Which Of These Classic Fast Fords Would You Buy?
Did you dream of owning a high-performance Ford when you were younger? Now you can, as some of the best fast Fords of the ‘80s are coming up for auction next month, but you’d better have fairly deep pockets.
The highlights include a 1985 Ford Tickford Capri 2.8, a much-loved 1983 Escort RS1600i, a Fiesta XR2 from the same year, and a 2011 Focus RS that could almost be considered new.
If the name ‘Tickford’ doesn’t mean all that much to you, here’s what you’ve missed out on. It started out as a coachbuilding company – similar to Pininfarina or Ghia – almost two centuries ago, but is now more famous for tuning. The Tickford Capri (arguably their best-known creation) started as a standard Capri but ended up with some extra performance goodies – a turbocharger, Bilstein dampers, rear disc brakes and a limited slip differential. A bespoke, aggressive body kit was fitted to all 88 cars built.
Only three of those cars were painted in Stratos Silver, so this car is pretty special. It could even be a once in a lifetime opportunity to own one. This car was the 50th built in the limited run, and has recently had a full respray to keep it looking immaculate. It’s covered 63,000 miles and should demand £26,000 - £30,000.
The RS1600i was the halo Escort model, sitting above the revered XR3i spec. With 115hp on tap from its 1.6-litre engine it might not sound fast now, but it was developed for Group A rallying and featured the hallmark of an Eighties performance car – graphics. Having spent a lot of time in storage throughout its life, this car has had a full respray as well; it is set to go under the hammer for £20,000 - £25,000.
If that’s still a bit steep, the Fiesta XR2 might be more of interest. Estimated at £13,000 - £16,000, it was seriously quick for a small car – especially for the time, as the 83hp 1.6-litre engine kicked it from 0-60mph in 9.5 seconds and onto a top speed of 106mph. This XR2 features the same colour scheme as the RS1600i, has had two previous owners, and has covered just 52,000 miles.
Interested in the more modern hot hatchbacks and fast Fords? Check out this mk2 Focus RS, which has barely been driven throughout its life. However, despite just 1,200 miles on the odometer, this car has had plenty of upgrades. These include a Milltek stainless steel exhaust, Mountune engine modifications and H&R suspension parts. As a result, it’s rated at 420hp! That might go some way to explaining why it’s never seen a wet road. It could be yours for between £30,000 - £35,000.
These cars will be auctioned off on 15th September 2018 at the Warwickshire Event Centre. Which of these stunning classics gets your heart pounding?
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