Escort RS 1800 Mk2
Available :- 1975 to 1977
INTRODUCTION
This is Fords most successful rally car, almost 25 years after it launch this car is still capable of winning Clubman & international rallies today, although in a much different spec.
The RS1800 was in production from March 1975 to September 1977. The press cars and the very early road cars were British built using the same body shell as the Escort Sport. These early cars from March 1975 to December 1975 will have the chassis number starting BBAT.
The later cars were originally the MK2 Escort RS Mexico which were built in Germany at the Saarlouis factory. The chassis number for these cars should start GCAT as in common with other MK2 RS cars.
These RS Mexico's were then transported to Britain and the Ford engineers then removed the OHC (over head cam) engine to put in the BDA (belt driven `A` series) engine.
In many ways the RS1800 can be considered as a BDA powered MK2 Mexico. It shared the same heavy duty body shell (see diagram `the RS body shell`), brakes, suspension, split-propshaft, differential, and rear axle.
Apart from the engine there are few different items that other MK2's do not possess, even the MK2 Mexico VIN plate was retained denoting that the car still had an OHC
engine
.
PERIOD PRODUCED
March 1975 to September 1977
Approximately 109 road cars were built in this period, no accurate figure was ever disclosed by Fords. Currently the RSOC RS1800 Registrar knows of 86 RS1800 with around 75 still in existance, others have either gone missing or rallied to destruction etc.
MODEL VARIATION
RS1800 Custom, approximately 20 custom models were produced offering centre console, glove box, facia mounted clock and glove pocket, fully trimmed door panels, carpeted luggage compartment.
RS1800 Basic.
The options also available were numerous and could be brought off the shelf at any RS dealers. Apart from the custom options there were also rear fog lamp, alloy wheels, remote control door mounted mirror, black vinyl roof, tinted glass, and various radio models.
The Custom model was limited to the early BBAT cars, but a few GCAT cars were lucky enough to have these extras from new depending on the customers requirements.
All RS1800`s were produced in diamond white with the exceptions of one press car that was produced in carnival red and one road car leaving the factory in venetian red.
