VA14806 Ford Escort RS Cosworth, Moondust Silver

The Escort Cosworth Mk1 ‘large turbo’ example modelled was ordered new from Wylie's Ford of 370 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, and first registered on May 11th, 1994, on a private number plate. It has worn private number plates ever since. The second owner, who was based in Gretna Green, acquired it in November 1996, and records show that when he had it serviced on May 21st, 1997, it had still only covered 12,448 miles. 

The current owner, Staffordshire-based BT electronics engineer Darren Frederick Parker, a long-standing fast Ford enthusiast, acquired the car in March 1998 after a thorough search for his dream car and immediately added the numberplate it still wears: DFP 454.

Darren was able to purchase the car because his mother, Lillian Parker, had a small lottery win in November 1997 and divided some of her windfall between her four children. Sadly, she passed away in 2001, making the car even more special. Darren had it resprayed after buying it and commissioned Castle Performance Engineering to remap it to 340bhp in February 1999. 

He’s looked after it fastidiously as its numerous concours trophies, including the RS Ford category winner’s trophy from the 2011 European Ford event in Holland, prove. He also loves driving it, however, and it has now covered 109,000 miles, attending events in Europe and the UK, many of which are organised by the RS Owners Club of which Darren is an enthusiastic member.