RS Motorsport :: Classic Speed Restored

Some of the older forum members may remember that about 7 years ago I picked up a damaged MK1 RS2000. It's been sitting in a disused piggery for the last 5 years but it's finally made it's way back home this weekend for the resto to start. Now normally you wouldn't bother with a shell this badly bent but it is one of the 25 Ford bought in on 1975 so I figure it deserves a second chance.

So here's a couple of it being taken off the trailer and of the actual damage. Having a forklift comes in handy sometimes

First thing to do was to get it on a rack so we can start pulling. I'm fortunate to have access to a Car-o-liner copy rack so it's on this the MK1 will spend the next few months. Clamping it down is easier said than done as it's bent pretty bad and there's no sill at the front to clamp to. I'm going to have to make some brackets and bolt them through the floor to tie down the passenger side.

I'm going to get a good mate of mine who spent 18 years straightening bent cars to come and start the process as it's a real art and you can either fix it or f%$k it depending on how you pull it.

It's certainly going to be a challenge

Wow, that is bent
How fast did it hit the pole going sideways??

Good luck with the restore, will be great to see another of the 25 originals back on the road. Big job ahead though

Bloody big project.
Begs the question, how much of the original shell will remain after the Roof, firewall, dash, and and part B pillars, sills, front inner guards, front panel, bonnet, door, chassis rails radiator support and probably a lot of the mechanicals are replaced.

Not saying it cant be done and I know your the man for the job, but how much before its not one of the originals any more.
I watch with great interest and respect.

JP

Piece of Piss!!!!!

As for the hit, the official version was 60km/h and the car just slid out in the wet. Hmmm....

The plan will be to save as much of the original metal as we can. The car will never be concourse and I'd never pass it off as a "one owner, never damaged" job either, hence why it's on here. I know from it's history its already had both guards and the radiator support replaced before. It will be whatever we can make of it, but I'm not underestimating the size of the job.

As long as you keep the original wedge that held the head on the axe, you can replace the handle and the blade numerous times, and it will still be the same axe....

Good luck with this one Nev, looks like it will keep you amused for some time to come

Good on you for having the guts to save it Nev.

I look forward to watching your progress.

i cant compehend it nev , after all these years ??
its up to you now to revalue the very rare mk1rs2000 (aus) version & put the market price
well ahead of common twin cams

Ah, that will buff right out!

any progress worth updating or not?

JP

No because not long after that photo I lost the rack and only just got it back.

And I bought this in the meantime....

so your collecting post modern car art!
crashed hi-po fords through the ages, coming to a big gallery near you soon.

JP

Those "various goodies" take the XR5T from a low 15 sec 1/4 mile to low 14. I was at the drags a few weeks ago and there were several racing there. My pinto powered MK1 in full street trim was beating the standard XR5T by over half a second

good looking car Nev, and those wheels are Niiiiiiiiice.

JP

They're Simmons FR20-1 that came off the RS and just happen to fit the XR5 perfectly

I have to say the XR5 is one of the most under-rated hot hatches out there. And the thing that sets them apart is that Volvo 5 pot engine - magic sound and responds very well to mods. The later ST's just aren't the same. There's a wealth of go fast parts for them and for not a lot of money you can get them to go really hard. Handling is pretty good too. The modern day Escort!

I haven't had it on a track but about the only thing I can say is that they do suffer with lift off oversteer mid corner when pushed hard. I have Pedders Xtreme coilovers and Whiteline F&R bars so the handling is tight as. Changing the bushes to Superpro or similar also makes a big change.

Nice score with the Focus RS, Nev. Will you sell off the seats etc?

I love the 5cyl too, my wifes old XC90 has one (250,000 clicks) and this is my daily -