Fantastic Ford Escort RS 1600 mk1 March 1973 Full Gr.2.
Vehicle intended to be used by Roger Clark who broke his foot that year and did not line up, having been acquired from the Ford competition department in Avley by Manuel Amaral "Larama". It is one of the 200 competition customer version and is strictly as it was at the time, having been the subject of a deep restoration using period and legitimate parts of this model. It was factory converted to LHD at the request of its buyer.
Specifically, when this car "arrived" in Portugal, it soon made the Tap 73 rally, still with English registration (OGF 916L) where it won the 1600 class and went to Angola and registered with registration AAG-22-83 with Safari look where it participated in several rallies, namely in the Cota Cota rally, in the neographic rally, in the Bca among others, and where he won numerous rallies in general.
However, with independence in Angola (11/11/1975) the car came to Portugal specifically in 1976 to the island of the Azores and was legalized again, now taking the registration number IU-76-71. In this new record, he won 2 laps to the Azores in the hands of Larama/Horácio Franco, thus giving the Ford Lusitana two victories in 1977 and in 1978 he won all the championship rallies. In mid-1978, he still raced in the TECNIAÇORES Rally, with the Horácio Franco / João Luís Oliveira team and was 2nd overall. In 1981 the Escort passed into the hands of another Azorean pilot Mario Riley/ Luis Gomes from the Apolo 20 team where he participated in several rallies on the island.
From that year it was kept until 1998 when it was acquired by an investor and restored from A to Z with all the legitimate material and Works of the time. The vehicle is currently as new as 1973 specifications.
It was discovered by this one in 1997 through a friend, without mechanics and very degraded. An original mechanic was purchased in England with all new material from block, crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons, valves, camshaft, exhaust, dry sump and inlet. It has 1840cc and develops 232 horses.
The gearbox is a Rocket 4 straight cog as it ran at the time and the differential is a Salisbury with LSD, Quaife semi axles and Gr.2 turnbuckles! Bilstein forks with front and rear coilovers! The interiors are completely original with factory backets with corresponding headrest, Britax belts and Springalex steering wheel.
The quadrant is in miles as in the factory and the rev counter is a Smiths! The rims are original Minilite 8 inches at the rear and 7 inches at the front.
Specifications
BDA Engine 1842CC
new AX block
Fardon steel crankshaft EN40B
Flywheel Motor 3.1kg ultra light aluminum
AP Racing double-disc clutch
ARP head and block screws
Connecting rods in H long 5.26
Acraligt 86.5 forged pistons
Cometic multichime gasket
Head BDA Big valve all new head components
X16 Inlet Camshaft, BLF 14(9000rpm) L1 Escape (8000rpm) Variable Pitch Poles
5-port oil pump dry sump
Webers 45 carburetors
Ashley exhaust line complete
Bosch electronic ignition
Rocket gearbox with quick shift and right sprocket kit
Quaife self-blocking
The entire car has been restored both interior, bodywork and paintwork.
More photos available and proof of their provenance.
