2003 Ford Focus RS Mk1

This lovely Ford Focus RS Mk1 - build number 2146 - was first registered and supplied by Dagenham Motors on 13 August 2003 and has spent most of its life and mileage in the north of Essex (rather appropriately). It is a two owner car retained on trade for just under a year having been bought from the second owner who barely used it but kept it well in dry storage for around four to five years.

The vendor was planning on keeping the car for himself and has carried out light recommissioning work to make it roadworthy after being stored. Sadly for him but happily for one of you, he now needs to sell the car to provide funds for a property purchase.

It appears to be a highly original car, with no sign of having any repaint, touch up or modification.

Of course you don’t have to take our word for how good it is - we have the Focus RS with us at our facility near Oxford during the auction so why not press the ‘Contact Seller’ button above to arrange a viewing and see the super condition of the car for yourself.

The original Imperial Blue paintwork looks really great - especially in the sunshine which sadly we haven’t seen enough of lately. There’s the slight Ford “factory-standard” orange peel effect in some areas of the coating if you catch the light right but nothing that anyone should get upset over or think about respraying.

As well as being responsible for nearly all of the 70,000 miles on this Focus RS, the first owner clearly took great care of the car. The second owner and latter keeper have collectively spent more time cleaning and polishing than driving the car - it is in such a lovely condition all the way from the aggressive front lantern-jawed grille and along the sleek flanks to its pert rump.

All credit to the development team for the Focus RS that they didn’t follow too closely the design practices of their 80s and 90s predecessors and go all out on body kit and unsightly bulges. They have managed to tastefully enhance the clean lines of the original Focus making the RS appear more sporty and powerful without being grotesque.

The 18” OZ Racing alloy wheels have clearly been refurbished as they appear perfect and are all shod with matching Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tyres, which although dated 2012 seem to be in good condition and have plenty of tread depth.

There’s very little to be said about the inside of the car other than it is very, very good. The characteristic tricolor scheme of blue, black and grey upholstery, carpets and trim is all original and in a very tidy condition. Amidst all this blue and black, the feature stainless steel gear knob and handbrake really stand out.

The body-hugging Sparco bucket seats trimmed in Midnight Black leather and suede with contrasting Racing Blue stripes look almost like new, as do the two-tone rear seats, door cards and steering wheel. The carpets are in a super condition and are further protected by the costly to replace original RS grey floor mats. Looking up, the headlining is also in a superb clean and tight condition.

The original 6-CD player and radio, all electrics and other functions work correctly, including the air conditioning which has been recently recharged.

Under the bonnet - accessed by the idiosyncratic behind-the-badge two-step keylock - the engine and ancillaries present in a very original condition with no sign that any aftermarket “dressing up” has been done as is often the way with fast Fords. If a new owner is inclined to show the car and is less concerned with originality, this is one area they could enjoy spending their time and money on with very little work to do on the existing mechanicals. The engine bay, bonnet and surrounds appear straight and rust free.

The rear hatch operates and holds up perfectly and the boot space presents very well; the carpets being in excellent order and the floor underneath very clean and rust free. The Focus RS came with a jack (which is present here) but no spare tyre - instead sealant and an air compressor are supplied, housed in a foam insert. Such repair kits aren’t always popular but reading through the many forums for the Focus RS you’ll get plenty of advice on sourcing and carrying a real spare.

Even a cursory glance underneath the car shows that not even these less glamorous surfaces have been overlooked. All seems clean, corrosion free and in great shape with what appears to be the original underseal in good order covering all the floor pans and newly cleaned and waxoyled cross-members and suspension components. The accompanying photo gallery gives a good account of the condition of the car’s undersides but you can always use the ‘Contact Seller’ button above to arrange a visit to The Market HQ near Oxford to view the whole car up close.

Although very few invoices for work done remain with the car, the service booklet shows a mostly Ford main-dealer service history up until the last two services. According to the vendor, the cambelt was changed in 2013 as per the manufacturer’s 10 years or 100,000 miles guidance. Photos supplied by him show the current condition of the belt lending credence to this account.

The online MOT history shows a test certificate valid until January 2021 and documents the mileage increments and the years in storage. It has only had a few failures for minor or easily rectified issues such as rear brakes, rear fog lamp, headlamp alignment and wiper blade.

Some very light recommissioning work was required post-storage, although it had been laid-up very well, including work on the brakes, changing fluids and getting the air conditioning regassed and fully working again. The vendor has also brushed down and waxoyled structural components under the car to remove some light surface rust.

The car comes with two keys, an alarm fob and a full set of handbooks in the original Ford document wallet. Recently replaced with new items, the original “Dagenham Motors” number plates and original RS wheel centre caps have been retained with the car.

We’re looking after this Focus RS during the auction at our facility in south Oxfordshire. Needless to say we’ve taken it for a short but enjoyable test drive and are pleased to report that it is a great driver’s car with a responsive engine, rorty exhaust note, precise gear-change and taut handling.

The back catalogue of fast Fords (XR/RS/ST/Cosworth) such as Escorts and Sierras have seen some meteoric price rises in recent years but the Focus RS Mk1 asking price curve has yet to go ballistic. Examples in very good condition like the one we have here are still holding strongly in the mid-teens and so we expect this RS to sell between £14,000 and £18,000.

According to the website howmanyleft.co.uk, there are around 700 Focus RS Mk1s on the UK’s roads but a further 1000 on SORN either awaiting economical repair or a significant uptick in value.

This car represents a great opportunity to get your hands on a wholly original Focus RS Mk1 and what promises to be a future Fast-Ford superstar.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment 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, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Footman James for classic car insurance Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car and AnyVan for transporting it.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.

Please note that this is sold as seen and that, as is normal for used goods bought at auction, the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. See our FAQs for more info, and feel free to inspect any vehicle as much as you wish.