The Rallye Sport model , which was designed to keep Ford ahead of a chasing pack on the rally and motor circuits of Europe, is one of the first projects to emerge from The Smallest Cog. In its day, the RS was as hot as everyman cars got. The cc, single overhead cam Pinto engine, mounted longitudinally in the engine bay with the gearbox bolted to the back of it, developed bhp and powered the fast Ford to 60mph in 8.
It was rarely seen driving at anything other than right angles to the direction of travel, and its front MacPherson strut and rear leaf-spring suspension is famed for the amount of travel it afforded rally-prepared models — perhaps most notably the David Sutton-prepared, Rothmans-sponsored, Escort RS that Ari Vatanen and David Richards drove to the World Rally Championship.
It has a recorded 81, miles showing on its odometer, and the recommissioning work includes a new interior fitted by Aldridge Trimmers as well as new front suspension and front and rear brakes.
Hammond has previously told Hagerty that learning skills from his colleagues at The Smallest Cog, as well as giving something back to the hobby that has been so good to him, is hugely appealing as he contemplates entering the next chapter in life — life after The Grand Tour. The RS was originally supplied to the UK, but then spent some time in the Isle of Man before forming part of a collection in the Republic of Ireland.
Certificate of permanent export from the IoM dated November , copy duplicate IoM registration certificates, invoices for work carried out and a selection of period road test re-prints, period sales media, brochures and articles, are all included in the sale. Although collectors still prefer the design and pedigree of the Mk I and values are consequently higher, the Mk II is gaining in popularity, especially with other cars from the era really starting to become highly collectable.
