The Ford Escort Mk II RS1800 is one of the defining rally cars of the late 1970s, yet most collections stop at the Rothmans or Castrol factory liveries. This Trofeu 1:43 moves into less-charted territory: a blue privateer entry, number 34, driven by Portuguese competitor António Carreira at Vila do Conde in 1980 — the season immediately after Ford's official works withdrawal. At just 150 units, it is among the most restricted Escort Mk II releases in Trofeu's catalogue.
The RS1800: Rear-Wheel Drive, Cosworth Power
The Ford Escort Mk II RS1800 sits on a 2,407 mm wheelbase and measures 3,978 mm bumper to bumper. Power comes from a Cosworth BDA or BDG straight-four of 1,840–1,975 cc, producing around 250 hp in full Group 4 rally specification, sent through a five-speed gearbox and a ZF limited-slip differential to the rear wheels. Competition weight ran between 980 and 1,040 kg — a combination that made the car formidable on gravel throughout its career.
1980: The Season After the Factory Left
Ford claimed the FIA Makes' World Championship in 1979 and promptly closed the works Escort programme. What followed was a privateer era: competitors across Europe and the Iberian peninsula continued campaigning Mk IIs through national championships. Vila do Conde, at its competitive peak around 1980, hosted multiple events that year and attracted the likes of António Carreira running number 34 in blue. The circuit and rally venue had built a reputation by the early 1980s that drew competitive domestic entries, and Trofeu documented at least two of these Vila do Conde editions in their own Escort Mk II production run.
Trofeu's 1:43 Die-Cast: Reference RRac 24
Trofeu lists this model under reference RRac 24 on their own website, described as "Vila do Conde 1980 Antonio Carreira". Construction is die-cast metal — the same medium Trofeu has applied to decades of rally subjects — with the blue livery and race number 34 applied to the Mk II body. The edition is confirmed at 150 units, a figure that places it well below Trofeu's standard production runs and complicates restocking once initial allocations clear.
In the Display Cabinet
At 1:43, the model measures approximately 9.5 cm in length — compact enough for a dedicated rally shelf without demanding significant depth. The natural companion piece is Trofeu's Escort Mk II RS2000 number 31 from the 1981 Rally Vila do Conde, together forming a Vila do Conde two-car grouping. Collectors focused on the Escort Mk II's post-factory competitive years, or on the Portuguese domestic rally scene specifically, will find this entry fills a gap that international-livery models leave entirely open.
