As the automotive industry at large struggles to regain its footing following coronavirus-related slowdowns and shutdowns, the pandemic's effects on the secondhand and collectible markets remain hard to judge. On one hand, major events like the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance were canceled—on the other, some pretty incredible cars have been popping up for sale online. And now, as the auction website Bring a Trailer lists a fully-prepped Ford Escort Mk1-inspired race car for sale, having recently posted a hardcore Corvette Pikes Peak racer, as well, perhaps the evidence is starting to show that even the wealthiest enthusiasts out there have decided it's not worth getting back into the world of motorsport because it simply requires too much human contact.
Born To Run
This car isn't a Ford Escort built by the factory, to be clear. It's a full-on tube-frame racer built up in 2015 by SHP Engineering in the UK and was intended for competition in the European Hill Climb Championship series.
The bodywork is constructed out of fiberglass, while motivation is provided by a 2.9-liter V8 featuring a duo of Suzuki Hayabusa cylinder heads and was built by Radical Performance Engines. Other features of the powerplant include a flat-plane crankshaft, individual throttle bodies, and a dry-sump oiling system to help prevent oil starvation during hard cornering.
On The Interior
That motor setup routes power to the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential gearbox by Quaife, with paddle shifters visible in the photo behind the Sparco steering wheel. The car is right-hand-drive at the moment, though it's being sold out of New Haven, Michigan, with a fully race-ready interior including a roll cage, carbon-fiber racing seat, Schroth harnesses, and a fire suppression system. Bidding currently sits at $11,111 with six days until the auction closes.
Source: Bringatrailer