Chris' Object of Automotive Desire - 10/20

Today's COoAD, the Ford RS200, is an obscure model - designed as a limited-production homologation special to legalize its counterpart Group B World Rally Car.

The Group B cars were famous in the 1980s for their high-strung, high-boost turbocharged engines and incredible (for the time) all-wheel-drive traction. Group B cars were infamous for their tendency to overwhelm even the best professional rally drivers, and several drivers were killed before Group B cars were eventually banned in favor of today's tamer World Rally Cars.

The Porsche 959 was one such example, but this one - plebian nameplate and generic looks notwithstanding - was more powerful and challenging even than the ultimate Porsche. This is one of history's all-time unknown supercars, and I've wanted one ever since I was it on the cover of an issue of Autoweek in 1985.

http://www.motorbase.com/vehicle/by-id/-294984041/gallery.ehtml
http://www.ianhardy.net/ford_rs200.php
http://www.ianhardy.net/gallery/ford_rs200
http://www.staufferclassics.com/rs200.html
http://www.isitaboat.co.uk/rally/ford_rs200/