An iconic 1979 Ford Escort that won the Isle of Man Manx Rally could fetch up to £170,000 at auction.
The model has been described as ‘like no other Ford Escort we’ve ever seen’ by Silverstone Auctions, who say the car is ‘a very famous and well-documented’ Works’ Escort with an undeniable history that any serious collection of Ford competition cars would appreciate. adorn. .’
The RHD car has 99,983 miles on it and was one of the fastest tarmac specification Escorts ever built at Ford’s motorsport center in Boreham, Essex.
British rally legend Russell Brookes won the 1979 RACMSA British Open Rally Championship in the car.
It is one of three ‘Monte Tarmac Specials’ built by Ford Motorsport in 1979 and the only right-hand drive version.
The model is described as ‘like no other Ford Escort we’ve ever seen’ by Silverstone Auctions
It is also described as having an ‘indisputable history that would adorn any serious collection of Ford competition cars’
The 1979 rally was the last in a series from 1963
The Mopar Manx International Trophy Rally was the fifth round in the International Home Rally Championship and was run on 440 kilometers of closed public roads in and around the TT course.
The 1979 rally was the last in a line from 1963 and featured a top class entry from Ford, Saab, Dealer Team Vauxhall, Talbot Sunbeam and Leyland ST.
The car then moved to Ireland in the hands of what is said to be Ireland’s best rally driver, Billy Coleman, and was later driven by other rally stars such as Bertie Fisher and Vincent Bonner.
In 2003 it arrived at Montgomery Motorsport, where a rebuild and a thorough facelift were deemed necessary while preserving the original shell.
It now wears Billy Coleman’s racing colors.
The vehicle is offered with a target price of £150,000 – £170,000, and will go on sale at the Silverstone Auctions Sale of Iconic, Classic and Supercars at Supercar Fest on May 20 at Sywell Aerodrome, Northamptonshire.
The vehicle is being offered with a target price of £150,000 – £170,000
Inside the car, one of the fastest tarmac specification Escorts ever built at Ford’s motorsport center in Boreham, Essex
A look inside the car that is up for auction and could fetch up to £170,000
The right-hand drive car has 99,983 miles on the clock
The car will go on sale at the Silverstone Auctions Sale of Iconic, Classic and Supercars at Supercar Fest on May 20 at Sywell Aerodrome, Northamptonshire.
The Ford Escort has been around since the late 1960s and has remained popular on the streets of Britain for six generations.
Its early marketing slogan was “the small car that isn’t” because it was well designed to carry the whole family while being compact enough to fit into tight parking spaces.
For some people, however, the Escort is not a family car, but “the most successful rally car of all time,” according to it Lancaster insurance.
Escort rally cars have hardened bodies, sports suspension and more powerful engines, but still maintain a similar look to the regular Escort.
As the Escort evolved, four versions emerged: the De Luxe, the Super, the Super 1300cc and the GT.
Saloon, station wagon and van versions were available in the first year, followed by a four-door sedan in 1969.
The last Escort was reportedly produced in 2002, but small-scale production of the van version continued for a few more years.
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