CLASSIC FORD OF THE YEAR

Mickey Stewart’s Escort RS2000

The polls have closed, the votes have been counted and we are pleased to reveal that your Classic Ford OfTheYear for 2018 is Mickey’s sublime Olympic Blue RS, featured in the September 2018 issue.

Lifelong Escort fan, Mickey picked up this Mk1 last year, and while it was already a good car Mickey wanted to go one better, and make up for the Olympic Blue Mk1 he regretted selling many years earlier.

“I wanted the best RS2000 out there, and restoring a car to that kind of condition is well beyond my skills, so the complete job was handed over to Kelly Baverstock and Neil Bonds at Panelcraft Concours Vehicle Restoration.” With the word ‘concours’ in their company name Kelly and Neil lived up to that reputation, as the work they’ve done on the Escort proves.

There are delights everywhere you look on this car, from the standard steel wheels (rather than the usual, optional four-spokes) shod with era-correct Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet tyres sourced from Longstone, to the genuine Group One additions including the steering wheel and huge airbox for the downdraught IDA carbs — just one part of the perfect 2-litre Pinto put together to correct period spec by Connaught Competition Engines.

It may be finished to concours spec, but Mickey is adamant that this RS2000 is to be enjoyed, so expect to see it hacking down a B-road near you with Mickey grinning at the wheel for many years to come.