Latest news with #FordEscort
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Motorsport: Stafford and Cleary hang on to win in Midleton
With a 15.3-second lead entering the final stage, the Wexford crew of James Stafford/Richard Cleary (Darrian T90 GTR) almost backed off too much but did enough to win the Midleton-based CDE Imokilly Rally by 4.4s. Armagh's Jason Black and his Cork based co-driver Karl Egan took second place as they pushed hard on the final stage and while they almost caught Stafford/Cleary, they deprived the Monaghan/Cavan pairing of Johno Doogan/Paul Lennon (Ford Escort) of the runner-up spot by 4.7s. Doogan led after the opening 15.5km stage where Stafford, who reckoned the dust on the stage was more that he anticipated, took time to get into a rhythm and finished just 1.1s in arrears. Gary Kiernan (Ford Escort) in third struggled with brakes that overheated. Top seed Rob Duggan lost time when he had to reverse after he spun his Escort, he ended the stage down in seventh - 12.7s off the lead. Stafford set a strong time on the second stage to move into the lead - 5.7s ahead of Doogan, who wasn't committing as it would involve some risk. Kiernan slotted into third but continued to have brake issues. An untroubled Michael Cahill (Escort) was fourth followed by the Toyota Starlet of Armagh's Jason Black and the Escort of Clare's Padraig Egan (Ford Escort). Although Duggan partially sorted some issues, he withdrew at the Midleton service park leaving Stafford tackle the repeated of both stages as rally leader. The Wexford driver was best on SS3 to move 9s ahead of Doogan while Egan crashed out. On the fourth stage Black, who struggled on the opening stage, showed a fine turn of speed and topped the time sheets to move up two places to third - a mere 1.1s behind Doogan. Stafford reckoned the dust on SS4 prevented him from posting a better time, nevertheless, he led by 13s. Kiernan attributed his time loss on SS4 to having stiffened the front of his Escort too much as it was "lifting off the road" on the high speed sections. Cahill in fifth was a little concerned about some differential issues while Peter Wilson, who posted good times on both reckoned his Escort was running a little too hot. With the brake issues sorted, Moffett was pleased with his performances on both stages, he was seventh in a top ten that also featured Vincent O'Shea (Darrian T90 GTR) and the Escorts of Cian Walsh and Mark Dolphin. Walsh, in the Tom Randles Escort, was happy with his performance while Dolphin was unhappy when he encountered a stricken Escort being removed on SS3. Protecting his lead position Stafford stretched his advantage to 15.3s on the penultimate stage. Doogan tried a harder compound that took a few kilometres to work properly as Black trimmed the margin between them to 0.9s. Kiernan and Cahill followed with the latter closing to within 5.3s as Kiernan tried some different tyre options. Moffett had a big moment on the stage and decided to call it a day. At the latter end of the top 10 Cian Walsh and Mark Dolphin battled for local bragging rights as the latter cut the deficit to a mere 0.7s. Stafford arrived at the end of final stage a trifle worried as he reckoned he had backed off too much, to his relief, his victory was confirmed within a few minutes. Elsewhere, Kiernan and first time co-driver Jake O'Sullivan (Escort) managed to fend off Cahill for fourth with Meath's Peter Wilson (Ford Escort) sixth. Kenmare's Vincent O'Shea (Darrian T90 GTR) took a trouble-free drive to seventh as Dolphin reeled in Walsh for eighth and top Cork driver by just 0.2s. Youghal's Jason and Ross Ryan (Toyota Starlet) won Class 11F and the Castlemartyr/Ardfield crew of Darragh Walsh/Gary Lombard (Honda Civic) took the Junior honours. CDE Imokilly Rally, Midleton: 1. J. Stafford/R. Cleary (Darrian T90 GTR) 41m. 08.2s; 2. J. Black/K. Egan (Toyota Starlet)+4.4s; 3. J. Doogan/P. Lennon (Ford Escort)+9.1s; 4. G. Kiernan/J. Sullivan (Ford Escort)+38.3s; 5. M. Cahill/C. Smith (Ford Escort)+44.1s; 6. P. Wilson/J. McCarthy (Ford Escort)+1m. 19.2s; 7. V. O'Shea/E. O'Donoghue (Darrian T90 GTR)+1m. 38.6s; 8. M. Dolphin/T. Delaney (Ford Escort)+1m. 55.2s; 9. C. Walsh/D. Doonan (Ford Escort)+1m. 55.9s; 10. D. Hickey/R. O'Riordan (Ford Escort)+2m. 11.5s.
Top Gear
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Time machine: full throttle in the stunning Alan Mann Ford Escort replica
Time machine: full throttle in the stunning Alan Mann Ford Escort replica An identikit Ford Escort to the one that saw Frank Gardner to the British Saloon Championship in 1968? Sign us up Skip 1 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. The year is 1968. And if you're a racing driver in the British Saloon Car Championship and your name's not Frank Gardner, bad luck. You just lost. Because to be fast that year, only one thing would do: the Alan Mann prepped Ford Escort. Gardner won all but two of the 11 rounds, in a car in its first year of competition. No car is fast immediately. It takes a while for engineers, mechanics and designers to learn their foibles, extract their potential. Unless you're Alan Mann. An instinctive, innovative engineer, he'd set up by himself in 1962 and two years later he'd won the contract to be Ford's official racing partner in Europe, running everything from Mustangs and Falcons to Cortinas, GT40s and this legendary Group 5 Escort. Advertisement - Page continues below Group 5 was as close as things got to a no limits touring car. This car's iconic bubble arches were crafted to cope with fatter rubber, all new multi-link rear suspension was designed, the steering column was realigned so it projected at a straighter angle and the steering rack was actually housed inside the engine crossmember. Apparently this car had a fair amount in common with the GT40s Mann also campaigned. Rounding out the radical package was a 1.8-litre Lotus Twin Cam, developing around 230bhp. The result was a small, light, well balanced and fantastically eager racing car. Painted in Mann's iconic red and gold colours it was as sweet to look at as it was to drive. Few cars look as good in a corner as this one. Photography: Olgun Kordal Ford supplied Alan Mann with six cars that season. At the end of the following year, four were returned, one had been converted to a different specification, and one – the famous, championship winning XOO 349F – was left with Mann. And there it remained. Alan died in 2012, but his son Henry continues to maintain and campaign the car. This isn't it, though. What you're looking at here is an exact nut and bolt replica. The original was stripped down with every component scanned to reverse engineer it precisely as it was. The only way to tell it apart from the original when I line them up alongside each other is that only one has a roll cage. The new one – it's now a safety requirement for historic racing. But this isn't a one-off – the plan is to build 24 identikit replicas. There's a pleasing circular story here. Just as Alan Mann was Ford's official racing partner back in the 1960s, so has Boreham Motor Works (which now owns Alan Mann Racing) recently become Ford's official restomod partner. You may have heard about other fast Fords it has in the pipeline – a reimagined Group B RS200 and a £295,000 roadgoing fast Escort with a 295bhp 2.1-litre twin cam good for 10,000rpm. Advertisement - Page continues below But this isn't a restomod, it's a non-road legal period piece that Henry very much hopes owners will choose to race. It's what it was designed for after all. And what it feels like. I want to start slowly but the car would rather I didn't. It might be an old design, but it's a racing car, it's only got one speed and it's not 'pitlane pootle'. The racing twin plate clutch needs revs to pull away, first can be hard to find, there's plenty of vibration and as I trundle out on to the track it honestly feels like all the wheels are pulling in different directions. For the first few hundred yards I wondered at the wisdom of an exact recreation. And thereafter I had the time of my life. As with all racing cars, it needs to be used hard, and then it just works. Get some pressure in the suspension, some load in the engine and you feel the whole car snap to attention. As you'd hope it's a period correct driving experience. This is not a car in which all you do is accelerate, brake and steer and it responds with ruthless precision. You're busy the whole time, juggling the steering and throttle, rowing the gearlever around the four (yes, only four) gate box, planning the next corner. Even driving in a straight line requires concentration – the Alan Mann 68 Edition (to give this one its proper name) prefers to be turning. Skip 15 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. 1 / 15 Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email* I assumed my steering inputs would be large and sweeping, that it would settle satisfyingly in corners but that's not the case initially. It's light – just 795kg without fluids – and the wheelbase is short, so every single twitch you make has an instant and marked impact on your speed and trajectory. There's nothing lazy or languid about it and being quick in it isn't about armfuls of opposite lock and big angles, it's about playing with the balance at the margins. The brakes are way more potent than you might expect, but this is not a car you trail brake all the way to the apex. Instead you roll off the brakes sooner, turning in and then immediately back on the power to adjust line and trajectory. Great fun, but it was a little fidgety through long, fast corners so, at Henry's suggestion, we soften the rear dampers off. It's a transformation. Through the quick curves that define Thruxton the Escort now squats smoothly down on its outside rear wheel and just powers through, nose up, tail down, all the pressure seemingly through that one wheel. Those pictures we've all seen of touring cars back then four wheel drifting through corners, almost waggling the unloaded front wheel in the air? This is what it feels like and it's utterly brilliant. The full 1960s experience. This is a special car. Wonderfully vivid and fantastically engaging, one with genuine historic importance Massively absorbing, way more entertaining than any modern fast, focused 'n' flat racer. This is a car that uses its suspension differently, that isn't designed to keep the platform as level and neutral as possible at all times, but instead lets you move the pressure around, so you can use the weight to help you uncork the engine's full potential. The four cylinder barks loudly and aggressively inside, ringing through my period helmet. It's an eager beaver hard charger, but 205bhp on the UK's fastest racetrack means a lot of time spent flat in fourth. But still, 205bhp from 1.8 litres on Weber carbs with only two valves per cylinder? That's impressive. Through the slower corners it's the throttle's instant response and its effect not only on speed but balance that is so notable. And the fact you're forever manipulating gears and trying to finesse heel 'n' toe downshifts via the sharp clutch and a gearlever skinnier than most column stalks. The shift is imprecise at low speeds, a bit vague, but once up and running I never missed – or even fluffed – a shift. This is a special car. Wonderfully vivid and fantastically engaging, one with genuine historic importance and a cracking back story. The cost will be terrifying, but it's vanishingly rare to drive something that's not just period correct, but correct down to the tiniest detail, that is so emphatically authentic and true to what's gone before. It put me in a time capsule. The thought of lining up alongside a bunch of other touring cars and tearing strips off each other might just be one of the most amusing things you could do in a car.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
The £280,000 Ford Escort: RS 1800 owned by same family for 50 years
A 1976 Ford Escort that's been retained by the same family for almost half a century has been sold at auction - and for a new record price. The MkII RS 1800 is one of 109 limited edition road-going models built at the car giant's Advanced Vehicle Operations Pilot Plant at Aveley, Essex - each one finished in Diamond White paint. But few remain in the same condition with such low mileage as the one sold on Saturday - let alone an example that's been kept in single family ownership almost from new. The lot winner - having been embroiled in a 'frenzied' bidding war in the auction room - paid an eye-watering £278,848 to secure the keys on Saturday. The vendor's late husband acquired the car from Ford in 1977, shortly after it had concluded its duties as the second of five vehicles provided to the press for test drives - the first being written off during this time. While the price he paid for the car remains undisclosed, when new in 1976 the RS 1800 was priced at £2,990 plus tax. When the hammer dropped at the weekend, registration ONO 804P sold for almost 100 times that amount to become the most expensive MkII Escort in history. This is Money has exclusively spoken to the collector who was last to raise their paddle in the auction hall at the weekend... The vendor's late husband reportedly drove the rally-inspired Fast Ford for around 10 years before it underwent a restoration and was kept off the road in a barn. As such, it has a mere 24,186 miles on the clock - barely 500 miles for each of its 49 years since rolling off the Essex assembly line. Following his death recently, the keeper's widow commissioned classic car specialist Historics to offer the lot the highest bidder at an auction in Windsor. The car, described as the lone owner's 'pride and joy' has now become the world's most expensive second-generation Escort. The previous record was held by a 1975 Ford Escort RS 1800 rally car campaigned by Björn Waldegård, Roger Clark, Ari Vatanen and Pentti Airikkala. That car was sold by Bonhams at the 2015 Goodwood Members' Meeting for a comparatively paltry £85,500. The sale price also far eclipsed the pre-sale estimate of £160,000 to £185,000 as the winning bid exceeded the top end by an additional six figures. 'After travelling 25,000 road miles during its lifetime, this Escort has rested gently under cover in a farm barn for decades,' Historics says. It adds that the performance RS Ford has twice been painstakingly and professionally restored, all with the accent on originality. It is understood that the car remained in the barn for 35 years with a fully rebuilt engine sitting on a pallet next to it. With time and a lack of use taking its toll, the second restoration project was undertaken just five years ago, with the aim of returning the Fast Ford to its former glory. 'It is probably in a far better condition than when it left Ford's Essex low-profile side assembly line, nearly half a century earlier,' the auction house says. Jeremy Walton from Historics added: 'The MkII Escort RS1800 is an icon of Ford's World Championship motorsport history, but this blistering sale result - most surely a world record for a 1976 Ford Escort - is a spectacular endorsement of how few unmodified public road examples of these Escorts remain. 'Certainly, far fewer original RS1800s survive than many exotic classics, bearing more prestigious badges.' Stewart Banks of Historics Auctioneers described Saturday's auction hall as an 'electric atmosphere'. He said: 'After publicising the car far and wide, we had great expressions of pre-sale interest, and bidding on the car was intense - as was to be expected as the Escort RS1800 was such a star of world rallying. 'However, nobody could have predicted such a stunning result.' Speaking exclusively to This is Money, the winning bidder - who requested to remain anonymous - told us: 'I am thrilled to be able to secure what is probably the most original, low-owner RS1800 with such super provenance. 'It has been purchased to enjoy as part of a private collection of some of the most important historic Ford race and road vehicles.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Quarter million pound Ford Escort: MkII RS 1800 owned by the same family for 50 years sells for record price
A 1976 Ford Escort that's been retained by the same family for almost half a century has been sold at auction - and for a new record price. The MkII RS 1800 is one of 109 limited edition road-going models built at the car giant's Advanced Vehicle Operations Pilot Plant at Aveley, Essex - each one finished in Diamond White paint. But few remain in the same condition with such low mileage as the one sold on Saturday - let alone an example that's been kept in single family ownership almost from new. The vendor's late husband acquired the car from Ford in 1977, shortly after it had concluded its duties as the second of five vehicles provided to the press for test drives - the first being written off during this time. While the price he paid for the car remains undisclosed, when new in 1976 the RS 1800 was priced at £2,990 plus tax. When the hammer dropped at the weekend, registration ONO 804P sold for almost 100 times that amount to become the most expensive MkII Escort in history. This is Money has exclusively spoken to the collector who was last to raise their paddle in the auction hall at the weekend... Record-breaking Ford Escort: This MkII RS 1800 has been in one family ownership for the best part of half a century. Its low miles and incredible original condition has made it the world's most expensive second-gen model When the hammer dropped at an auction in Windsor at the weekend, registration ONO 804P sold for almost 100 times its original price to become the most expensive MkII Escort in history The vendor's late husband reportedly drove the rally-inspired Fast Ford for around 10 years before it underwent a restoration and was kept off the road in a barn. As such, it has a mere 24,186 miles on the clock - barely 500 miles for each of its 49 years since rolling off the Essex assembly line. Following his death recently, the keeper's widow commissioned classic car specialist Historics to offer the lot the highest bidder at an auction in Windsor. The car, described as the lone owner's 'pride and joy' has now become the world's most expensive second-generation Escort. The lot winner - having been embroiled in a 'frenzied' bidding war in the auction room - paid an eye-watering £278,848 to secure the keys on Saturday. The previous record was held by a 1975 Ford Escort RS 1800 rally car campaigned by Björn Waldegård, Roger Clark, Ari Vatanen and Pentti Airikkala. That car was sold at by Bonhams at the 2015 Goodwood Members' Meeting for a comparatively paltry £85,500. The sale price also far eclipsed the pre-sale estimate of £160,000 to £185,000 as the winning bid exceeded the top end by an additional six figures. The vendor's late husband acquired the car from Ford in 1977, shortly after it had concluded its duties as the second of five vehicles provided to the press for test drives - the first being written off during this time 'After travelling 25,000 road miles during its lifetime, this Escort has rested gently under cover in a farm barn for decades,' Historics says. It adds that the performance RS Ford has twice been painstakingly and professionally restored, all with the accent on originality. It is understood that the car remained in the barn for 35 years with a fully rebuilt engine sitting on a pallet next to it. With time and a lack of use taking its toll, the second restoration project was undertaken just five years ago, with the aim of returning the Fast Ford to its former glory. 'It is probably in a far better condition than when it left Ford's Essex low-profile side assembly line, nearly half a century earlier,' the auction house says. The lot winner - having been embroiled in a 'frenzied' bidding war in the auction room - paid an eye-watering £278,848 to secure the keys on Saturday Jeremy Walton from Historics added: 'The MkII Escort RS1800 is an icon of Ford's World Championship motorsport history, but this blistering sale result - most surely a world record for a 1976 Ford Escort - is a spectacular endorsement of how few unmodified public road examples of these Escorts remain. 'Certainly, far fewer original RS1800s survive than many exotic classics, bearing more prestigious badges.' Stewart Banks of Historics Auctioneers described Saturday's auction hall as an 'electric atmosphere'. He said: 'After publicising the car far and wide, we had great expressions of pre-sale interest, and bidding on the car was intense - as was to be expected as the Escort RS1800 was such a star of world rallying. 'However, nobody could have predicted such a stunning result. The performance RS Ford has twice been painstakingly and professionally restored, all with the accent on originality Speaking exclusively to This is Money, the winning bidder - who requested to remain anonymous, told us: 'I am thrilled to be able to secure what is probably the most original, low-owner RS1800 with such super provenance. 'It has been purchased to enjoy as part of a private collection of some of the most important historic Ford race and road vehicles. 'ONO 804P will be hugely cherished. 'I cannot thank Stewart Banks and the whole Historics team enough as well as the previous owner.'
The Sun
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Impeccably restored Ford Escort kept in same family for 50 years finally sells for staggering 6-figure sum
AN impeccably preserved Ford Escort which was in the same family for nearly 50 years has been sold for a staggering sum. The 1976 Ford Escort Mk II RS 1800 was kept off the road in a barn for most of its life. 4 4 4 The amazing vehicle was purchased in 1977 for an unknown amount but the owner only drove it for ten years. The motor then underwent a restoration and was hidden in a barn for over 35 years. After the owner's recent passing, his widowed wife has put the Ford up for sale at auctioneers Historics, of Iver, Bucks. The exceptionally rare vehicle sparked a bidding war and went under the hammer for a whopping £276,000. His 'pride and joy' was originally registered to the Ford Motor Company and one of just five cars used by Ford as a Press car. There were only 109 examples manufactured all together of the model which enjoyed huge rallying success in the late 70s and early 80s. Its rallying abilities were enhanced by the 1.8-liter Cosworth BDA (Belt Drive A-Type) engine which generated over 240bhp. The lightweight and nimble chassis and suspension of the Mk. II were carried over from its predecessor. Its responsive handling and balance, especially on loose gravel surfaces, made it a driver favourite thanks to its rear-wheel-drive setup. The white car with the small strip of bright and dark blue paint above the wheels has only travelled a total of 24,186 miles, or 500 miles annually on average. Iconic 1965 Ford Racer that starred in Top Gear is so rare only two in the world exist - but could be yours at auction The sought-after Ford has undergone a second revamp before the auction but has to be treated gently due to its low mileage. A Historics spokesperson said: "Beyond its rallying success, the Escort RS1800 Mk II remains a cherished car among enthusiasts and collectors. "Its combination of performance, history, and timeless design continues to captivate fans. "Restored and modified examples are frequently seen in classic car rallies and events, a testament to its enduring legacy. "The car sat in a barn for 35 years with the rebuilt engine sat on a pallet next to the RS1800. "Time had taken its toll and another restoration project was undertaken, with the plan to present the car in the best possible condition. "The registered keeper sadly passed away and the car is now registered in the name of his widow. "It runs beautifully although needs to be treated gently as it has only done less than 50 miles since the rebuild." 4
