ESCORT RS 2000

Peter Kung of PK Auto Electrical in Auckland is halfway through work restoring this beauty. He found the ex-racer stacked high on a container where it was slowly rotting away. He rescued it and began the rebuild five years ago. It’s been a work of patience, as he’s had to source essential bits and pieces from across the globe, as well as recreate some.

He bought two sets of guards for it, each coming from the opposite end of England, so he had to coordinate the transport and shipping of those. The motor, which is now also a thing of beauty, is ready and waiting to be installed. Seven thousand dollars’ worth of extractors are among the other difficult to find, expensive, and essential bits and pieces that Manon Butler Motors in Auckland has used to rebuild the 268kw Cosworth engine, with company responsible for the work on the transmission and suspension as well.

The body has also been completely rebuilt. The body was completely disassembled and mounted onto a rotisserie to make it easier to work on and paint. Peter did all the panel work in-house, and now the once seriously race-accident-damaged shell is once again pristine and looking the business.

Slater Fabrication, on Auckland’s North Shore, did all the seam-welding and installed a roll cage and dry-sump tanks, among other tasks.

The car is now waiting for Kavi at JK Panel and Paint in Penrose, Auckland, to apply the final coats of paint. Kavi will do that the only way there is to do these jobs: “his way,” says Peter.

When asked about his work with the car, Peter says, “If you want to do it, why not? And do it your way.” He sees himself as only the current owner, or caretaker, and tells us that, “the next owner will get a good car with everything done properly.” We look forward to following up on this project when it is finished.