Ford Escort Mk2 Montage Limited Edition Prints

As with its predecessor, the Mark II had a successful rallying career. All models of the Mark I were carried over to the Mark II, though the Mexico gained the RS badge and had its engine changed to a 1.6 L OHC Pinto instead of the OHV, it had a short production span as customers either bought the much cheaper „sport” or the much more exotic „RS 2000”. A „Sport” model was also produced using the 1.6 L Kent. Also a new and potent model was released, the RS1800, which had an 1800 cc version of the BDA engine. It was essentially a special created for rallying, and surviving road versions are very rare and collectible today. There has been a long standing debate regarding how the RS1800 was homologated for international motorsport, as Ford are rumoured to have built only fifty or so road cars out of the four hundred required for homologation

The works rally cars were highly specialised machines. Bodyshells were heavily strengthened. They were characterised by the wide wheel arch extensions and often by the fitment of four large spotlights for night stages. The BDA engine was bored to 2.0 L and gave up to 270 bhp by 1979. It was complemented by a strengthened transmission, five-speed straight-cut ZF gearbox, five-linked suspension and a host of more minor modifications. In this form, the Escort was perhaps not the most sophisticated of the rear-drive saloon cars that dominated rallying in the late 1970s, but it was reliable and powerful, and good enough to win in the hands of some of the best drivers of its day.
The late 1970s were a very successful period in rallying for Ford. The Mark II Escort continued its predecessor’s unbeaten run on the RAC rally, winning every year from 1975–79 and winning a variety of other events around the world as well. In the 1979 season of the,world rally championship Bjorn Waldegard took the drivers title, Hannu Mikkola was runner-up and Ari Vatanen finished the year in fifth place, all driving Escort RS1800s

These drivers’ successes throughout the year gave Ford the manufacturers title. Ari Vatanen won the drivers’ title in 1981, again at the wheel of an RS1800. This victory came despite the arrival on the WRC scene of the venerable four-wheel drive Audi Quattro. Ford placed in the top three in the manufacturers’ championship for the sixth year in a row.

All the Colour Prints featured are generated from original oil or water based artwork by the highly respected motorsport artist Keith Davies, who's work many of you will have come across.

All Colour Prints are individually Signed and Numbered by the Artist and measure 640mm x 450mm (25 x 18 inches approx.) unless otherwise stated.