Here we have a much uprated Mexico that’s remained in its current ownership for the last seven and half years, is apparently well-known within the RS fraternity, and was the subject of a four-page feature in the August 2015 edition of Classic Ford magazine.

It is finished in the popular colour of Venetian Red that’s matched to black cloth interior trim, while the Ford rides on a set of Yokohama A539-shod Ronal 7x13 four-spoke RS alloy wheels.

Outward upgrades include a quartet of Cibié Ocar spotlights, rare RS Owners Club sun strip, and RS mudflaps all-round.

Lurking under the bonnet is a 2-litre Pinto engine rather than 1.6-litre original, and a modified one at that.

It’s been treated to a Burton stage-3 cylinder head, Kent FR32 camshaft, pair of 40 DHLA Dellorto carburettors, oil breather, a 4-2-1 manifold and large-bore twin-box exhaust system, and Airtec high capacity alloy radiator – the net result is a purposeful powerplant delivering 142bhp at the wheels.

The unit drives th...