Ford Produced Four RS200 S Models in Ferrari Red in 1984. Today, They Cost as Much as a Real Ferrari

In the mid-1980s, the World Rally Championship featured a category where vehicles weighing just 1,000 kg soared over dirt roads, powered by engines generating up to 600 horsepower. This was the golden era of the Group B class. The inherent dangers of driving these powerful machines led to the category’s eventual elimination. However, it left behind legendary vehicles such as the Lancia Delta S4 Integrale, Audi S1 Quattro, and Peugeot 205 T16.

To participate in this category, manufacturers only needed to produce a minimum of 200 street-legal units of their competition cars. Ford manufactured the RS200 specifically for this purpose, ensuring it met the regulatory requirement by producing 200 units.

This alone makes it a highly sought-after item for collectors. However, Ford took exclusivity a step further by producing 20 of these units under the “S” designation, which stood for “Special.” Canadian dealer Murray DeWert enhanced the engine, adding an extra 100 horsepower to the already impressive 200 horsepower of the standard RS200 model.

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The Intense History of the Ford RS200 S

Introduced in the mid-1980s, the Ford RS200 was specifically designed to compete in Group B rallies and was notable for its all-wheel drive system. Coachbuilders Ghia designed an ultralight fiberglass chassis that housed a 1.8-liter turbo engine developed by automotive engineering company Cosworth. The turbo engine could generate up to 450 horsepower in its competition version. As such, the 20 street-legal units of the Ford RS200 S were equipped with only 100 horsepower less than their racing counterparts.

However, the Group B competitions were canceled in 1986 due to numerous fatal accidents involving cars in this category. These accidents resulted in several deaths among both drivers and spectators due to the frequent run-offs of these powerful vehicles.

As a result, the RS200 didn’t have the opportunity to showcase its full potential on the race track. Despite this, the road-legal units gained value as collector’s items because of their advanced technology and exclusivity.

The “Rosso” Ford

The exclusivity of the Ford RS200 S lies not only in its limited global production but also in its status as a rare item for collectors.

Only four of the 20 RS200 Ss were painted in a unique color never used on a Ford car before: Ferrari Red. This makes these units extremely rare, and only two of them are estimated to have survived to the present day.

This color option wasn’t part of the original factory design but was a special request, adding to its uniqueness and appeal for collectors and enthusiasts.

A Treasure for Collectors

One owner of the Ford RS200 S in Ferrari Red has now put it up for auction. Interestingly, a video documents the moment Ford presented this vehicle to the current seller.

Iconic Auctioneers will auction unit 138 on Feb. 22. This meticulously maintained car has only 19,956 miles on the odometer, which is quite rare for a vehicle of this age.

Moreover, specialists have overhauled it, ensuring it remains in excellent mechanical condition and retains its appealing bodywork. This diligence guarantees that it’s not just a collector’s item but a fully functional car ready to be driven and admired.

The auction organizers estimate that this unit could sell for between $380,000 and $440,000, considering its impeccable condition and rarity. It’s equipped with remarkable features from its time, including Speedline wheels and the original interior. Additionally, its mechanical configuration is just as striking today as it was more than three decades ago.

An interesting note about this unit is that since its owner lives in the United Kingdom, the steering wheel is on the right side. However, this wasn’t its original configuration, which was on the left. Ford modified it before delivering it to the owner and included the original parts in case the owner ever wanted to revert the change.

Image | Iconic Auctioneers

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