MK2 Escort Gp.4 RS1800 BDG/X

Escort RS1800 BDG/X
Group 4 rally car

Ex. Ian / Roy Cathcart

Brief spec.
The Ultimate Gp4 Escort of its day. Gomm works shell in superb condition, Terry Hoyle BDG/X fuel injected engine, running on Lucas 8mm mechanical injection, Direct top ZF 5 speed box, Fully floating Atlas axle, Bilstein tarmac suspension, AP racing brakes, Monte Carlo spec front & rear, All components from Gartrac inc the alloy fuel and oil tanks etc. Smiths Chronometric tacho and Speedo, pee lights, mechanical Halda twin master, pair of Heuer clocks, (Monte Carlo stop watch & 8 day Master time), original deep dish Springalex wheel, fitted with its original works low back Recaro bucket seats, wide Magnesium minilite wheels etc. Full homologated Group 4 specification. This is a genuine Gp4 Escort RS1800 from the period in excellent condition, the car has just come out of a heated garage/storage, it is totally genuine and hasn’t even been cleaned, the paint work is all very good, could be cleaned up like a show car if required. The car is on the button ready to use at demo type events, drives and sounds fantastic. Solid investment. Very rare find.

The history/DNA of this car,
Started life as an ex works MK1 Escort, owned by Ian Cathcart from Ireland, Ian’s good friend the late Bertie fisher advised him to get the car reshelled into a new mk2 shell by a local guy who was setting up a new motorsport preparation business, “Sydney Meeke Motorsport” … so Ian became Sydneys first customer and he re shelled the works mk1 into a brand new Gartrac MK2 shell, Ian went on to have some fantastic results in the car run by Sydney Meeke, mixing it with the works/factory cars/drivers and was regarded as the top UK privateer at this time … results to prove included.

An accident on the Donegal rally saw Malcolm Wilson get involved, Malcolm Wilson Motorport rebuilt it into a new works spec Gomm shell (braised) and upgraded the car, the car went on to win more events and have success in the British Rally Championship competing and regularly beating the works drivers/teams, Ian won top privateer award in the British rally championship. Ian eventually moved onto a Manta 400 and sold the car to his late brother Roy Cathcart who was equally as successful in the car and had kept the car in top condition, although the engine was originally a Hoyle built, it was sent away to the man of the moment D.T.W Engines (the same man who built the famous Vatanens Black Escort fuel injected engines in 1982 for Ford/MCD) this is when the lucas mechanical fuel injection was fitted to be the same as Vatanens car (metering unit mounted under the inlet manifold) This car had a reputation of being the very best Escort about. Roy loved the car hence he parked the car up rather than sell it when he also moved onto more modern cars (Quattro). The car was only used on rare occasions from here on, Unfortunately Roy passed away a couple of years ago. This car has wanted for nothing all of its life, it has always been professionally run and maintained, associated with the best names in the business. (Sydney Meeke/ Malcolm Wilson/ Gartrac/ Gomm/ Hoyle/ DTW etc ) It has competed against and beat the works escorts in the period (with results file to prove it)  it is 100% original and unspoilt with its period items … last used in competition Loughgall in 2007 but it has always been kept serviced and on the button and still drives as well as it always did, the sound of a BD on original slide injection is special, a superb investment car but also a car you can use either at slowly sideways type demo events or actual stage rallies ! very few Escorts were built to this quality / Calibre in period. Comes with its original registration documents, which are signed by the Escort legend Ari Vatanen when he drove the car, Please dont confuse this car with a clone, fake or replica, this is the real deal. Genuine piece of rallying history in superb condition.
SERIOUS ENQUIRIES ONLY PLEASE for this special car.

may px for a Rally car or Sports car.