I purchased and 1st registered my R S Turbo on 6 February 1986, from Invicta Motor Group in Canterbury Kent for an on the road price of £8,961.39
One year later stolen, found the next day ½ mile away less 5 wheels, parcel shelf speakers, jack and tool box.
Alas not on bricks but on the ground. Four Yale dead locks fitted. Six weeks after getting the car repaired and back on the road…Car keys stolen car gone. This time it did 156 miles, thief caught 22.00hrs that night and all 4 rims had
been scraped along the kerbs.
Due to so many “Hot Hatches” being stolen (despite having a maximum no claim bonus) my insurance premiums had
started at £236 in 1986 and by 1989 had increased to£395.To combat the increase and thieves a Thatham approved immobilizer was fitted which gave me about 20% reduction in premiums
Disaster, January 2002 car went in for usual service and MOT. The garage owner was out testing the car when
another motorist pulled straight out and into the near side causing major damage to the car and injury (neck and back) to the driver of my car. It took 6 months to resolve and source parts/repair and get back on the road. Considering the age
of car it stood up to he impact pretty well as the pictures will show.
“TECH BITS”
The car remains as standard with no go faster bits added, if it did not have it when Mr Henry Ford sold it to me,
I was not going to add it later.
Mileage 135,000+, original engine, gear box & turbo. No rebuilds.
All the usual rust areas were sorted 7 years ago.
Clutch replaced at 104,000m only because the central locating bolt sheared. Shock absorbers 92,000m, front disc
77,000m.
Interior all original.
In daily use up until 2002, at which point family needs required a large 4 door car. So unable to part with the RS an every day car was purchased and it now only comes out on sunny days!
Andrew Houghton
RSOC membership no 39332
One year later stolen, found the next day ½ mile away less 5 wheels, parcel shelf speakers, jack and tool box.
Alas not on bricks but on the ground. Four Yale dead locks fitted. Six weeks after getting the car repaired and back on the road…Car keys stolen car gone. This time it did 156 miles, thief caught 22.00hrs that night and all 4 rims had
been scraped along the kerbs.
Due to so many “Hot Hatches” being stolen (despite having a maximum no claim bonus) my insurance premiums had
started at £236 in 1986 and by 1989 had increased to£395.To combat the increase and thieves a Thatham approved immobilizer was fitted which gave me about 20% reduction in premiums
Disaster, January 2002 car went in for usual service and MOT. The garage owner was out testing the car when
another motorist pulled straight out and into the near side causing major damage to the car and injury (neck and back) to the driver of my car. It took 6 months to resolve and source parts/repair and get back on the road. Considering the age
of car it stood up to he impact pretty well as the pictures will show.
“TECH BITS”
The car remains as standard with no go faster bits added, if it did not have it when Mr Henry Ford sold it to me,
I was not going to add it later.
Mileage 135,000+, original engine, gear box & turbo. No rebuilds.
All the usual rust areas were sorted 7 years ago.
Clutch replaced at 104,000m only because the central locating bolt sheared. Shock absorbers 92,000m, front disc
77,000m.
Interior all original.
In daily use up until 2002, at which point family needs required a large 4 door car. So unable to part with the RS an every day car was purchased and it now only comes out on sunny days!
Andrew Houghton
RSOC membership no 39332