► Ford RS200 and Mk1 Escort to be revived
► Restomod versions by Boreham Motorworks
► Will be done with Ford’s blessing
The wild Ford RS200 and Mk1 Escort will be given a new lease of life as Boreham Motorworks announces ‘a series of continuation and remastered’ versions of some of Ford’s most memorable models.
Boreham Motorworks, a division of the DRVN Automotive Group, is an official licence partner of Ford, working to create road cars and motorsport models. The first model being remastered for the 21st century is the RS200 – Ford’s infamous Group B rallying monster that turns 40 years old in 2024.
The new RS200 model will be built from the ground up, with the aim to include many facets of the original’s engineering as possible – namely a mid-engine, all-wheel drive configuration and lightweight construction.
Next up will be a version of the Mk1 Escort. Boreham Motorworks is calling this one a continuation, taking heavy motorsport inspiration from the Group 5 racing model driven by Alan Mann. The team say it will create a ‘blueprint-accurate, period-sympathetic’ car with continuation VIN.
And both of these projects have Ford’s blessing. ‘We are thrilled to embark on this journey with Ford Motor Company and kickstart a series that will redefine and remaster these icons of the past,’ says DRVN group executive chairman, Darren McDermott.
These two will be just the start, with Boreham Motorworks intending on creating five more ‘iconic Ford vehicles’ over the years to come.
Hold on a minute. How on earth has a company I’ve never heard of managed to get Ford to agree to this?
Exactly the question we put to Boreham Motorworks – after all the Mk1 Escort and RS200 are two of Ford’s most iconic models. Surely you don’t just hand the keys to recreating them to the first people that ask.
The answer is apparently legwork – the DRVN team are said to have spent plenty of time in Detroit, getting to know the right people. Indeed, the relationship with Ford managing director Jim Farley is said to be ‘great’, and there are some key hires at Boreham Motorworks behind the scenes as well. We’re expecting to learn more about this in the coming weeks.
It also helps to understand a little more about the DRVN Automotive Group. Boreham Motorworks is the newest offshoot of a collection of companies that also includes DRVN Advanced Engineering – a consultancy established in 2005 that works with automotive OEMs doing hush-hush development work and high-performance vehicle engineering – air intake and filtration specialists ITG, Evolution E-Types and JE Motorworks.
The former is fairly obviously a concourse-grade E-Type specialist and moderniser, the latter a Land Rover specialist with storied and historic ties to the brand. This includes building and developing Paris-Dakar cars for the company and becoming renown for its experience with the Rover V8. It now largely concentrates on restomods.
Then there’s Alan Mann Racing, which has ties to Ford dating back to the 1960s when it worked directly with the blue oval to develop competition cars with a roster of drivers including Jacky Ickx, Graham Hill, Frank Gardner, Sir Jackie Stewart and Bruce McLaren.
Suddenly it all starts to make sense…
When will we learn more?
We understand that Boreham Motorworks will be at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2024, in the capacity of hosts for clients, potential customers and some VIPs. Hopefully this should mean a little more info will be forthcoming around the middle of July.
Finally, the word ‘remastered’ probably puts you in mind of Singer (though that’s actually Reimagined) and Gunther Werks. But unlike those vehicles, we’re told that all of the Boreham Motorworks machines will be new from the ground up, rather than based on donor vehicles.
Can’t wait to find out which other cars in the Ford back catalogue will be getting the treatment.