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This model is the Corgi C612-01 Ford Escort Rally Car in red Datapost livery with racing number 77. The model carries Royal Mail Datapost logos and other sponsorship labels and is a model of the #77 Ford Escort RS1600i which Richard Longman drove in the 1984 British Saloon Car Championship.
The Ford Escort RS1600i first appeared in the British Saloon Car Championship in 1983. Several teams ran the new Ford in the series, but perhaps the most famous, and certainly the most successful, were Richard Longman and Alan Curnow’s Royal Mail Datapost team, and Brooklyn Motorsport. Alan Minshaw’s Golf GTI prevented the Escort from taking the Class C title in its debut year, but by 1984 the RS1600i was the car to beat. In 1984 Curnow took one victory and finished 6th in the championship, while Longman took six victories and the Class C title and 2nd place overall in the championship.
The vehicle has opening front doors only. At the front we have a black plastic front bumper that is molded to include number plate and radiator grille. To each side of the grille are the lights, represented by chrome and orange plastic inserts. On the bonnet is the "77" in white, below which sits the words "Royal Mail Datapost" in yellow. On each side appears "77 Datapost" in white and yellow, together with signage for Duckhams, Trimoco and Ferodo, in white. The rear bumper is separate from the baseplate casting and the rear lights are red plastic inserts.
The interior is all black plastic with a LEFT hand drive, black plastic steering wheel inserted into the black dashboard (instrument panel). Both front seat backs fold forward. The glazing is clear all round and carries cast windscreen wipers and interior rear view mirror.
All wheels are of the "speed wheel" type - hollow one piece plastic with a "chromed" 4 spoke "hub" in the center.
The base plate is black painted metal and is marked at the front in tiny lettering "Made in GT Britain", at the centre top with corgi and at the bottom centre "Ford Escort". The base is also molded to represent a basic front engine pan, gearbox and axles and an exhaust system. It is held in place with three machined rivets.
This model was issued in April 1984 and its scale was said to be 1:36.
Item: 1867