- Jeremy Clarkson used to drive this Ford Escort RS Cosworth.
- It’s one of Ford’s three pre-production prototypes.
- Now, it’s going up for auction on August 24.
The Ford Escort RS Cosworth is a world-renowned hot hatch that auto enthusiasts love. Jeremy Clarkson is a household name in the automotive industry. The two shared some significant time together and now, you can be a part of that journey.
Ford’s Escort RS Cosworth is a homologation special that punched way above its weight. It had a top speed of 150 mph (240 km/h) and was the first production car to make the kind of downforce it did at speed. It also sent two-thirds of its power to the rear wheels.
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No wonder Jeremy Clarkson called it one of his all-time favorite cars. Of course, some of that might come down to just how well-made his example was. According to the auction listing, this is one of three pre-production prototypes hand-built by Ford. The automaker loaned this exact car to Clarkson with the intention that he’d test it.
When his initial time with it was over, the car became a prize through Top Gear magazine. Then, in 2000, Clarkson got behind the wheel again for a feature on Clarkson’s Car Years where he drove the car over Buttertubs Pass in North Yorkshire.
As homologation specials go, the Escort RS Cosworth is a fairly rare bird with just 2,500 examples produced. Stack on top of that the rarity of a pre-production model and it’s easy to see why the price might be higher than average. Of course, the celebrity factor won’t hurt its value either. It’s available on August 24 at Iconic Auctioneers and it’s estimated to sell for £65,000 – £75,000 or roughly $81,250 – $93,750. Considering his history with the car we wouldn’t be wildly shocked if Jezza bought it himself.
