A rusty old two door Ford Escort is estimated to sell for up to £30,000 in an auction of classic cars on Wednesday, July, 14.

While the Ford Escort provided the nation with affordable and reliable transportation, the car discovered by Charterhouse Auctioneers buried in a Dorset garage is a very rare RS2000 model. The first Ford Escort Mk I rolled off the production line in 1968. Over the next 32 years more than four million Escorts were made. And the Escort Mk I RS200 is the holy grail to lovers of the Ford blue oval badge.

The RS2000 was produced by Ford at their Advanced Vehicle Operations (AVO) facility at Aveley, Essex. Back in the early 1970s, the RS2000 offered everything you could want in a sports saloon with great handling, performance, practicality, easy maintenance and affordability.

On sale between 1973 and 1975, this model was popular and it is estimated of the 5,334 RS2000s built only 3,759 were for the UK market. It remained much in demand, even after production ceased, until the MKII versions arrived in the summer of 1975.

The RS2000 being sold by Charterhouse is an extremely very rare survivor. First registered in 1975 the car was finished in diamond white, rolling off the production line with a cigarette lighter, reversing lights, and a heated rear window. Over the past 46 years this RS2000 has had only seven owners. The current owner bought the car from a retired gentleman in Bournemouth over three years ago who in turn bought it from his brother. It is thought the car was last on the road nearly 25
years ago, having been stored in garages since then.

With so many RS2000 MkIs having been raced and rallied and others succumbing to rust and being scrapped when they were of little value or interest, this is quite probably one of the last genuine Ford Escort MKI RS2000’s in original condition to be offered for sale.
Needing full restoration, it is nevertheless estimated at £20,000-30,000 when it goes under the Charterhouse hammer in their classic car auction being held at The Haynes International Motor Museum at Sparkford, Somerset on Wednesday, July 14.

Charterhouse are now accepting further entries for this specialist auction of classic and vintage cars. Richard Bromell and the team at Charterhouse can be contacted for entries at The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne 01935 812277 or at charterhouse-auction.com.

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