You could own John Fitzpatrick’s Ford Escort RS1600

That wouldn't be his only title in a career that endured until the 1980s. Fitzpatrick climbed the motorsport ladder to race GT cars and in IMSA. He took European GT titles driving Kremer Porsches in 1972 and ’74 and was IMSA Champion in 1980. A year later, he established John Fitzpatrick Racing, running Porsche 935s.

That rarefied world is some distance from the Blue Oval cars he raced for so many years on British soil, this Escort RS1600 being among their number. Despite the RS1600 moniker, the Escort’s Cosworth BDA engine was bored out to 1,700cc and later 1,800cc, driving through a ZF dogleg gearbox. Its Ermine White paintwork is the same shade used on Lotus Cortinas in the previous decade, enlivened by Castrol stripes.

It was built for the 1971 British Saloon Car Championship, during which he claimed class wins in seven out of twelve entries and overall victory twice, both times at Brands Hatch. That meant outpacing the V8 Chevrolet Camaros of Frank Garnder and Brian Muir.

One of those battles, in the final round of the season, saw Fitzpatrick crash the Escort heavily when it had already been pre-sold by Broadspeed and was destined to be shipped to New Zealand. Instead, it became a rally car for the 1970s and was eventually modified to race in Thunder Saloons in the 1990s.

Today, it has been faithfully restored to its original 1970s specification with new steel and a period-correct 1,800cc BDA engine, and it’s coming up for sale in Bonhams|Cars 83^rd Members’ Meeting sale on the Sunday. If all the 1990s Super Touring action has got you into tin top action, but you fancy something a little older, the ex-Fitzpatrick Escort is estimated to sell at £150,000 to £200,000.

The 83^rd Members' Meeting presented by Audrain Motorsport takes place on the 18^th & 19^th April 2026. Tickets are now sold out. You can sign up for ticket alerts for 2027 and join the Fellowship today so you can be alerted when tickets for 84MM go on sale.

Images courtesy of Bonhams|Cars.