1976 Ford Escort Mk II RS1800
Registration: ONO 804P
Chassis No: GCATSA04069
Engine No: SA04069
Odometer: 24,186 genuine miles
Key Facts..
* One of only 109 examples ever manufactured
* 24,186 miles from new
* Originally one of five Ford press cars
* Single private ownership since 1977 — the Collard motorsport family
Provenance..
First registered to The Ford Motor Company on 19 May 1976, this RS1800 — registration ONO 804P — was one of only five press demonstrators built by Ford for promotional and media use.
After less than a year in Ford’s hands, the car was sold on 8 March 1977 to Mick “Duffy” Collard, who would keep it within his family for nearly five decades.
Photos during Ford’s ownership: https://ibb.co/album/WNkVLm
Ownership and Early Life..
Upon purchase, Mick Collard — a Ford works driver and prominent figure in British motorsport — used the RS1800 for several years. In the late 1980s, the car underwent a sympathetic restoration overseen by Colin Beverley, himself an RS1800 owner (previously of KIA 9922).
During that restoration, the engine was stripped and sent to Holbay Engineering for a professional rebuild. Afterward, the car was carefully stored for around 35 years in a barn, with its freshly rebuilt engine sitting on a pallet alongside it — untouched and preserved.
Leaving the barn for restoration: https://ibb.co/album/9Hrh8Z
Restoration and Condition..
When the car was recommissioned decades later, the goal was simple: to present one of the most original and well-preserved RS1800s in existence.
The Diamond White bodywork was refinished to a factory standard with excellent panel gaps and attention to originality throughout.
Mick’s long-time friend Terry, who assisted in the restoration, confirmed that the body shell, floors, and panels are entirely original — just as they left the factory. Even the brake backing plates remained in such exceptional condition that the restorer photographed them for documentation!
Bare metal & restoration images: https://ibb.co/album/kJMZcM
In paint and brake backing plate images: https://ibb.co/album/PZ5XPn
During research, it was initially thought that the front passenger wing had been replaced, since the aerial was seen on the opposite side in earlier photos. Terry later clarified that Mick had the aerial moved to the driver’s side out of practicality — he simply disliked walking around the car to extend it. The original hole was neatly plated over, with photographic evidence included.
Welded aerial plate: https://ibb.co/album/JFZjty
Todays condition: https://ibb.co/album/JW9jc4
Ownership and Motorsport Heritage..
Today, the V5C confirms two owners from new:
* Ford Motor Company Ltd
* Mr. Mick “Duffy” Collard
Mick Collard was much more than a private enthusiast — he was a factory driver for Ford during the 1970s and 1980s, achieving fame as the 1980 World Hot Rod Champion.
The Collard name has since become synonymous with British motorsport. Mick’s son Rob Collard and grandsons Ricky and Jordan Collard have all enjoyed successful professional racing careers, carrying forward the family legacy.
Known affectionately as “Duffy,” Mick Collard was a crowd favourite — a farmer by day and racer by night — who competed against the likes of Martin Brundle and Derek Warwick. His showmanship was legendary; fans still recall his daring sideways overtakes and the commentator’s cry: “He’s even got time to wave! What a character! What a boy!”
More about the Collard family: www.collardracing.com
During his ownership, ONO 804P also carried the registration “19 BAN” for a period, before being returned to its original Ford-issued number plate, ONO 804P.
Summary..
ONO 804P represents a rare and significant piece of Ford’s rally-bred heritage — a press-fleet RS1800 with impeccable provenance, low mileage, and a direct link to one of the most charismatic drivers in Ford’s motorsport history.
Lovingly preserved, sympathetically restored, and still carrying its original soul, this car stands as one of the most authentic examples of the RS1800 legacy — a true survivor from the golden era of Ford performance.
