Group B rally legend for sale.
Updated 9/18/21: the highest bid of 8 submitted was $230,000. Unfortunately, the reserve was not met.
Just a weeks ago, we brought you coverage of a 1989 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth sedan offered at auction with some serious Euro-vibing goodness. Now, we're taking a look at another '80s-era Ford, but this one is a bit more… extreme. What we have here is a 1986 Ford RS200, a bonafide racing icon plucked straight from the legendary World Rally Championship Group B competition series, now available to the highest bidder.
For those readers who may not know, Group B rally racing was introduced in 1982 with a relatively loose set of regulations that led to some of the most advanced, scary-fast racing machines to ever cross a rally stage. The high speeds and technical wizardry on display tempted many manufacturers to take a shot at Group B competition, including the Blue Oval's European racing division. However, rather than enter the fray with an existing model, Ford decided to build something specifically tailored for the job.
What the engineers came up with was nothing less than epic. The heart of the Ford RS200 is a mid-mounted, turbocharged, Cosworth 1.8-liter four-cylinder BDT gasoline engine. In race spec, the 'four feeds an advanced four-wheel-drive system with nearly 450 horsepower and 360 pound-feet of torque, all of which is routed through a five-speed manual gearbox. The air-to-air intercooler is in the roof, while the transmission was mounted up front to aid in weight distribution.
The tubular space frame chassis was penned by F1 designer Tony Southgate, who later went on to create the Jaguar XJR-9. Both ends are equipped with independent, double-wishbone suspension with dual shocks per corner, while the dimensions are small (157.5-inch overall length, 99.6-inch wheelbase) and lightweight (2,315 pounds).
The combination was good for a run to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, while the 50/50 front-to-back weight distribution and short wheelbase translated into impressive agility.
The body was styled by Ghia, and was made from plastic-fiberglass composite, with front and rear clamshells for easy access to the greasy bits underneath.
Naturally, homologation rules meant Ford was required to produce its insane new rally monster in street-legal trim. The engine was detuned to 250 horsepower, but the rest of it was more or less as wild as the racing machine. However, as is often the case with genius, the Ford RS200 wasn't well-accepted when it was first released to the public. Now, however, a well-maintained original can fetch top dollar.
Which brings us to this particular example - chassis 169. According to the auction listing, this 1986 Ford RS200 was kept at the Ford Motorsport Boreham facility in the U.K. until 1994, at which time it was acquired by a buyer in Michigan who kept it for more than 15 years. The vehicle was acquired by the current selling dealer in 2021, and it shows roughly 3,500 miles on the odometer. This particular example also sports red sideview mirrors and red mud flaps, which were added by a previous owner.
Now, this 1986 Ford RS200 is up for grabs on Bring A Trailer. The current highest bid as of this writing is $225,000, with four days left in the auction. Check back after that for the final selling price, assuming the reserve is met.
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