who specialise in restoring some of the best classic Fords in the UK. Together a plan was formed to restore this car slightly differently, to put a twist on the conventional route of restoring back to a 'like new' condition.With a sense of fun and a desire to preserve originality, plus actually being able to drive and enjoy the RS1600, the path of restoring just the mechanicals, the serviceable items and the shell/body (where required) was taken, to create a 'new, old car' - one that looked used, so it could be used! Not a ‘rat-look’ per se, but a ‘sleeper’, an understated car that has been deliberately rebuilt/repainted to have a worn, gritty, and authentic aesthetic, a 'just been pulled out of the barn' look, instead of a shiny, factory-perfect finish. Just like it might have looked after living the life of a RS1600 in the 1970s, being used as intended, driven hard around country lanes, and showing the signs of use.To add to this aesthetic, the original interior elements, including rare Beta-trimmed sports seats and a six-dial instrument cluster, which were all in great shape, were all reinstated just as they came out of the car, showing some use, obviously, but all the better for being original. The exterior, likewise, although expertly repainted, has been purposefully made matt, and had ‘imperfections’ or ‘character’ added, the chrome left weathered, the original magnesium wheels (which have been x-rayed to confirm their integrity) have been left distressed, the VIN and AVO tags are untouched and original – the attention to detail is incredible. As a result, the car does an extraordinary job of convincing you that it’s not been touched, but you know, as soon as you drive it, safe in the knowledge that everything has been refreshed and rebuilt by experts, encouraging you to drive properly, and to not worry about being overly precious.If it isn’t for everyone, then it wouldn’t be much more work create