Makes › Ford › Escort › Escort RS1800 (Mk2) · Factory competition · 1975–1977 Extremely Rare
Ford
Escort RS1800 (Mk2)
BDA-engined Mk2 Escort built to homologate the works rally car; c.20 were RS1800 Custom
Still being researched: identification guide, full specifications. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.
Photo: Sicnag · CC BY 2.0
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- 109 Built
- Years
- 1975–1977
- Engine
- Cosworth BDA · 1,834 cc / 1.8 LFactory: 1,834 cc
- Power
- 85.8 kW / 117 PSFactory: 115 hp · converted
- Top speed
- 180 km/hFactory: 112 mph · converted
- Body
- Not yet verified
- Designer
- Not yet verified
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- Not yet verified
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
The Mk2 RS1800 was the road-going homologation special behind Ford's works Mk2 Escort rally cars, which won the 1979 WRC manufacturers' title and gave Ari Vatanen the 1981 drivers' crown. The road car was a bare-boned version built in the minimum number needed for FIA approval, and the popular RS2000 shortened its production life.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
Photos
Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.
Ford Escort RS1800 (Mk2) (Wikimedia Commons: Ford Escort RS1800)
Photo: Sicnag · CC BY 2.0
Ford Escort RS1800 (Mk2) (Wikimedia Commons: Ford Escort RS1800)
Photo: MrWalkr · CC BY-SA 4.0
Ford Escort RS1800 (Mk2) (Wikimedia Commons: Ford Escort RS1800)
Photo: Florian Volk from Deutschland · CC BY 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
| What is counted | Figure | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total model productionroad cars built (approximately; Ford never disclosed) | 1091,2 | Factory production | Independently researched |
Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.
History
The RS1800 was created together with the Mk2 Escort range, because Ford's motorsport side wanted a faster car for competition. It was a logical development of the Mk1 RS1600, with a Cosworth BDA engine enlarged to 1835 cc from the RS1600's 1601 cc; the Mk2 rules allowed capacity increases of up to 15 percent, from which competition versions could be stretched to just under 2.0 litres.
The road car's single-carburettor, detuned engine gave away its competition links only through belt-driven camshaft pulleys. The RS1800 was joined in 1976 by the RS2000, which sold far better, and it was never sold in Australia. One source believes only 109 road cars were produced.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard Escort RS1800 (Mk2).
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Cosworth BDA1 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | Not yet verified |
| Displacement | 1,834 cc / 1.8 LFactory: 1,834 cc3 Registry reported |
| Bore | Not yet verified |
| Stroke | Not yet verified |
| Compression ratio | Not yet verified |
| Fuel system | Single carburettor (detuned)1 Independently researched |
| Power | 85.8 kW / 117 PSFactory: 115 hp · converted3 Registry reportedSource states bhp. |
| Power at | Not yet verified |
| Torque | Not yet verified |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Gears | Not yet verified |
| Driven wheels | Not yet verified |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Not yet verified |
| Rear suspension | Not yet verified |
| Brakes | Not yet verified |
| Steering | Not yet verified |
| Body construction | Not yet verified |
| Wheelbase | Not yet verified |
| Length | Not yet verified |
| Width | Not yet verified |
| Height | Not yet verified |
| Front track | Not yet verified |
| Rear track | Not yet verified |
| Kerb weight | Not yet verified |
| Dry weight | 915 kgFactory: 915 kg4 Independently researched |
Performance
| Maximum speed | 180 km/hFactory: 112 mph · converted3 Registry reported |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| 0–60 mph | 8.3 s3 Registry reported |
| Fuel tank | Not yet verified |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
Ford Escort Mark 2 - a Rallye Sport world champion Level B Shannons Club
- It's believed only 109 of these cars were produced
- Ford-Cosworth BDA engine
- detuned single-carb 1835cc Cosworth BDA engine
-
2
Ford RS Owners Club – Escort Mk2 RS1800 Level B
- 109 road cars built (approximately; Ford never disclosed)
-
3
Ford RS Owners Club, RS models overview Level B The Ford RS Owners Club
- Escort Mk2 RS1800 Engine cc: 1834 (RS models overview)
- Escort Mk2 RS1800 Engine bhp: 115 (RS models overview)
- Escort Mk2 RS1800 Top Speed: 112mph (RS models overview)
- Escort Mk2 RS1800 0-60mph: 8.3s (RS models overview)
-
4
Ford Escort RS2000 PH Heroes Level B PistonHeads
- The dry weights are 941kg for the RS2000 versus 915kg for the RS1800
Keep exploring
More from Ford
-
Ford · 1934
Edsel Ford 1934 Model 40 Special Speedster
1 Built
-
Ford · 1896
Quadricycle
1 Built
-
Ford · 1969
Mustang Boss 302 Trans-Am (Shelby team, 1969)
3 Built
-
Ford
Mustang GTP (1983-1985)
3 Built
More from United States
-
Stutz
Duplex (Coggiola one-off)
Production not yet verified
-
Plymouth
Fury "Christine" (Christine 1983 film cars)
Production not yet verified
-
GMC · 1991
Syclone
2,995 Built
-
Dodge
Monaco "Bluesmobile" (The Blues Brothers 1980 film cars)
Production not yet verified
140 other makes from United StatesAC PropulsionAcuraAllstateAMCAmerican LaFranceAmerican MotorsAmerican UnderslungApteraArmstrongArnoltAuburnBaldwin-MotionBantamBarris KustomsBendixBerger ChevroletBill ThomasBollingerBremerBuckeyeBuffumBuickCadillacCallawayCastleCheckerChevroletChristieChryslerClenetCodaColumbiaConsulierCordCunninghamCzingerDana ChevroletDean JeffriesDeSotoDetroit ElectricAll makes →