FOCUS RS MK1
WHY YOU WANT ONE…
• Few cars have this heritage – designed to celebrate Ford’s WRC success, developed by SVE, and tested by rally heroes Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz.
• The perfect everyday investment – its value will rise even while miles are piled on, and you won’t spend your journeys to shows waiting for it to break down.
• A real driver’s car, it’s a hardcore warrior that’s happy on road or racetrack – and its legendary handling lets it run rings around much more powerful modern machines.
WHY YOU DON’T…
• Rust is a real problem for the Mk1 Focus, and the RS’s unique panels make restoration costs impressively pricey.
• No longer cheap (or even affordable), this driver’s car is increasingly being tucked away in collections instead of being thrashed.
• Too modern and shouty to be considered a classic, yet for many buyers too precious to be an everyday driver – despite great practicality.
HOW MUCH TO PAY
PROJECT: £8000 TO £14,000
Most ropey RS Mk1s have been stripped and scrapped or restored, but breakers in bits could dip down to £5k. A running car needing bodywork will be £10k, and tatty/high-mileage examples with MOT will top this budget.
GOOD: £14,000 TO £20,000
The bulk of RS Mk1s hover here, with price reflecting mileage and condition. Beware of rotters masquerading as minters, and bear in mind a repaired write-off is worth a third less than a non-Cat C/D/N/S equivalent.
CONCOURS: £20,000 TO £30,000-PLUS
Here you’ll want a standard car (or mild mods) with excellent original or restored bodywork and less than 40,000 miles. Thirty big ones will bag a sub-15,000-miler, while delivery-mileage RSs could command £40k
