4 hours ago
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One of the most iconic Mk2 Ford Escorts, once owned by the legendary Ken Block, has hit the market, and the bids are already skyrocketing.
Ken Block's 1978 Mk2 Ford Escort is going under the hammer, and has already attracted bids of USD$215,000 (around AUD$312,822).
The two-door saloon – bearing little resemblance to a standard road-going model – was acquired by the late, renowned stunt driver in 2008 and transformed into a purpose-built drift car for Gymkhana Grid competition.
As part of its make-over it was converted to left-hand drive before undergoing an extensive overhaul. The steel body was heavily reworked, receiving a Rocket Bunny wide-body kit with extended wheel arches, a boot lid spoiler, and a carbon fibre roof air intake.
The side windows were replaced with polycarbonate, and the car was finished in matte black, complete with an American flag on the bonnet.
The Quick Motorsport Team worked on various components including reinforcing the chassis, upgrading the suspension, and installing a 2.5-litre DOHC Millington Diamond inline-four engine.
This was mated to a Sadev six-speed sequential manual gearbox sending power to the rear wheels. The inline engine boasts 333 horsepower (245kW), and 334Nm, which redlines at 9,000rpm.
Further modifications include a front air dam, roof scoop, and rear spoiler to create the necessary downforce. Inside, a completely stripped interior kept weight down to just 906kg, featuring only the fundamentals for driving: a Sparco steering wheel, Recaro carbon-fibre bucket seats, and a roll cage.
Unveiled in October 2015, the Escort has enjoyed its time in the spotlight over the years – featured in the Hoonigan car pack for the Forza racing game series, before being sold in 2021.
The icon is being sold through Bring a Trailer, with the auction ending on Friday, 3 April.
Emma has been on our television screens for over a decade. Most of her time in the industry has been spent at racetracks reporting at major motorsport events in Australia - from TCR and Superbikes to Porsche Sprint Challenge and Supercars. Emma has also hosted various MotoGP and F1 events interviewing the likes of Daniel Ricciardo and Jack Miller. Having previously presented on an automotive show, she made her move to the Drive family in 2020. Fiercely proud of her Italian heritage, Emma is a coffee loving, stylish-black wearing resident of Melbourne.
