Corgi VA14906 Ford Escort Mk2 RS2000 Custom, Black

The Mk2 Escort RS2000 built on the success of the Mk1 and followed the same basic recipe, a powerful 2-litre OHC engine in the small lightweight Escort body with RS suspension. The unique nose cone differentiated it visually from all other Escorts and reduced its drag factor from 0.444 to 0.386, while design details, such as the standard Scheel ‘roll-top’ seats and four-spoke RS alloy wheels, helped to make it the most desirable sports saloon of its era.

The example modelled was initially purchased from H & J Quicks Ltd, Old Trafford, Manchester by local man Lawrence Ewbank on January 17th, 1978. It cost £3,791.89, including VAT, plus £28.10 for a radio. Mr Ewbank was obviously fond of the car because, in 1991, he spent over £10,000 having it extensively restored by RS Autos, Stockport, and kept it until 2002, by which time it had covered 72,683 miles. The third owner asked D&D Autos, Egham, Surrey, to do some work on the car and this culminated in D&D advertising it for sale in autumn 2014.

It was purchased by the fourth and current owner, Nottinghamshire-based fast-Ford enthusiast Mohammad Butt, who was impressed by the basic soundness of the car despite its lack of service records. Two years later, after doing some painstaking research, he was delighted to obtain the car’s detailed service history folder from the third owner’s family and has now commenced the car’s restoration.