Ford RS Cars Recognised by the RS Owners Club of Australia
Thirty years ago, in 1970, Ford introduced its first-ever RS-badged car, the Escort RS1600. The RS (Rallye Sport) identity has been an important part of Ford’s sporting image ever since. Over the years the Rallye Sport name has been applied to 19 spectacular road car models, which often proved their point by winning in races, rallies, in rallycross – and in the marketplace.
The ‘RS’ badge has never been applied lightly, for each and every model and derivative has offered outstanding performance, roadholding, vehicle safety and value for money. RS-badged Fords have always shared a proud sporting tradition and have been built in many different forms. There have been front-engined or mid-engined types, front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive cars, with four-cylinder or six-cylinder normally-aspirated or turbocharged engines. Many have employed wind tunnel testing to evolve innovative aerodynamic features such as the rear aerofoils fitted to Sierra and Escort RS Cosworths. All have pushed out the boundaries of technology and all have been successful in motorsport.
The original RS-badged Ford – the Escort RS1600, was the first-ever Ford to use a 16-valve twin-overhead-camshaft engine and the first to be assembled in the new Advanced Vehicle Operation factory at Aveley in Essex. It also became the first Ford model to be sold through an expanding network of specialised Rallye Sport dealerships.
The Club caters for the owners of genuine Ford Rallye Sport cars: