Ford Escort Cosworth rally car | PH auction block

And although the charm of a Mk1 or Mk2 Escort will remain for a long time, times are changing. Most of us probably still think those old Mexicos and RS2000s are thirty-something year old cars, but production of rear-wheel drive Escorts ended in 1980 – the very latest are now 45. The oldest rear-wheel drive Escorts are well on their way to 60. Sure.

That means what you see here is one of the new generation of classic Ford Escort rally cars. From next year, this 1996 Group N Cossie will be eligible for all kinds of historic rallies. That in itself is intriguing, given the enthusiasm currently surrounding 1990s motorsport; just one look at the FIA ​​European Historic Rally Championship calendar, with visits to Greece and Finland, is almost enough to have the Nomex packed. But this particular Escort is also notable because it comes from that era.

No, it wasn’t a Cosworth match. But it was built by M-Sport in 1995 and subsequently used as a scout car in both the Rally of Argentina and the Rally of Australia. That’s a claim to fame that not many old escorts can boast. It is believed that three such cars were made, all with motorsport casings, Kevlar floors and a racy YB under the hood; Carlos Sainz wrote one down, so there is only one other fast Ford like this. (Some Sainz parts actually found their way into this one, which is said to be driven by none other than Colin McRae.)

It has been in the current owner’s possession for 14 years, so they are extremely well invested in the history and provenance of this Cossie. They used it mainly for shows and hill climbs, with useful updates along the way such as a complete suspension overhaul and a new paint job in the famous Valvoline livery. With the white wheels and spotlights, it will certainly still work as a show car. It even has an authentic rally patina.

Plus, there’s no reason why it couldn’t be used as a super-invigorating road car. There’s an MOT until next summer, an engine with almost 300bhp and a gloriously raw, stripped-down interior – complete with ‘McRae’ and ‘Grist’ on the Sparco seats – that would make every track feel like a special stage. There’s miles on it too, so it’s hardly like you’d spoil a museum exhibit.

But it certainly deserves to compete properly, because it was built to the competition’s specifications and never really fell into wrath. This will require an upgrade in safety kit to modern equipment, and of course you’ll need someone brave enough to drive, but think of the adventures a car like this could provide. And you don’t have to explain to us how cool it can be to participate in a Ford Escort used by the rally team. Bidding starts on the 11th.