Ford Escort RS1600

This 1971 Mk1 Escort RS1600 was built by Ford's Advanced Vehicle Operations at Aveley, and its build plate carries a "Show Unit" designation. That points to a factory-use car rather than a retail one, and the page says it is believed to have been used for press or development work. The LVX registration prefix is of a type associated with Ford works and press cars of the period.

Many RS1600s were absorbed into competition and heavily modified, but this one is described as unusually original. It keeps its bodyshell, AVO tags and VIN plate, aluminium bonnet, boot and doors, six-dial instrument cluster, interior and magnesium wheels, which have been X-rayed and found sound. It is powered by the 1.6-litre Cosworth BDA engine, which is rear-wheel drive and manual.

It was acquired by William Arnold, registrar of the RS1600 AVO Owners Club, and then passed to the current vendor in January 2023. The restoration was preservation-led and the car was mechanically rebuilt by ASM Classics. It shows 7,416 miles and four former keepers, though the page also lists the odometer as N/A. The price is on application.