Devil is in the detail when buying a Ford RS200

Ford’s uncharacteristically late arrival to the Group B rallying party meant its built-for-the-job RS200 never really had a chance to shine. Homologated on January 30, 1986, the RS200 debuted in a two-car team at the Swedish Rally just two weeks later led by drivers Stig Blomquist and Kalle Grundel, the latter crossing the line third to post an admirable result for a maiden outing.

But, after four years of undeniable thrills but far too many spills, the end of the road was nigh for Group B the following month when Joaquim Santos’s RS200 plunged into the crowd during the Rally de Portugal, killing three spectators and injuring dozens more.

The subsequent axeing of the category made the RS200 essentially redundant as a competitive rally car, leaving a few to be successfully adopted for rallycross and hillclimbing – but Ford had built 144 of the things and needed to move them on in order to recoup some cash from what had been a two-year development project.

As a result, 90 examples were offered for sale for road use, each with a more refined interior and with 246bhp engines instead of the 444bhp units used in the full-on racers.

Priced at £49,995 when new (£130,000 in today’s money), the ‘pop-to-the-shops’ RS200 proved a slow seller and many were knocked out at significant discounts.

Now, however, the fact that they offer a combination of extreme rarity and still thrilling performance has led to soaring values – especially for original, low mileage examples such as this one being offered by Silverstone Auctions during the NEC Classic Motor Show.

Supplied new by Perth Ford dealership Frews to the Derbyshire-based managing director of a well-known car windscreen manufacturer, it came with a 300bhp upgrade, spotlight pod and race harnesses – all of which it retains today.

The car remained in the same ownership for more than 20 years, during which it covered little more than 1000 miles before being sold to the Japanese collector who has now consigned it for sale.

Still with fewer than 8000 miles on the clock and in fully serviced, ready-to-go condition, it will be sold with a spares package that includes its factory fitted wheels and exhaust system plus a spare windscreen (which, as rally trivia fans might know, was borrowed from the Ford Sierra).

Liveried in Ford blue and white and trimmed in dazzling scarlet, it’s clearly begging to be screamed to the 6500rpm red line at which an RS200 really comes alive.

So if you’re looking to make the daily commute that little bit more interesting, and don’t mind doing it sideways…

1988 Ford RS200

On sale with Silverstone Auctions, Birmingham, November 12-13. Estimate: £225,000-£275,000