RESERVE LOWERED – 1978 Ford Escort RS2000 (Mk2) |

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RESERVE LOWERED – 1978 Ford Escort RS2000 (Mk2)

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Mileage~89,436 on clock
TransmissionManual
Engine2.0-litre
LocationLivingston, West Lothian, Scotland

AUCTION CLOSED

RESERVE LOWERED – 1978 Ford Escort RS2000 (Mk2)

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Introduction

The RS2000 has earned its reputation through its rally pedigree as a true classic Fast Ford with a huge amount of investment potential too.

When Ford Motor Company unveiled the Mk2 Ford Escort RS2000 in 1975, it quickly cemented itself as one of Britain’s most recognisable performance cars of the era. Building on the success of the original Mk1, the Mk2 brought sharper styling, improved refinement, and a more mature driving experience, while still retaining the lightweight, rear-wheel-drive character that made the Escort such a favourite among enthusiasts and rally drivers alike.

By 1978, the RS2000 had become the flagship of the Escort range, sitting proudly above the Mexico and Sport models. Powered by the lively 2.0-litre Pinto engine and paired with Ford’s slick four-speed manual gearbox, it offered strong performance for its time, with confident handling and a purposeful stance to match. Distinctive features such as its slanted polyurethane nose cone, bold striping, alloy wheels, and signature “droop snoot” front end made it instantly recognisable on both the road and the special stage.

Equally at home carving through B-roads or tackling forest rally stages, the 1978 Escort RS2000 represented the golden age of accessible performance motoring. It was fast enough to excite, simple enough to maintain, and charismatic enough to leave a lasting impression - qualities that have made it one of the most sought-after fast Fords of its generation. Today, the RS2000 remains an icon of 1970s motoring and a benchmark for the classic sporting saloon.

This particular example comes to market after almost three and a half years with our vendor, it was restored prior to his ownership and comes with its original service booklet, invoices for work carried out, and MOT certificates dating back to 1981.

This listing was written from information supplied by Colin after meeting Kevin 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

Kevin had always loved the RS2000 while growing up in the 1980s, and once he could afford one, he jumped at the opportunity.

In the 1980s, owning an RS2000 would have made you the envy of all your peers, especially for teenage Kevin. Unable to afford one back then, he knew he had to make his teenage dream come true when he saw this one come up for sale.

He loves the simplicity of the back-to-basics mechanics of this 1980s icon, as well as the rasp of the exhaust as you pull through the gears, all while remaining cautious of the rear end letting go when you get a little too brave.

Kevin has enjoyed taking care of the car - he tells us it always starts and drives exactly as intended. While it may not be as fast as the Fast Fords of today, it attracts plenty of recognition and appreciation every time he takes it out.

With his dream of owning an RS2000 fulfilled, Kevin told us it was time to let the next custodian enjoy the car - he has found he does not have enough time, or enough dry days, to enjoy the Escort as intended.

Kevin will be happy to answer any questions in the comments section below.

Kevin

Vehicle Owner

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Exterior
Interior
Mechanics
History
All Images

EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

The iconic Escort coupé shape, RS2000 graphics, and 'Venetian Red' paintwork makes the car stand out amongst today’s traffic.

Wheels and Tyres

The four-spoke RS wheels, finished in silver with black centres, all appear to be in great condition, showing only some slight kerb markings on the front driver’s side wheel.

At the front, a pair of Kelly Charger 2 tyres are fitted in size 185/70R13. Both appear to be in good condition with decent tread, although they are dated 2001. The rear features a mix of Montana M8000 and Courier Champion tyres, also in size 185/70R13. The Montana tyre appears to be in good condition, while the Courier tyre is showing some cracking in the sidewall.

Please take time to review the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior, wheels, and tyres so you can make your own assessment of their condition. Tyres are a key safety item, and you should consider replacing any that are cracked, perished, unevenly worn, or over 10 years old.

Bodywork

The bodywork on the RS2000 is in great condition, and we did not notice any dents or scratches.

The doors, bonnet, and boot all open and close as expected, with visually even shut lines - however, the passenger door does require a firm slam to close properly.

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

Paint

The 'Venetian Red' paintwork appears to be in lovely condition, with a consistent hue and coverage throughout. We only noticed one very small stone chip just next to the driver’s side headlight, as well as a slight paint run on the passenger door handle.

In direct sunlight, some light swirl marks can be seen, but nothing too significant - Kevin told us the car has been ceramic coated in the past.

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 hi-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 around the RS2000 appears to be in great condition, and we did not notice any chips or scratches on any of the glass.

The trim all appears to be present, including the stripes and RS2000 decals. The rear Ford badge is a sticker.

The rear rubber bumper does appear to sit slightly proud of the rear wings.

Please view the photos and video below to review the condition of the glass and trim for yourself.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Supportive seats, a three-spoke steering wheel, and a manual gearbox make for a proper drivers' setup in the RS2000.

Seats and Carpets

The cloth sports seats are very supportive and appear to be in great condition. We did not notice any rips or tears, and there does not appear to be any sagging.

The driver’s seat does not appear to have a handle to move it forward.

The carpets are also in lovely condition.

Dashboard

The black dashboard appeared to be in good condition.

The clocks all appeared clear and legible, showing a mileage of 89,436 at the time of our visit.

We did not notice any cracks or splits, but we did see some drill holes in the middle of the dashboard.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The original steering wheel appears to be in nice condition, although it does show some signs of age in line with an almost 50-year-old car.

The black gearstick also appears to be in good condition, showing no damage to either the stick or the gaiter.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

The 2.0-litre Pinto engine produces a nice raspy tone, which suits the RS2000’s personality perfectly.

Engine and Gearbox

During the cold start, the engine took a couple of attempts to fire up.

The car initially ran with a slight misfire when cold; Kevin advised that it had not been started since October last year, which may have contributed to this. Once warmed up and after a bit of use, it was running nicely, as can be seen in the 'On The Road' video.

Please take a look at the cold start video below to see for yourself the performance of the engine and gearbox.

Suspension and Brakes

The suspension did feel quite stiff over some of the pothole-ridden roads, but it remained composed and tight.

The underside appears nice and clean.

The brakes performed well on the road, bringing the RS2000 to a stop in a straight line with no squeaks noticed.

Please take a look at the On The Road video below to see how the suspension and brakes performed.

The Drive

As mentioned above, the car started after a couple of attempts and was running nicely after a drive out - the car hadn't been started for around 7 months, so needed some time to come back to life.

On the road, the RS2000 felt great, pulling strongly through the gears once up to temperature. There were some nice twisty roads to test the suspension, and it held the road well.

To see the RS2000 in motion please take a look at the on the road video below.

Electrics and Other

There is not too much electrical equipment in this era of Fast Ford.

While we did not test everything during our visit, Kevin told us everything was in working order.

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History and Paperwork

Having been restored before Kevin took ownership, the RS2000 is presented in lovely condition, complete with its original service booklet and MOT certificates dating back to 1981.

Prior to Kevin's ownership, it had been restored to a lovely standard. There are some photos of the car before restoration, where it can be seen with a black vinyl roof. Kevin has carried out no work to the car during his ownership due to the excellent condition it came to him in - he told us the only things he has done are dry day pre-checks, along with washing and drying the car.

It comes with its original service booklet, invoices for various work carried out, and past MOT certificates dating back to 1981 and is of course road tax and MOT exempt.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

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
05.11.2022	MOT	89,173
22.06.2017	MOT	89,007
20.04.2006	MOT	88,375
01.03.2005	MOT	86,347
16.02.2004	MOT	79,550
20.12.2002	Service & MOT	71,345
17.12.2001	MOT	68,580
22.05.2001	Clutch
12.12.2000	MOT	65,284
25.11.1999	MOT	64,871
17.08.1998	MOT	64,*** (Torn Certificate)
31.10.1997	Service	63,517
19.07.1997	MOT	63,168
20.07.1996	MOT	62,163
17.05.1995	MOT	60,775
07.02.1994	MOT	59,245
03.02.1993	MOT	57,222
13.02.1992	Service	54,086
12.02.1992	MOT	54,086
15.08.1989	Service	44,878
27.01.1989	MOT	43,226
13.04.1988	Service	43,981
07.01.1988	Service & MOT	40,414
05.01.1987	MOT	37,529
30.12.1985	MOT	34,612
30.11.1984	MOT	34,257
31.10.1983	MOT	31,388
28.10.1982	MOT	28,747
05.10.1981	MOT	24,183

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Key Details

Year1978
ModelEscort RS2000 (Mk2)
TransmissionManual
Reg. Date05.10.1978
CC1993
ColourVenetian Red
Interior ColourGrey
Interior TrimCloth
Chassis #CGATUP00165
Engine #UP00165
RestoredYes
MOTNo
MOT ExemptYes
Road Tax ExemptYes
HPi ClearYes - All Clear
Former Keepers5
Tyre BrandKelly, Montana, Courier
Tyre Age2001, 2003
Sale TypePrivate
Owned~3 years, 5 months
Key FeaturePreviously Restored
Vehicle RegistrationRTK 67T
Driver’s SideRight
Fuel TypePetrol
Body TypeCoupe
Auction ID3588

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All Images

All Videos

Vehicle Location

Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland

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This car didn't meet its reserve price and may soon be available as a private sale - please contact us for more information or let us know if you want to be notified when a similar car comes to market.

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Seller : Kev8239

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2 Comments

Arrowsmiths

16 days ago

Hello Kevin it mentions that there are four holes in the dash , where are they , what where they for ? , could you send photos if possible, how long have you had the car many thanks Mark

Kev8239

Seller

Arrowsmiths

16 days ago

Hi Mark, from memory i thought there were only 2 holes on the dashboard, no idea what they were for as they were there when i got the car. They are just above the custom badge on the dashboard. Ive had it since 2022. Kevin

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Vehicle Location

Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland

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