FOR SALE An iconic Olympic Blue AVO Mk1 Ford Escort RS2000 enthusiast owned. EQUIPMENT Advanced Vehicle Operations (AVO) Type 49 heavy duty body, front quarter bumpers, strengthened chassis rails, strengthened flitch plates, reinforced front suspension strut top mounting plates, rear radius rods, safety glass, anti-burst locks, black painted aluminium grille, quartz iodine headlamps, six pod sports binnacle, leather rimmed sports steering wheel, heater fan, two speed wipers, courtesy light, washable plastic headlining, push-round ashtray, steering lock, cigarette lighter, hazard warning flashers. Options: Console, clock, headrests for driver and front passenger seats. EXTERIOR The Rallye Sport Escorts built by Ford Advanced Vehicle Operations were practically handbuilt and this rare Ford Escort RS2000 is one of the few remaining genuine survivors. Finished in desirable Olympic Blue, (Code E), the appearance is striking at any angle. Utilising the same competition-developed Type 49 heavy duty, 2-door body as the Escort Mexico and RS1600, the panel fit is perfect. Obvious flared wheel arches to accommodate the wide sports road wheels and Blue decals distinguish this model but perfectionists will spot the finer details such as FoMoCo lenses and IODE H4 Cibe headlights amongst many more features. For those enjoying the show circuit, the immaculate underside is finished in body colour and is factory perfect with all Type 49 body features such as the reinforced front suspension mounting points and chassis side rails clear to see. Prised from a Ford collector who has pampered this example for 14 years, you can be reassured it is one of the best! INTERIOR Body hugging, reclining and luxurious RS seats still trimmed in their original Beta Black fabric, (Code A1), and are immaculate in appearance with a tiny mark to the drivers seat base. Both are fitted with optional and desirable headrests. All of the interior is spotless and fully equipped with an undamaged padded dash. The perforated black headlining and door cards have no rips with attention to detail seen throughout. The sports instrumentation is bright and clear including the correct 130mph and 7000rpm speedometer and tachometer and all switches and controls function. The boot area houses the spare held at an angled position with the correct rubber strap and the boot mat, jack and wheel brace is present. Rare and fragile items such as the rear light protectors and boot parcel cover are present. ENGINE & TRANSMISSION This rare RS2000 has the 2.0 Ford ‘Pinto’ unit performing faultlessly. Set up and dyno tested by HT Racing Ltd, the 100bhp is confirmed to allow a claimed top speed of 110mph and 0-60mph in 9 seconds. The immaculate engine bay is detailed to a high standard for those wishing to exhibit the car with the bonnet up. The original VIN plate and AVO build plate are a welcome sight and prove the cars specification when built at Aveley and the chassis stamp can be seen on the inner wing. Short snappy gear changes are provided by the factory standard Ford Type-E 4-speed gearbox which is an absolute delight to use. WHEELS, TYRES & BRAKES Correct factory standard spoke-style sport steels measuring 5.5x13 inch are finished in Silver Fox with metallic Pearl Grey with genuine RS centre caps. Period style Dunlop SP Aquajet 165 HR13 radial tyres are fitted to all five rims with masses of tread. The dual-circuit brake system with Girling Hydrovac direct vacuum servo mounted on an extended bracket bolted to the bulkhead works perfectly. HISTORY FILE Rallye Sport Escorts including the Mexico, RS1600 and RS2000 were built at Fords Advanced Vehicle Operations factory in Aveley at a rate of just thirty a day. This AVO Club registered example rolled off the production line in March 1974 and was supplied by Haynes Bros.Ltd of Maidstone, one of 73 specially appointed Rallye Sport Dealers. Registered new to a Dr R Edney incredibly this example has only had four former keepers from new. Dr Edney paid extra to have Cryla-Gard rustproofing and the guarantee certificate is still in the history file! The comprehensive history file confirms two further owners worked at Ford RS Dealers, Invicta Motors Ltd of Faversham and Swale Motor Company of Sittingbourne, so the car wanted for nothing being maintained exclusively by Ford until 1986. At this time it was sold by Mike Young Garage in Ilford Essex to the fourth owner, Mr Picknell, who paid extra for the Ultimate Motorplan breakdown and mechanical Insurance and the car had covered 70,952 miles at this point. Owned by him until 2011 when the final keeper and highly regarded Ford collector, Mr Anthony Manning, took ownership and restored the vehicle to a concours level to which it still presents to this day. Supplied with its original service book and handbook in the Haynes of Maidstone A5 wallet, mases of historic invoices and MOT certificates and AVO Club letters. MOT August 2026, HPI Clear.