Unlike the Mk1 Escort, which was designed by Ford of Great Britain, the Mk2 was a much more sophisticated design jointly developed with Ford of Germany.

Based on a standard Mk2 two-door saloon shell, the RS2000 used the familiar 2-litre, four-cylinder, SOHC, Pinto engine mounted longitudinally in the bay driving the rear wheels.

A single twin-venturi 32/36 DGAV Weber carburettor was fitted with the option of a Group 1 dual-Weber 40 DCNF or IDF set up.

The front suspension used independent MacPherson Struts with an anti-roll bar and at the rear, traditional leaf springs with telescopic dampers were utilised.

Front-mounted discs and rear drums were used, and four-spoke alloy wheels came as standard.

Its biggest distinguishing feature was the 'droop-snoot' polyurethane nose housing four headlamps which gave it a rather aggressive look.

The new car was capable of 110mph with 0-60mph taking 8.9 seconds, not too shabby in 1976 and, when combined with the car's distinctive looks and tha...