1978 Ford Escort RS2000 'X-Pack'

The subject of a nut and bolt professional restoration that cost the seller an estimated £70,000, ‘RBK 565S’ is finished in the classic colour of Diamond White and fitted with a set of Minilite-style alloy wheels and matching Toyo tyres to fill those gorgeous X-Pack-style flared wheelarches. 

The seller explains his love affair with the car:

“On a warm spring weekend morning back in 1979, I was doing my homework as a nine-year-old. An unusual sound attracted me to my window – outside was a brand new yellow RS2000 that my neighbour’s dad had just bought.

“I was instantly in love with the retro shape and the sound of it, although I didn’t like the colour. I went to have a peep inside and was again mesmerized by the cool Recaro sports seats. I knew instantly that I needed to have to have one, and this carried on throughout my teens and adolescence.

“I took a pop and milk round at 13 just to get some money to buy a few toy versions of it. But all through my life, for one reason or another, I couldn’t afford an RS2000, especially as values had risen so much – and indeed have kept on rising. That was until I could finally afford to buy this one. 

“It wasn’t in my preferred colour – it was yellow – but the car, although it needed some work to take it to my required standards, was solid. My friend owned Blackwood Automotive, who at the time were doing huge amounts of car repair work for large insurance companies. Due to their standard of work I decided to give them the job of restoring the Escort to my high standards. 

“At last, I could finally get an Escort finished to RS2000 specification exactly how I wanted it.

“Today, going full circle, I now have a young son and we all know the cost of keeping them safe and fed. And with the rise in the cost of living, I’ve reluctantly decided to move on, as being a family man, they come first."

Diamond White was THE colour for Fords back in the day and this one shows you why. Wonderfully simple and beautifully finished, the plain white colour chosen by the seller to refinish his dream car in has allowed those iconic lines to shine. 

Now finished to a very high standard, this Ford Escort, finished to X-Pack specification as part of its recent restoration, wants for little in terms of its external appearance.

The 15-inch Minilite-style alloy wheels, which are in an excellent condition and fitted with matching Toyo Proxes tyres, are, along with the LED lights in the front spoiler, the only deviations from standard X-Pack spec we spotted. The car also comes with its full set of original wheels, with brand new tyres - never used - and brand new anodised wheel nuts.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Pressed metal numberplates add a lovely retro touch and the badges, glass, and lamp lenses are all good.

However, if we’re being picky – and we do try to be as we know that many of you rely on the photos and descriptions in lieu of a visit in person – the boot lid could fit a little better, the rear fog lamp is wonky, and the clamp on the exhaust tailpipe is perhaps more functional than it needs to be. It is also worth mentioning the battery requires disconnecting after use as the 2 lower LED lights stay illuminated otherwise. 

The interior is largely standard and finding the correct Recaro fishnet seats in this condition was a long-winded and expensive game. They’re period correct and in a fine condition though, so whatever they cost was probably worth it.

The rear seats are just as impressive, and the headlining, carpets, door cards and dashboard are also good.

The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed the presence of a five-speed gearknob – and this isn’t a mistake because the car is fitted with a Sierra Type 9 unit. Not standard, of course, but it does make the Escort much more usable and a far better high-speed touring car than the factory four-speed gearbox.

You might also have noticed a little black box in front of the gearstick with Engine Guard written on it. This piece of electronic cleverness sounds an audible warning should the engine start to overheat, giving you plenty of warning and allowing you to stop the car before damage occurs. The instruction booklet for this is in the glovebox.

A modern Pioneer headunit is fitted.

The boot, which is as well presented as everywhere else, contains a Facet electric fuel pump. Fitted amidst a sea of shiny white paint, it is joined by a four-spoke RS2000 alloy wheel. Almost a space-saver when compared with the huge wheels on the car, it is nonetheless full size.

We note the speedometer isn't working and the face is marked. Because of this we assume the odometer is also inactive, so the true mileage is unknown. 

As we mentioned earlier, the RS2000 has had a ‘nut-and-bolt’ restoration at a cost of around £70,000 – and that figure doesn’t include what he paid for the car in the first place. 

The receipts on file corroborate this. As the owner himself puts it:

“The restoration has been done to the highest standard. Ninety-nine percent of this RS2000 is standard although I have upgraded a few minor details to my personal specification, which I think have improved it.

“We took the already brilliant 2.0-litre Pinto engine, crated it up and sent it to Rawsport Motorsport and had them carry out the following:

• A 205 block was chosen along with oversize Mahle pistons, a Newman performance camshaft and Vernier pulley, competition bearings and head gasket, ARP fixings, standard valves, and a lightened flywheel. The engine was then fully balanced and reassembled with all new gaskets and seals 
• Bigger side draught Weber carburettors were used
• A Ford Sierra Type 9 five-speed reconditioned gearbox was fitted
• A stainless-steel exhaust was fitted

The seller goes on to say: “The sound of this car – especially after 60 mph – is like thunder, and I don’t believe there is an Escort ‘RS2000’ in the country like this with this combination of the Rawsport engine, the X-Pack, the colour and the low mileage.”

The Escort also had a cambelt change and a full service in April last year.

As you can see, it starts well and while the idle is a little lumpy it revs and drives as it should.

The overall fit ‘n’ finish of the engine bay is excellent with some gorgeous details like the alloy radiator and a Filter King fuel regulator with built in pressure gauge.

The car’s underside is good but let down slightly by some surface corrosion on the steel suspension parts. You could pretty them up fairly easily or leave it all as it is; neither would be the wrong decision.

First registered in February 1978, the Escort comes with a thick wad of invoices from Blackwood Automotive Repairs Ltd for the restoration in 2018-19 in addition to some older invoices.

The Escort doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies… 

With a presence spanning over half a century, Ford’s RS brand continues to go from strength to strength - and buying a car like this would be a great way to explore the blue oval’s motorsport heritage.

The trouble is, mere mortals can’t afford them anymore.

Which is where this one comes in. We can’t prove it’s a ‘real’ RS2000 – and if we could we’d be translating the advert into Russian because only an oligarch could afford it.

It was auctioned with us last year and didn’t meet its reserve, largely because we couldn’t prove its provenance. Nor can we now. 

And that’s a shame because it could be a genuine RS2000, which is what the seller believed it was when he bought it – or it could just be a very, very good restoration of a MKII Escort to RS2000 X-Pack specification.

Our estimate for this car Is somewhere between £45,000 and £55,000 and regardless of the validity of the RS2000 badging, it’s still a helluva car.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.