There's A New Ford RS200 Coming

…and there’ll be a ‘new’ Mk1 Escort too. Ford specialist Boreham Motorworks will build continuation versions of two of the brand’s iconic rally machines

Mike Bartholomew

24 Jun 2024

Earlier this year, we clocked that Ford had registered the name ‘RS200’ with the EU’s Intellectual Property Office. We got excited for a few moments, then sort of forgot about it, because car manufacturers trademark their old badges all the time, just in case. Well, time to get hyped all over again, because it’s now official: the Ford RS200 is coming back.

The RS200, in case you needed a refresher, was Ford’s purpose-built contender for the insane Group B rally rules of the 1980s. A mid-engined, composite-bodied four-wheel drive coupe, it utilised a 1.8-litre turbocharged Cosworth four-cylinder and kicked out around 444bhp in rally guise.

Group B rules meant that somewhere between 140 and 150 road cars were produced between 1984 and 1986, with about 250bhp. They’re now some of the most sought-after Fords of all.

The revival is coming courtesy of Boreham Motorworks, a newly established specialist that describes its goal as “achieving a peak analogue driving experience.” It’s been given the official blessing by Ford to bring its lairy rally machine back. Boreham, by the way, was once the Essex home of Ford’s rally team.

Ford RS200 with Boreham continuation car

Not much else is known about the continuation RS200, and whether it’ll be true to the original or a hopped-up restomod style car in the manner of Kimera’s awesome Evo37 and 38. The presence of some bright LED-ish lights in the teaser pics leads us to suspect the latter.

It’s not the only Ford rally icon that Boreham is planning on reviving, though – it’s also announced a similar run of continuation Mk1 Escorts, built to Group 5 rally specs. That’s the first of the pair we’ll actually see, with a reveal due later this year.

Each will be built in “very limited numbers” and presumably for a whole lot of money. Ownership will also grant access to Boreham’s High Performance Club, which will organise driving experiences for the lucky few.

These are the first two of at least seven classic Fords that Boreham will be bringing back to life in the coming years – we’re keeping our fingers crossed for a restomod Probe.

The first full sentence spoken by an infant Mike was a review of the ride quality of a Volvo 850. It was “Daddy’s car goes bumpy-bump on a bumpy road,” so would probably need proofreading a bit, but it was a start.