2003 Ford Mk1 Focus RS

Number 2,238 in the run and therefore one of the later cars that feature the green ‘Engine Start’ button, this wonderful Ford Focus RS has been in a private collection for the past nine years, during which time it has covered just 4,000 miles.

With just two previous registered keepers, the digital odometer still reads just 80,000 miles and its provenance is such that it comes with an excellent history that includes the original bill of sale in addition to a well-stamped service history booklet with main dealer stamps to 2016 and 74,000 miles, with a specialist RS independent maintaining it thereafter.

All of which means that if you’ve been looking for a clean, original example of an iconic fast Ford then ‘OO53 CJK’ might just be the ticket, especially as the seller has sufficient faith in its quality to offer it with no reserve.

We’ve sold a few cars from the owner’s collection over the past couple of years and every single one has been a cracking car because he buys carefully and then looks after them properly.

As you can see here.

Beautifully presented, the Imperial Blue bodywork gleams with an unholy shine. There are no dents, scuffs, or damage either, and squatting down to peer along the sides shows no ripples or car park dinks. Even the wheelarches, long known as a weak point on the model, are free of rust.

As with every fast Ford, accident damage should be at the forefront of your mind, and we can’t see anything there that worries us. With consistent and even shutlines, great panel alignment, and a clear Vehicle History Check, this one looks every bit as good close up as it does in the photos.

The RS addenda are present and correct and if it looks a little subdued next to something like the Cosworth Fords then rest assured that the combination of a body kit, big OZ wheels, and flared wheelarches gives the Focus an imposing presence in real life. 

As for the condition of the 18-inch alloy wheels, they are all very good with no scuffs, scrapes or other damage. Their five-spoke design allows you to admire the Brembo callipers behind them and they’re fitted with a matching set of good Continental SportContact 7 tyres.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

The lamp lenses, badges and window is all good too, which means there’s nothing for the new owner to worry about other than a little alloy corrosion on the door window frames.

The black and blue steering wheel might not be the last word in good taste, but it is original and in great condition – and that’s the most important thing when you’re looking at buying a collectors’ car, right?

It’s the same story with the matching Sparco seats; they might not be subtle but there’s no denying either their authenticity or condition. Very comfortable and hugely supportive, they are free of any significant wear with only light bobbling to the bolsters betraying their age. (Which is more than 20 years, by the way, so aren’t we all feeling old right now?)

The rear seat, complete with Sparco branding, is excellent.

As for the gear knob and the Sparco handbrake handle and pedals, you could be forgiven for thinking are aftermarket - they aren’t. They’re the ones Ford installed in the factory and their condition is virtually unmarked, as is the badge on the centre console that confirms this is car number 2,238 in the run.

As we mentioned earlier, being a later MKI, it benefits from the green ‘Engine Start’ button, which works, like everything else, as it should.

RS mats protect the good carpets underneath and, as you’ve probably guessed by now, the door cards, headlining, and dashboard are all good, too.

The boot is very good, including the fragile parcel shelf. Lifting the carpet reveals only clean metal and the tool kit and compressor.

The Focus’s maintenance and service history is recorded as follows:

• 26.09.2003 – supplied by Dixon Distribution
• 09.08.2004 and 12,613 miles – service by Hendy Ford Chichester
• 10.08.2005 and 25,253 miles – service by Hendy Ford Chichester
• 23.10.2007 and 46,381 miles – service by Hendy Ford Chichester
• 06.10.2009 and 48,494 miles – service by Hendy Ford Chichester
• 12.02.2015 and 65,132 miles – service by Allen Ford 
• 07.01.2016 and 76,594 miles – service by Allen Ford
• 15.12.2016 and 78,975 miles – new camshaft timing belt and tensioners plus a new fuel pump, auxiliary drive belt and a sender unit by Graham Goode Motors
• 18.10.2019 and 79,778 miles – service by Graham Goode Motors including fresh brake fluid
• 17.10.2023 and 79,965 miles – service by Graham Goode Motors

As you can see it starts well, idles evenly, and revs as it should with a suitably fruity exhaust note.

The underside looks good and solid – certainly no MoT tester has ever had cause to mention structural rot or corrosion – but if you were to want to remove the surface rust from the suspension components, few would accuse you of being overly fussy given how good the rest of the car is.

The engine bay is very clean and neatly presented, so that can be left well alone and just enjoyed as it is once you’ve sorted the small amount of surface rust that’s broken out on the bonnet slam panel and strut tops.

As for mechanical work that needs doing, the rear brake callipers would benefit from being refurbished as they aren’t as clean as the ones on the front.

That said, they clearly work properly as the RS’s MoT certificate, which is valid until October 2024, was issued with no advisories following recommissioning work by Graham Goode Motors.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear and the Focus comes with the book pack and wallet, the well-stamped service history log, and a wad of old invoices and MoT certificates.

Fast Fords always find a ready market, largely because as well as being an absolute hoot to drive, they are as easy to maintain as the shopping cars they’re based on.

And this, the MKI Focus RS, marks the rebirth of a dynasty, which adds to its desirability.

It’s also largely analogue, so does what you tell it to rather than interfering because it thinks it knows best. That’s a hugely appealing characteristic in a sporting hatchback and one we’re going to miss now every new car is neutered by the nanny state in the name of keeping you ‘safe’.

As for where the virtual hammer will fall, our estimate is somewhere between £16,000 and £19,000 but the seller believes it is good enough to be able to offer it with no reserve, so it’s going to sell from the very first bid.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.