A classic Ford Escort RS2000, restored and ready for track or road use, will be auctioned to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Historic Leyburn Sprints next month, in collaboration with leading on-line platform Grays.com.
The 1979-model Escort has been brought out of storage and prepared for the sale, which will open on-line on Thursday 9 July and close on Saturday 15 August at 7.30 PM, during the separate, traditional charity auction at the Royal Hotel on day one of this year’s Sprints.
The live auction will be conducted exclusively by Grays.com, a Sprints Platinum Partner, and open to bidders everywhere. The car will be displayed at the Historic Leyburn Sprints for last-minute bidders to inspect.
The four-door Escort Mk II is powered by a 2.0-litre overhead cam engine, driving through a four-speed manual transmission.
As prepared for its short racing career, which has included the Historic Leyburn Sprints, it is fitted with a roll cage, two front race seats, competition-type harness seatbelts and Minilite-style alloy wheels. It will be sold with a current vehicle log book, allowing it to be raced immediately at Motorsport Australia-sanctioned events.
The recent restoration program included a full-body repaint, new trim and mechanical overhaul under the supervision of race-preparation specialist JMC Performance.
The car formerly was raced by the Sprints co-founder, the late Mike Collins, and later sold to another enthusiast who has donated it anonymously for the auction.
The auction, which will raise funds for the Sprints, including the Historic Leyburn Sprints Community Benefit Fund, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase a classic Ford in race-ready condition, says Sprints President Tricia Chant.
“The RS2000 Escort was an extremely capable and popular sports sedan in its day. Over time it’s lost none of its appeal, but a diminishing number of survivors mean its value is increasing.
“It’s an ideal club-racing and sporty road car for enthusiast drivers at any level, capable of very rewarding performance with low maintenance costs. Of course, we’ll guarantee its entry to the 2027 Historic Leyburn Sprints.
“We thank the car donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, and Grays.com for their generous gesture. This will be a welcome contribution to our community-owned event, which has put tens of thousands of dollars into local organisations and projects over the past 30 years,” Mrs Chant said.
The Historic Leyburn Sprints is a Signature Event in the Southern Downs event calendar. It is supported by the Southern Downs Regional Council and Tourism and Events Queensland to help promote the Sprints and attract visitors to the Southern Downs region. Assistance also is received from the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF), a partnership between the Queensland Government and Southern Downs Regional Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland. Proceeds from the community-run event assist local organisations and projects through the Historic Leyburn Sprints Community Benefit Fund.
