Ford Escort Mk2 Zakspeed rolling shell

Click Here for Full Screen Image - Click Here to Download Image

Ford had been riding high on the success of the all-conquering Escort MkI when in January 1975 they introduced the new MkII version.

Little more than a clever restyling exercise, it had a modern squared off look while retaining the underpinnings of the old model, giving a fresh appearance without the cost of producing a completely new car.

The MkII was soon pressed into service competing around the world in all forms of motorsport, but its real forte was in rallying. Ford took full advantage, introducing the sport-focused RS1800 model to accompany both the Mexico and RS2000, while also producing the more sales-focused 1300 and 1600 Sport.

The works rally cars were highly specialised machines with heavily strengthened body shells, wide wheel arch extensions additional spotlights for night stages. The MkII continued its predecessor's dominance of the RAC Rally, winning every year from 1975 to 1979 and acquitting itself well in many other events around the world. In 1979 Bjorn Waldegard took the World Rally Championship at the wheel of an Escort with Hannu Mikkola runner-up and Ari Vatanen in fifth place, all driving RS1800s.

The natural fate of all successful sporting motor cars is either an abrupt end against something solid or a rapid slide towards the scrapyard as thumps, strains and ‘incidents’ wear heavily on the structure until replacement is the only answer. Finding another shell to start a sporting Ford restoration project has become trickier as the supply of good ones gets used up at an alarming rate.

The rolling shell in our sale today is bound to cause a ripple of excitement as it seems to have all the right qualities of a sound base for a sporting project. Pampered rather than battered, it is thought to have been a show car previously, having received sporting modifications without actually competing.

A non-sunroof 2-door car, it is fitted with a Zakspeed-type wide-arch GRP body kit and is finished in Signal Orange. It rolls on period 8” Ally Cat alloy wheels, has a quick steering rack and Bilstein adjustable front struts. Inside it has a black headlining, a restored ‘flocked’ dashboard, and aluminium door cards and trims. It comes with a logbook that states it is a 1978 Escort L 2-litre, although no engine or gearbox are currently fitted. Apparently ‘never raced or rallied’ it looks like a fun project and offers huge potential at the guide price suggested.