Ford
RS200 S

Why it matters

The Evolution was the uprated version of the Group B RS200, with a new 2.1-litre BDT-E engine. It came too late for its intended rally season: the FIA banned further Evolutions in 1986 and Group B for 1987, so only a few cars were converted.

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 RS200 S (Wikipedia article: Ford RS200)
  Photo: MrWalkr · CC BY-SA 4.0
• Ford RS200 S (Wikipedia article: Ford RS200)
  Photo: Wapster · CC BY 2.0

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

Group B rules let a maker introduce an Evolution if 20 more cars were built after the 200 base cars. Ford commissioned Brian Hart to build a heavily revised engine, the BDT-E, which was shown in London on 8 July 1986 and homologated for rallycross and Group C2 on 1 December 1986. The base RS200 engine was a Cosworth BDT.

In total 24 of the existing 152 RS200s were converted to Evolution trim, against the 20 needed for homologation.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

The Evolution has the BDT-E engine of 2137 cc with four valves per cylinder, an aluminium block and head, dry sump and Bosch Motronic 1.2 management, plus a larger Garrett TR3 turbo and a big intercooler across the car above the rear window. It weighs about 10 kg more than a comparable base car. Evolutions were conversions of existing RS200s, so they share the monocoque and chassis numbers of the 200 base cars.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   1986 Ford RS200 S | RM Sotheby's London 2016 Level B

   • 20 "S" variants produced

   Accessed 2026-11-11
2. 2
   Ford RS200 Evolution Guide Level A Supercar Nostalgia

   • In total, 24 of the existing 152 RS200s were converted to Evolution trim
   • commissioned from Brian Hart
   • BDT-E ... four valves per cylinder, dual overhead camshafts
   • capacity could be enlarged to 2137cc
   • Cylinder bore was increased from 86mm to 90mm
   • stroke lengthened from 77mm to 84mm
   • 1.5 bar and a 7.2:1 compression ratio
   • four valves per cylinder, dual overhead camshafts
   • Bosch Motronic 1.2 engine management
   • A bigger Garrett TR3 turbocharger
   • peak output was a quoted 506bhp at 7500 rpm
   • 506bhp at 7500 rpm
   • 401lb-ft at 5500 rpm
   • front-mounted Hewland five-speed gearbox, FF Developments all-wheel drive
   • Hewland five-speed gearbox
   • all-wheel drive system with three viscous coupling limited-slip differentials
   • bonded and riveted Ciba-Geigy aluminium honeycomb sandwich with steel outer skins
   • double wishbones with twin coil sprung height adjustable dampers
   • 285mm ventilated discs with four-piston aluminium alloy calipers all round
   • unassisted rack and pinion steering arrangement was a modified Sierra item
   • a 2530mm wheelbase
   • circa 1190kg in road trim
   • run to 170mph
   • one with a 73.6-litre capacity, the other with a 41.8-litre capacity

   Accessed 2026-11-12
3. 3
   Designed For Group B - The Ford RS200 Level B Silodrome

   • 2137 cc displacement

   Accessed 2026-11-12