The thing is, as soon as anyone mentions ‘classic cars’, thoughts rush to black, dark green, or burgundy models of the 1930s and 1940s. The traditional classics. Yet, next year, it will be 60 years since 1960, which makes the largely disposable, built-in obsolescence of that period somewhat more relevant to its survivors, which, let’s face it, are going to be few and far between.
At the forthcoming Lancaster Insurance Classic Car Show, being held at the NEC (9/10 November), not one but four immaculate and now quite rare Ford models will go under the hammer in the Silverstone Classics auction. There is a distinct charm attached to each of these remarkably clean and low mileage Fords, which were the sportiest in their class during the period.
Perhaps the most desirable is the 1972 Ford Escort RS Custom (Mark One); one of just 1,137 original examples produced by Ford’s Advanced Vehicle Operations facility, its race-bred twin overhead camshaft engine develops around 120bhp, with a tuning potential of up to 270bhp, it rides on 13.0-inch diameter alloy wheels and is suspended by a leaf-sprung rear axle and coil-over front struts. A low ride height and kerbweight of less than 750kgs ensured 0-60mph in 8.0s and a top speed of around 120mph. Its pre-sale valuation is put at £68,000 but it could top £99,000.
On the other hand, a pair of immaculate RS2000 ‘droop-snoot’ Escorts, a red one from 1980, the other a beige run-out example from 1989, were popularised by TV shows of the period and by their use as ‘fast pursuit’ police cars in major conurbations. Although both have been restored sympathetically, the red example retains its original bodyshell, which is an amazing feat, when you recall how rot-prone these cars were.
Epitomised by dropping a nose-heavy ‘Pinto’ 2.0-litre, 109bhp single overhead camshaft engine into its restyled front, the RS2000 was never the best handling of nippy Fords, being prone to severe understeer, despite its rear-wheel drive. Yet, its sheer affordability made it exceptionally popular. With estimates in the region of £45,000 for either car, their escalated values are abundantly clear.
The final Escort of this group is the 1983 front-wheel drive RS1600i. Typical of Fords of the period, it was a tremendous showroom car, which always looked fantastic beneath the piercing lights of a dealership. Once again, in reality, it was a breathed-on version of an otherwise ordinary family car. Ford was exceptionally good at creating great appeal. Completely original, it is one of just 560 examples finished in Sunburst Red. Complete with boxes of receipts and other ephemera, it is valued at around £40,000 but is sure to exceed its estimate by at least 50%.
