Reply to "The minature Pantera that Ford wouldn't sell you."

A bit of an old topic I know, but I thought I’d give you guys a bit more of an insight:

In ’84 Ford in Europe wanted to go Rallying, but the Mk11 Escort was just too old hat. The Mk111 didn’t handle, and for some reason wouldn’t take the Grp B treatment – so:-
This is a Ford RS(Rally Sport)200 Group B Rally Car – Homologation Special – They had to build 200 and offer “some” for sale to the public in order to qualify for group B. At the time I think I remember they were offered at around £25K (Average family car back then around £5K) but in reality they were all bought as investments and weren’t available to the general public.

If you are lucky you might find one nowadays for £80K

They were/are absolutely nothing to do with the Pantera.

Engine was a 1.8 or 2.0l Cosworth BDR unit with a HUGE turbo and loads of lag – remember even then they only had mechanical injection with electronic control. Fuel consumption was ludicrous.

Body was Glassfibre and supplied by Reliant – (imfamous for the “Robin” – look it up....)

The end of Group B in ’86 meant that most of them went into rallycross and ice racing in the UK and Europe. They are still being used today.

They are seriously gorgeous in the flesh – though not quite as gorgeous as the Pantera.


For more, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_RS200

A replica body conversion is/was available to fit on the Austin Maestro floorpan. But that’s sad.

For reference, some other Group B Cars:
Audi Short Sport – Earlier just the Quattro
Opel Manta 400
Peugeot 205 T16
Toyota Celica
Renault 5 Turbo 2
Lancia Montecarlo 037
Austin Metro 6R4
Lancia Integrale

And probably a few other obvious ones that I can’t remember....

Phil