RS200s with a twist

[Speedman]

We're all familiar with the rally spec RS200, Fords bonkers GrpB car...










;D

[Speedman]

Ford tweaked it to go up the infamous Pikes Peak as well.

[Brian Damaged]

That last shot's of the old Reliant factory in Amington, Tamworth, where the RS200 was built. I can remember driving past there in '85/'86 and seeing them lined up outside, too.

[Speedman]

I never realised that Ford also built a version to GTO spec for the IMSA series

[Brian Damaged]

Rallycross, too. Just watch Martin Schanche go off the line!!!!!

Brands 1986



Lydden Hill 1987. Just wait until the last two corners of the last lap.....

[Speedman]

I've got a couple of old Car Wars videos, loads of old footage of rallycross shunts with RS200s ;D

[WillCarter]

What engines are those Mk3 Escorts running? Murray Walker says they're pushing out 550bhp!

[Brian Damaged]

Apr 10, 2010 10:36:56 GMT WillCarter said:

What engines are those Mk3 Escorts running? Murray Walker says they're pushing out 550bhp!

Ford/Cosworth BDT's if I remember rightly, the same basic engine as was fitted to the RS200. I think in the rallycross cars they were BDT-E engines developed by Hart which were 2.1 litre instead of the 250/450bhp 1800cc fitted to the roadgoing/rally versions. Certainly at one point they were claiming over 800bhp for the Hart-built BDT-E.

I saw a reputed Hart-engined Sierra Cosworth compete on the Mewla Rally on Epynt once in 1987. It was insanely fast, but rolled into a ball of scrap over Deer's Leap....unfortunately they wouldn't let us near the remains to be able to confirm the rumours. If anyone else has got a copy of Martin Leonard's fantastic book documenting the history of rallying on Epynt, there's actually a tiny photograph of it....with a 22 year-old me lurking in the background!

[WillCarter]

That's insane, wonder how many still survive.

[Brian Damaged]

Apr 10, 2010 10:55:14 GMT WillCarter said:

That's insane, wonder how many still survive.

rs200.com/ Full records of every RS200 made, including current whereabouts.....

[BenzBoy]

An RS200 is in my "dream garage". I never realised there were so many variants though! I also didn't know Reliant built them. Every day's a school day on RR!

[WillCarter]

Apr 10, 2010 11:05:54 GMT Brian Damaged said:

Apr 10, 2010 10:55:14 GMT WillCarter said:

That's insane, wonder how many still survive.

rs200.com/ Full records of every RS200 made, including current whereabouts.....

I was talking about the Escorts... which I now see as something of a thread hi-jack... I'll get my coat.

[ExJarkle]

Such a shame it never got to realise its full potential on the world stage. They had the biggest range of suspension settings and huge amounts of adjustability. A car built for Acropolis rally glory if ever there was one.

[93fxdl]

dorset police had one for a while in full police spec but the tale was they didnt contine with the program as it would have to spend 3 days in the workshop for every 2 on the road and supposedly it ended up being crashed
ttfn glenn

[Speedman]

[Camp Davy]

my fave rs200 piccy massive want

[Seth]

Pikes Peak one looks like a bit of a monster

[Camp Davy]

found this on my photobucket account

[will]

Any one will do thanks

[bortaf]

Apr 10, 2010 21:32:58 GMT Camp Davy said:

I have been told it was a set up press picture taken on the (then unopend) A130 ??