X Pack Cars , how can you tell factory or not ?

[seriesxman]

That is of course the original 300 spezials would of been stamped 1375kg of course I’m aware that there could be many cars classed as Spezials but would of been dealer built or personally modified but I’m speaking of the 300 cars commissioned by Michael Kranefus- Ford Motorsport Director back in the day.

[rwdrs]

Is the 1325 kg stamped on your car?
Never seen that myself on any continental car.
Kerb weight on a std RS2000 is 935 kg on most if not all cars I have seen.

Jamie's car is a Dutch car.

Hi Leon, the weight 1325 kg is stamped on the German Spezial models VIN plate.

[seriesxman]

No not 1325kg but 1375kg

[Frosticles]

I think a genuine dealer fit X Pack with all the group 1 parts would be the only thing to bring me back to Escort ownership

[seriesxman]

I’ve just posted a pic of my vin plate on the series x rs2000 Facebook page, as I can’t post a pic on here due to file size. Thanks

[JPA]

Thanks for all the replies guys , some very interesting stuff and will,be very helpful 👍

[JPA]

Thanks Dave, also the Build plate begins with a 7 not the usual G or U generally seen on escorts, if any one knows of any of these vehicles I’d be very interested to see them, we’re thinking they were taken from the factory in batches similar to the RS1800’s as my chassis number is only 4 cars away from Frank Anders car. The easiest way to spot one is the corded seat material on the Scheel seats. I don’t believe they were factory built but were commissioned by ford and prepared for later fitment of the fibreglass arches, probably by a sub-contract shop such as Zakspeed, they were then sold via the RS dealers for considerably more deuzmarks than the standard RS2000, anyway I’m on my hobby horse again!

Very interesting about the chassis number ,

I thought they all started with GCAT ? Is there any other variations of how the vin number starts ?

[seriesxman]

Yes they all start with GCAT, the 7 is only stamped on the painted build plate, and is stamped before the chassis number. Cheers

[katana]

Someone really got their scales wrong if UK cars are listed as 925kg and same spec german cars listed / marked at 1325kg ! And I find an extra 50kg for the Spezial almost unbelievable ....... you lose a load of steel and gain a load of fibreglass and its heavier?

I always understood kerb weight was - on the road, fuelled and fluid full?

There is no way a continental car can gain nearly 50% mass of its lighter 'better looking' UK rival............even though both built in the same plant ! ! !

[seriesxman]

Hi Katana, your right there is some confusion.... I am discussing the max gross weight as stamped on the vin plate, not sure of the technicalities of this but I assume it’s fully fueled 4/5 passengers,luggage etc. Why some people are mentioning kerb weight I’m not sure as this was never in dispute, I’m just stating in the field max gross weight field on the vin plate mine states 1375 kg other non-Spezial cars in Germany are stamped 1325 kg, hence as I’ve been informed by the Germans this is a sure fire way of checking if a Spezial is one of the 300 built in Germany, from later type cars(small strut top hole etc), if you go and check your car you’ll see the field ‘max gross weight’ although UK cars are not stamped as there was no requirement too, I’ve posted a pic of the vin plate on series x rs2000 on Facebook as I can’t seem to add pics on here. Hope this clears up any confusion. Thanks

[Andyc]

In Germany there was indeed both, i.e. the bolt-on dealer-fit gear and 300 units pulled off the line at Saarlouis and stripped and upgraded in Cologne.

The Spezial models weren't strictly a "factory" model but these 300 did come direct from Ford, however, the type approval number is the same as the standard car 449002 9 although the kerb weight was stated at 1325 kg on the VIN plate, as compared to the 925 kg of standard car.

Here a quote for you from igrs2000:
Die Karosserie erhielt eine Kotflügelverbreiterung mit integriertem Frontspoiler. Darunter verbargen sich 7,5x13" breite RS Aluminium-Räder mit 235/60VR13 Reifen. Unter der Motorhaube werkelte der Bekannte zwei Liter OHC Motor des RS2000, der allerdings eine kräftige Kur über sich ergehen lassen mußte. Gekrönt von zwei IDF 44 Weber-Doppelvergasern erhielt der Motor eine 316° Nockenwelle, größere Ventile und eine höhere Verdichtung. Die jetzt anliegenden 132PS wurden mit belüfteten Bremsen an der Vorderachse ausgebremst, mit einem Hochleistungskühler temperiert und von einem 68 Liter fassendem Kunststofftank im Kofferraum mit Superkraftstoff versorgt. Das, der Großserie gegenüber, längere Getriebe vermittelte die Kraft zwischen Motor und Hinterachse mit 75% Differentialsperre. Das Fahrwerk glänzte mit Bilstein Gasdruck Dämpfern, einer Vorderachstraverse und Rallye-Mehrblattfedern an der Hinterachse. Diese umfassenden Änderungen hatten ihren Preis. Im Gegensatz zum Preis von 15.309 DM für den Großserien RS, mußte der Kunde satte 26.750 DM für den Spezial auf die Ladentheke blättern.

The body received a fender widening with integrated front spoiler. Underneath the bonnet concealed 7.5x13 "wide RS aluminum wheels with 235 / 60VR13 tires under the bonnet the acquaintance tinkered two liter OHC engine of the RS2000, which had to endure a strong cure, crowned by two IDF 44 Weber double carburetors The engine was equipped with a 316 ° camshaft, larger valves and a higher compression.The now attached 132PS were braked with ventilated brakes on the front axle, tempered with a high-performance radiator and super-fueled by a 68-liter plastic tank in the boot The suspension shone with Bilstein gas pressure dampers, a front axle and rally multi-leaf springs on the rear axle.This comprehensive change had its price, unlike the price of 15,309 DM for the large series RS, the customer had a whopping 26,750 DM for the Special on the counter leaf.

[seriesxman]

spec of our car exactly although I lost the high performance radiator due to a theft from my garage, it had an extra inch of cooling fins attached to the front, never seen one since, if anyone has one I’d love to see it or even buy it! Thanks

[seriesxman]

Kerbweight is stated on my RS's reg doc as "Leergewicht 925 kg"

The Kerbweight on my Spezial is 995kg as stated on German logbook, so that’s 70kg added for the extra large fuel tank, fibreglass, extra carb etc.

[Miniliteman]

Does the logbook state anything about the (increased) trackwidth?

[seriesxman]

Yes it lists many of the modifications on the German logbook.