Ford Escort Mk1 RS1600
The Ford Escort Mk1 RS1600 is one of the most important competition cars in European motorsport history. Equipped with the legendary Cosworth BDA (Belt Driven type A) twin-cam engine, the RS1600 was purpose-built as a homologation special for rallying and circuit racing, and its competition record validates that mission spectacularly.
The Cosworth BDA engine, displacing 1,601cc, was a masterpiece of racing engineering adapted for road use. Based on the Ford Kent block, the BDA featured a Cosworth-designed 16-valve twin-cam cylinder head with belt-driven camshafts -- a revolutionary technology at the time. In standard road trim, it produced approximately 120 horsepower, but the engine's true potential was revealed in competition tune where outputs exceeding 240 horsepower were achieved.
The BDA's design philosophy emphasized breadth of powerband over outright peak power, making it perfectly suited to the unpredictable conditions of rally stages. The engine responded beautifully to modification, and its reliability under competition stress was exceptional for a high-performance four-cylinder of the era.
The Escort Mk1 body was a compact two-door sedan that proved to be an ideal competition platform. Its light weight -- approximately 850 kg in road trim and even less in rally specification -- combined with the rear-wheel drive layout to create a car that was agile, responsive, and amenable to the opposite-lock driving style that characterized 1970s rallying.
Ford's Advanced Vehicle Operations (AVO) department at Aveley in Essex was responsible for building the RS1600. The standard Escort shell received numerous modifications including strengthened suspension mounting points, wider wheel arches (on some versions), improved cooling, and upgraded braking. The interior was stripped to a functional minimum, with lightweight bucket seats and a comprehensive instrument panel.
The suspension used MacPherson struts at the front and a live rear axle with leaf springs -- conventional for the era but proven in competition. In rally trim, the suspension would be significantly modified with longer-travel dampers, stiffer springs, and strengthened mounting points to cope with the brutal impacts of special stages.
The RS1600's competition record is extraordinary. In the hands of drivers like Roger Clark, Timo Makinen, and Hannu Mikkola, Ford Escort RS1600s won rallies across every surface and climate, from the forests of Finland to the mountains of Greece. Mikkola's victory on the 1970 London-Mexico World Cup Rally brought the Escort global fame.
Production numbers were modest -- approximately 1,120 RS1600s were built between 1970 and 1974 -- and the car's competition heritage means many were extensively modified or damaged. Genuine, road-specification RS1600s in original condition are extremely rare and highly sought after by collectors.
The RS1600 established a template for Ford's rally program that would continue through the Escort RS1800, Sierra Cosworth, and Focus WRC, making it the foundation stone of one of the most successful competition programs in motorsport history.
Authentication is critical -- verify AVO build records and chassis number provenance. Many Escort Mk1s have been converted to RS1600 specification. Check for the correct Cosworth BDA engine with matching numbers. Rust inspection is essential: check inner wings, sills, floor pans, and rear spring hangers. Competition history can add or subtract value depending on condition.
Built by Ford's Advanced Vehicle Operations (AVO) at Aveley, Essex, England. Each RS1600 was hand-assembled with the Cosworth BDA engine installed after the standard Escort shell was prepared.