A rusty but rare two-door Ford Escort which is in need of full restoration could be yours – if you have £25,000 going spare.
The ‘extremely rare’ RS2000 Mark 1 model, which dates from 1975 and is one of very few un-restored versions still in existence, boasted a top speed of 108mph when it rolled off the production line.
The dilapidated but highly collectible car has 53,677 miles on the clock and has had seven previous owners.
It could be worth between £40,000 and £50,000 when restored.
The car has spent years hidden away underneath a pile of junk inside a Dorset garage. It is thought that it was last on the road nearly 25 years ago and has since been left to rot.
Its owner, who bought it from a pensioner three years ago, never pressed ahead with their plan to restore the Escort to its former glory and now hopes someone else will take on the project.
When the car rolled off the production line 46 years ago, its Diamond white paint job was pristine and the extras it came with included a cigarette lighter and a heated rear window.
It is set to go under the hammer at Charterhouse auctioneers, in Dorset, on Wednesday, July 14.
A rusty but rare two-door Ford Escort which is in need of full restoration could be yours – if you have £25,000 going spare
The ‘extremely rare’ RS2000 Mark 1 model, which dates from 1975 and is one of very few un-restored models still in existence, boasted a top speed of 108mph when it rolled off the production line
The dilapidated but highly collectible car has has had seven previous owners. Pictured: The dog-eared interior of the highly collectible car
Auctioneer Richard Bromell said: ‘With so many RS2000 MkI’s having been raced and rallied around the roads and others succumbing to rust and subsequently being scrapped when they were of little value or interest, this is quite probably one of the last genuine Ford Escort MKI RS2000’s in original condition which has never been restored to be offered for sale.’
The RS2000 MK1 was on sale between 1973 and 1975. Of 5,334 which were built, 3759 were made for the UK market.
The RS2000 was produced at Ford’s Advanced Vehicle Operations (AVO) facility at Aveley, Essex.
For its time, the car offered everything the British drivers could possibly want in a sports saloon.
It had good handling, good performance, was affordable and could be easily maintained.
Even after production ceased, the car remained much in demand until the MKII versions rolled off the production line in 1975.
Mr Brommell said the car is in need of ‘full restoration’. It is estimated to sell for between £20,000 and £25,000, due to its rarity and the fact the model is still so sought after.
It will be sold at The Haynes International Motor Museum at Sparkford, Somerset.
The car has spent years hidden away underneath a pile of junk inside a Dorset garage. It is thought that it was last on the road nearly 25 years ago and has since been left to rot. Pictured: The car’s engine, which is in need of full restoration before it will be roadworthy again
The car has 53,677 miles on the clock. Its owner, who bought it from a pensioner three years ago, never pressed ahead with their plan to restore the Escort to its former glory and now hopes someone else will take on the project
It is set to go under the hammer at Charterhouse auctioneers, in Dorset, on Wednesday, July 14. Auctioneer Richard Bromell said: ‘With so many RS2000 MkI’s having been raced and rallied around the roads and others succumbing to rust and subsequently being scrapped when they were of little value or interest, this is quite probably one of the last genuine Ford Escort MKI RS2000’s in original condition which has never been restored to be offered for sale’
The RS2000 MK1 was on sale between 1973 and 1975. Of 5,334 which were built, 3759 were made for the UK market. The RS2000 was produced at Ford’s Advanced Vehicle Operations (AVO) facility at Aveley, Essex
For its time, the car offered everything the British drivers could possibly want in a sports saloon. It had good handling, good performance, was affordable and could be easily maintained. Now, the car is in dire need of restoration, as evidenced by the above image
The car is also fitted with a cigarette lighter as well as a heated rear window. Even after production ceased, the Escort remained much in demand until the MKII versions rolled off the production line in 1975
Mr Brommell said the car is in need of ‘full restoration’. It is estimated to sell for between £20,000 and £25,000, due to its rarity and the fact the model is still so sought after
It will be sold at The Haynes International Motor Museum at Sparkford, Somerset. Pictured left: The sticker warning potential thieves that the car is fitted with an alarm. Right: The owners’ club badge
The standard version of the Ford Escort arrived in the UK in 1967, replacing the successful Ford Anglia. Even though it became available near the end of the 1960s, it became the best-selling car of the decade. Pictured: The rusty floor of the car’s interior shows how much work needs doing to restore it to its former glory
A fully restored Mark 1 Escort was sold in 2012 for £65,000.
The standard version of the Ford Escort arrived in the UK in 1967, replacing the successful Ford Anglia.
Even though it became available near the end of the 1960s, it became the best-selling car of the decade.
The car’s black hardtop roof is also in poor condition and could do with being spruced up by a new owner. The car is being sold in Dorset in July
The car was previously hidden away underneath a pile of junk in a garage in Dorset. Its current owner bought it with the intention of restoring it but has not gotten around to it
This image shows just how rusty the car has become. Ford is a hugely successful US car brand which was founded by Henry Ford in 1903. The company pioneered the mass production line with the release of the Model T between 1908 and 1927
When the car rolled off the production line 46 years ago, its Diamond white paint job was pristine and the extras it came with included a cigarette lighter and a heated rear window
After six years of production, two million cars had been made, making it Ford’s best selling car outside of the US.
When production came to an end in the year 2002, more than 4million escorts had been sold.
As well as being an affordable family car, the Escort helped to make Ford’s name in rallying. The car became the Ford team’s frontline rally car and, in 1981, propelled driver Ari Vatanen to become World Rally Champion.
The car’s bodywork is rusty and pockmarked. Its rear lights are also missing. Whoever buys it will need to spend a hefty sum restoring it
The underside of teh car shows the extent of the rust which has afflicted the vehicle. It is thought to have last taken to the road 25 years ago
