MY OTHER CAR IS AN RS 1600

Bruce also has another Ford Escort MKI project on the go, which will be as close as possible to an accurate version of an Escort RS 1600. The project Escort RS 1600 BDA is a re-shelled Australian Twin Cam that he found in Auckland. Although the shell isn’t a genuine special 49 (‘49’ was the designation for especially modified and strengthened shells that were used for Ford Escort Mexicos and RS models. All genuine ‘RS’ designation cars left the factory with the 49 body shell). But, says Bruce, “although it’s not a genuine factory 49 shell, it does have a genuine correct numbers record, and, by the time we have it finished, it will be as close as you can get to a genuine RS 1600. I liked doing the Twin Cam, so I’m really looking forward to building this one and doing a few minor events around the region with it. I’ll be putting a roll cage in it and probably use it on events like the Cromwell Street Sprints, that sort of thing.” Bruce likes the simplicity of the Ford Escort and the ability for him to perform most mechanical tasks on it, something very much in contrast to a very nice German coupé also in his garage. “I like to drive the Escort and to work on it. It’s a very uncomplicated car. I would hate to try and do the same thing with my BMW M3 CSL. Compared with that, it is a very easy car to work on,” he says, laughing. Bruce comes from a family keen on cars — both working on and modifying them. “I have a brother who is right into hot rodding,” he says. We have no doubt that Bruce’s second Escort project will look as good as his first.