1980 Ford Escort RS2000 Custom |

Closed Auction- Unsold

1980 Ford Escort RS2000 Custom

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Mileage~66,091 on clock
TransmissionManual
Engine2.0-litre
LocationNr Bradford

AUCTION CLOSED

1980 Ford Escort RS2000 Custom

Introduction

Isaac Wass

Professional Consigner

The RS2000 - where classic style meets thrilling performance, earning the coveted 'RS' badge.

The squarer style, second generation MK2 Escort first appeared in January 1975, developed jointly between the UK and Ford of Germany, proving hugely popular with British buyers. Running the same mechanical configuration and core structure as the MK1 Escort but with a revised underbody and additional performance, the long awaited RS2000 was launched at the 1975 Earls Court show and for the time, was one of the most luxurious of the sporting Escorts and a real success in the performance car market.

Several distinctive models were produced over the RS models original run, with the RS2000 being the pinnacle of the MKII range. Fitted with the 2L Pinto engine mated to a German-built transmission, the RS2000 was always recognised as a specialist machine that never lost its lustre. On the back of the formidable reputation that these cars hold, the values of the RS Escort models have maintained some serious momentum in recent years.

Its clear from looking over the Ford during our visit that the current owner, Mark, has put a great deal of effort into the RS2000 which shows in its overall appearance. The ignition system has been upgraded as well as an engine strip, clean and rebuild. The wheels have been refurbished with a CNC diamond cut and new tyres installed.

This Ford Escort RS2000 Custom comes to the market after spending ~6 months with the current owner. Mark has continued the restoration work from the previous owner over his ownership, the car is now ideal for anyone wanting to experience a lovely '80s classic with RS performance power and a high quality finish.

This listing was written from information supplied by Isaac after meeting Mark the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

A great project which I've put a lot of time and energy into - restoring cars is my passion and the RS2000 has been a car I've really enjoyed working on.

Mark has spent the majority of his life and his career building, painting, repairing and restoring cars.

Having worked on building and producing many cars over the years, Mark has probably built more cars than some of us will ever own, but this expertise has come in handy when turning his attention to his own collection of cars - all of which have been reconditioned in-house by himself.

With a new project on the horizon, Mark adds, "It's time for a new owner to enjoy the car just as much as I have. I'll be sad to see it go, but I want it to find a home where it'll be loved and cared for".

Mark will be available to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.

Mark

Vehicle Owner

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Exterior
Interior
Mechanics
History
All Images

EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

With its bold lines, distinctive front grille, and iconic "RS" badging, this car commands attention at every turn.

Wheels and Tyres

The 13” RS four-spoke RS wheels are in great condition. The wheels have been refurbished with a CNC diamond cut and new tyres installed. There are some small marks to the surface, but nothing excessive and no apparent signs of damage.

Fitted with Yokohama A539 tyres, both sets showed a tyre spec of 185/60 - they appear to have a great amount of tread left and date coded from 2021.

For a more detailed view of the RS2000's exterior and a closer inspection of the wheels and tyres, please refer to the photos and videos.

Bodywork

Looking over the RS2000 on our visit, the car maintains good panel gaps and both doors, bonnet and the boot open and close smoothly. We didn't note any major scratches or dings to the panelling.

We've highlighted our observations in more detail through our hi-resolution images and videos, so please take the time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer and to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The smart Venetian red paint coat is visually even in finish across all the panels, overall showing in good condition and compliments the Escort perfectly. There were no signs of any major concerns with the coverage and the colour showed nicely in the sunlight.

There was a slight sign of paint wear to the drivers side window edge and we noted on the driver's side rear wheel arch, there was a section of paint that hasn't been blended perfectly. Overall, we weren't too concerned on these areas and just being picky.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The glass on the Ford looked in good condition, in line with the age; we didn't notice any cracks or discolouration on our visit.

The window seals look in respectable condition too, although there were a few signs of wear to the window trim edges. Mark does have new window seals in the boot of the car.

The front and rear lights looked well-maintained and well presented. The trim and seals are all in place with Ford and relevant Escort badging as well as the black plastic trim all looking great.

The RS2000 decals showed well on the rear quarter panels.

Take a look through the exterior gallery and review video. We take you across all areas of the car as if you were standing there yourself. This way, you can see in greater detail how the car is presented.

VIEW ALL

INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Period brown fishnet seats are perfect for the RS2000, together with the iconic headrests and 3-spoke steering wheel.

Seats and Carpets

The interior is original and unmolested - the same as when the current owner bought the car; it was already in a good condition.

The Escort is kitted out with brown chocolate fabric and vinyl interior, overall the seats look great given its ~44 years on the road. We didn't note any concerns with rips or tears to the front or rear seats.

Fishnet headrests are fitted in the front of the Escort and are in great condition too.

The main carpet of the interior showed in a great condition, and looking underneath the mats showed the car had no concerns especially in the rear section. Over in the boot the carpet areas looked in a good condition.

We cover the cabin area of the Ford in further detail in our interior review video.

Dashboard

Classic '80s styling looks great across the dash area of the Ford. A simple, straightforward setup on this section shows well for the age of the car and we noticed no scuffs or marks here.

The dashboard presented well with no visible cracking or warping when we visited the RS2000 and showed ~66,091 on the clock when starting the car up with all the numbers appearing clear and legible.

The dials, switches, and controls all appeared to be in good condition, with surfaces appearing free from fogging or scratching.

Our interior gallery section offers a closer look at the Escort's dashboard.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The 3-spoke Ford branded steering wheel and gear selector are presented in good condition.

The central badge shows with a little wear although not overly concerning.

The gear selector displays signs of wear but is generally in good condition, with the imprinted numbers clearly legible.

Additional images of the cabin area, including the steering wheel, are available in our Interior Gallery section - visit to see more details of what the Escort has to offer.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Fully restored with twin Webers; the OHC engine in the RS2000 functions very well, running smoothly.

Engine and Gearbox

Mark, the current owner, told us that he's restored the engine as part of his restoration work - it's clear there's been a great deal of work under the bonnet to get it running as well as it does. The ignition system has been upgraded as well as an engine strip, clean and rebuild. Mark told us he still has the original carbs and airbag and they are in the boot.

Upon starting the car, we noticed no issues with the engine, and it idled smoothly. Mark mentioned that both the engine and gearbox operate very smoothly.

The engine bay appeared clean and well-presented during our visit to the car.

We took the car out on local roads with Mark to get a better feel for its performance. Throughout the drive, we shifted through the gears and saw how the car handles.

For a closer look underneath the RS2000 and an overview of the engine bay, please refer to the mechanical review video.

Suspension and Brakes

We noted no knocks, bangs, or issues from the suspension when we were on the road, and it gave us no concerns in its performance or handling. The brakes felt great and were easily able to bring the RS2000 to a stop.

We cover the underside of the car in our 'Mechanical Gallery' section. Head over to our video section, where we've summarised our visit in more detail for you to view for yourself. We take you around the mechanical elements of the car and give you an overview of what's on offer here.

The Drive

Gear changes were efficient in the car with precise steering and sure-footed road-holding. An extremely fun and engaging drive is offered and overall, a very smooth and rewarding journey out in the Ford.

Overall, the Ford is a really honest car, restored well by an owner who has a lot of experience with restorations in the past.

Our 'On the Road' video gives an overview of the car on some local roads and how it performs whilst driving. However, just to apologise for the shakiness on the camera due to issues with the stabilisation hardware on the day.

Electrics and Other

All switches, dials, and gauges appear undamaged and in good condition. Mark mentioned that he's had no issues with the electrical elements of the car and confirmed everything working correctly.

The car comes with lots of spare bits including all new window seals, although not necessary to be installed, these are one of the areas that Mark feels would be needed to get the Ford 'perfect'.

Over in the boot section, a spare wheel was also present.

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History and Paperwork

With ~9 years of restoration work and over ~£6,000 in documented upgrades, this is one well-sorted car that's ready for a new owner.

The Ford Escort has benefitted from many years of restorative work by a previous owner. The car has had its ignition system upgraded as well as an engine strip, clean and rebuild. The wheels have been refurbished with a CNC diamond cut and new tyres installed.

The rear shelf and c-pillar's trim were replaced in October 2023. Twin Weber 45 DCOE carb kit was fitted in December 2021. Ignition and coil leads and wheel bearing kits were updated in January 2017.

New pistons, seal rings, balance rods and other engine components were upgraded in October 2015. An alloy cam pulley was updated in July 2015. In May 2015, the timing belt, coolant hoses, oil filter, sump drain plug, lowering kit and high pressure oil pump was replaced costing over ~£1,300.

There were several gearbox related works carried out in July 2009, dismantling, cleaning and carry out bearing, synchro ring, gasket and a seal overhaul with all components then reassembled. The clutch kit, prop shaft, exhaust manifold and chassis bushings were upgraded in June 2009.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
15.04.2020	MOT	65,256
07.09.2018	MOT	65,219
15.09.2017	MOT	65,173
10.08.2016	MOT	64,613
18.08.2015	MOT	63,924
22.08.2014	MOT	62,808
29.08.2013	MOT	62,660
16.06.2012	MOT	62,374
29.12.2010	MOT	61,461
29.12.2009	MOT	59,824
03.07.2009	Gearbox Rebuild
10.06.2009	Clutch Kit
13.11.2008	MOT	57,497