Flat front rs 2's

[vinny]

hi chaps

whats the crack with flat front rs2's - did ford ever make these or are they just rs's with standard wings etc and does the price reflect this.

do most people leave these alone when looking for a car ?

[Banishit]

I think no is the answer BUT! I had a flat front RS'2 but I have been told all they have done was if in an accident they have replaced the proper rs wings and nose for std wings and front panel ? dont know how true but I have seen cars advertised as RS2 flat fronts, I rang one fella and he said the front was replaced like this because it was way cheaper!!

I thought there was a few proper flat fronts done for rallying maybe 10-20.

re the price I would pay quite a bit less for a none proper car but it all depends what you want and how much you are willing to spend ?

Brian

[KL]

The "Flat Front" Mk2 RS2000 was homologated into FIA Appendix J Group One in April 1979, primarily for Group one rallying. It was lighter, less expensive to replace the panels and gave better cooling. FIA "Evolution" of minor body changes at that time required a further 10% cars to be built to that standard (thus 500 on top of the 5000 for group one). None were built new in UK(or more accurately Germany) but most private rally RS2s were built to that standard from then on. It is described in the homologation papers as "Australian production" and some "Escort 2 litres" were assembled from parts in Australia. Whether it really was 500, well most homologation quantities fell a bit short in those days... The Aus cars are said not to have the RS shell or the RS exhaust manifold.
When Group A came along in 1982, Ford re-homologated the RS2 into Group A (and Group B, with the Group One bits that failed Group A requirements). At that time there was no evolution allowance in Group A and someone reminded Boreham of this. To get round the problem they homologated 2 different RS2000s into Group A and B - "European"(droop snoot) and "Australian"(flat front). Modesty does not permit me to say who first warned them of that potential problem......
There will be some genuine UK RS2s around that have been fitted with flat fronts following damage or, like the one in my garage, had the droop snoot bits deliberately removed for competition use.

[BigNige]

Have to agree with KL

RS2k didnt come as standard with a flat front however as pointed out it was a popular switch if front end damage occured as the parts were shorter and cheaper

Some people swapped them over due to liking the rally slag look more

Thus making a few RS2ks yet because Mexicos were so few and far between etc there are many people looking for a flat front 2k

Again as others have said i would check thouroughly as with any car purchase

Like mine that was the exact reason i brought it i wanted a rally slag look i like with flat front not "droop snoop"

Nige