During the mid-1970’s, Ford Australia was heavily involved in local motorsport, in particular the Australian Touring Car Championship, as well as competing at the Bathurst 1000. The company had experienced considerable success in the Group C category with Allan Moffat’s Dealer Team, so Ford naturally wanted to win in the smaller capacity with the race proven Mk 2 RS2000.
One small problem – the car wasn’t built locally yet and none of the local Ford Escorts had a 2 litre powerplant.
So, having previously imported 25 of the Mk1 RS2000 vehicles from England to homologate the car for Bathurst, the decision was made by Ford Australia executives to import 25 of the German-manufactured Mk2 RS2000 cars in 1976. They were manufactured in Saarlouis, Germany, with specific requirements for Australia: all were exactly the same specification, were consecutively numbered and offered in only three colours (9x Carnival Red, 8x Daytona Yellow and 8x Diamond White). Interestingly, the cars underwent the normal compliance process in Australia but still carry their German compliance plates as well. As can be expected, the German cars were quickly snapped up by race teams, and since only 25 were imported (the minimum number to satisfy the Aussie touring-car homologation rules of the day) the surviving cars have become incredibly rare.
This particular car is build number 11 was originally Daytona Yellow in colour. It carries the identification GCATSA18264. It is a genuine, original shell, Group G Historic Australian rally car with significant competition history: Fred Thompson, Glen Somerville, Terry Lewis, Paul Waller and Baden U’Ren.
Along with car #14 (the Works RS2000 known as "Snoopy"), #11 was immediately transformed into a gravel rally car by Bob Holden, after which point Fred Thompson and David Kortlang entered it into the 1976 Warana Rally (ARC Round 6) in September of '76 and finished 7th OR. The car's second event was the 1976 Southern Cross International Rally whereby it unfortunately did not finish due to a blown diff.
Fred Thompson then ran the car in several club and Queensland Rally Championship (QRC) rounds before selling it to Glen Somerville in early 1979. It was at this point in time that the registration changed from OUK111 to OZW421 that it proudly wears today. Glen performed much of the period upgrade works to the car (5-link rear, slipper springs, seam welding, Fiera diff (5.1) etc.) and competed in numerous club events and rounds of the QRC in 1980 and 1982.
Custodianship of the car then passed to Terry Lewis, who competed in the 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988 QRC with the car. It was during Terry’s ownership that the decision was made to paint the Escort white around 1987. Ownership transferred to Paul Waller and, after a short stint with Steve Wall, was sold to its current owner in 2010.
An overview of the Escort’s specification as follows.
Engine:
• 2.0 litre Pinto
• Twin DCOE 48mm Weber carburettors
• Head by Alex Cowie
• Carrillo rods
• Ross pistons
Gearbox:
• Original 4-speed Rocket box (close ratio single rail top-loader, with alloy tail housing)
• Factory short shift kit
Suspension:
• GRP4 Fabrications front struts
• AP Racing 13" calipers and rotors (front)
• LH Torana calipers and rotors (rear)
• Adjustable track control arms
• 5-link rear
• Fiera diff (4.1 and 5.1)
• Slipper springs
Body and Interior:
• Forest arches
• Updated nosecone
• Alloy roll cage
• Terratrip, RallySafe wiring, Terraphone and helmet net
• Battery behind the passenger seat
• GRP4 Fabrications fuel tank
The owner notes that the original block and head will be included with the sale, as well as the original nosecone, fuel tank, three sets of wheels and other assorted parts.
The RS2000 is absolutely competition-ready and its owner had intentions to return the car to Daytona Yellow and adorn it with period-correct livery from the early 1980s. Alas, due to other automotive projects, the Escort is now reluctantly being offered for sale.
Should the new owner wish to turn it into a road car, the Escort has been mod-plated for the roll cage and removal of rear seats and would make for a head-turning Sunday cruiser or entrant at a car show. Either way, this is an incredibly rare Ford Escort Mk2 RS2000 that will undoubtedly provide its proud new owner with many lifelong memories as one of only 25 German-built cars imported by Ford Australia.