This Ford Was Restored From Rust-bucket to Rally Beauty
Owner: Pedro Tome Narciso
Year, Make, and Model: 1971 Ford Escort Mk1 RS2000 (E21)
Location: Leiria, Portugal
Photographer: Diana Paraíso
I became interested in cars because of my parents. They have a company called “Stand Ritmo” that repairs and sells cars. Since I was little I was always surrounded by modern and classic cars. I watched and learned from my father. Today I’m a mechanic and I work in my family’s company.
When I found this car, it was in a scrap yard ready to be crushed. I bought the car in 2000 and it took me about eight years to transform the Escort from a heap of rust to this full-spec Group 4 Rally racer. And I executed the restoration myself. I studied every detail in a meticulous way, and made sure that it was the way I wanted it and correct. I bought it because of the beauty in its lines and because of the racing pedigree that this model has. The sixteen valve Cosworth power plant didn’t hurt, either. It’s nice to know that I really saved it from being recycled.
The Escort is a joy to drive anywhere and drive it as much as possible, but I especially love driving it on go-kart tracks. It’s really agile and super-fun. It’s just a great car. I have another one awaiting restoration but this time it is an Escort MK2.
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