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Ford Escort RS 1600 Mk1 #3 V. Preston Jr. / B. Smith Safari Rally 1973 IXO 1:18

Ford Escort RS 1600 Mk1 #3 V. Preston Jr. / B. Smith Safari Rally 1973 IXO 1:18 18RMC075B Diecast
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IXO's 1:18 diecast Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1 reproduces car #3 as driven by Vic Preston Jr. and Brian Smith at the punishing 1973 Safari Rally in East Africa. Full period livery, sponsor graphics, and Mk1 rally bodywork make this a distinctive entry point into the Escort's international rallying history.
Ford Escort RS 1600 Mk1 #3 V. Preston Jr. / B. Smith Safari Rally 1973 IXO 1:18
Current price: £53.00
Last one in stock
Estimated delivery: 28.08-01.09.2026
Delivery from £9.00 Tracked & insured
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Specifications
Car Brand
Ford
Model Manufacturer
IXO
Scale
1:18
Material
Diecast
Model Condition
New Model
SKU
18RMC075B
Genuine articles Sourced from manufacturers
5-layer carton Foam-filled interior
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About the Ford Escort RS 1600 Mk1 #3 V. Preston Jr. / B. Smith Safari Rally 1973 IXO 1:18

TL;DR: IXO's 1:18 diecast Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1 recreates the #3 car of Vic Preston Jr. and Brian Smith from the 1973 Safari Rally in East Africa. Period livery detail and Mk1 rally bodywork anchor a WRC Classic display around one of the era's toughest events.

The Safari Rally was notoriously brutal on machinery and crews alike, and an Escort finished in that event's specific livery carries a different kind of story than a European forest-stage entry.

Rally-Spec Bodywork for a Punishing Event

Safari-prepared Escorts typically ran raised ride height and additional protection over the standard rally specification, a response to the East African event's rough terrain, and that detail is worth checking on this casting against period photography if it forms part of the appeal. The #3 competition number and period sponsor graphics should sit sharply printed against the body colour, ideally tampo-printed for durability rather than decals that can lift at the edges with age. Zinc alloy construction gives the compact Mk1 body genuine weight, and the driving lamps mounted ahead of the grille remain one of the era's most recognisable rally details. Wheel and suspension detail at this tier stays functional rather than fully mechanical, a reasonable trade for an accessible licensed livery piece.

A Distinct Chapter in the Escort's Rally Story

The Escort Mk1's rallying reputation was built across a wide range of events and terrains, and a Safari Rally entry adds genuine variety to a collection that might otherwise lean heavily on European forest and tarmac rounds. Paired with the RAC Rally version of the same car or other period Escorts, it builds a more rounded picture of the Mk1's international competition record through the 1970s. At this diecast tier, livery accuracy and body detailing stay confident while the interior remains simplified, a sensible balance for the price. Kept out of strong sunlight, the printed graphics and body colour hold their sharpness for years of display rather than fading into a duller, less legible livery.

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