London Concours 2025: The World’s Most Exciting Fast Fords Together

The London Concours 2025, set against the historic Honourable Artillery Company, showcased a remarkable collection of Ford’s iconic performance vehicles. Presented by Adrian Flux, this curated selection paid homage to Ford’s rich motorsport and performance engineering legacy. It also captivated enthusiasts with its impressive breadth and exceptional quality.

Moreover, the ‘Fast Fords’ class featured ten standout models, each highlighting a significant chapter in Ford’s performance history.

1968 Ford GT40

With its efforts at Le Mans finally paying off in 1966, Ford turned to producing its own road-going version: The Mklll. Launched in 1967, it featured a detuned 289ci or 302ci V8, a slightly more civil ride and How and track civilised interior, a higher ride height, bumperettes and stowage for touring. However, its $18,500 (£13,720) price and different look to the track car kept sales at seven.

This GT40’s first owner was Sir Max Aitken, who passed it to Brian Auger in 1973; he repainted it white with blue stripes. A new owner acquired the car in 1981 and placed it in the National Motor Museum, where it stayed until 2011.

The current owner set about restoring it via CKL Developments, returning it to its original maroon paint along the way. The Ford has since been seen at concours such as Villa d’Este, Amelia Island and Pebble Beach, as well as making regular appearances as the Goodwood Revival’s course car.

1996 Ford Escort RS Cosworth

The Blue Oval had invested significant funds into the bespoke RS200 Group B rally car. So when Group B was cancelled, it found itself without anything to truly take on the mighty Lancia Delta in WRC. Truly take on the mighty Lancia Delta in WRC.

As such, it developed the RS Cosworth using a shortened Sapphire 4×4 platform and a Karmann-built body. The design was loosely based on the MkV Escort, with only the doors and roof remaining stock. The bodykit and wing made it the first mass-production car to generate downforce at both front and rear. It produced 224bhp from its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. Although it didn’t win the WRC, it secured several national championship titles. On the road, it became a folk hero.

This example is a ‘Small Turbo’ model introduced in 1994. One of 104 in Auralis Blue, it features black leather trim and has done only 16,500 miles.

1968 Shelby Mustang GT500KR

Built by Shelby American as an upgrade package, the ‘King of the Road’ GT500KR was the most powerful Mustang available. Output of its ‘335bhp’ 428 Cobra Jet V8 was in reality closer to 400bhp. It had a glassfibre hood as well as upgraded suspension and brakes, and could do 0-60mph in about 6.0sec; 1571 fastbacks and 517 drop-tops were built between late 1967 and the end of 68.

This particular car is one of 1053 built in 1968, one of 523 with an auto, one of 96 in Acapulco Blue, one of 63 with a 3.5 Traction-Lok rear axle, and the only one shipped to Belgium. The current owner, its fourth, acquired the car in 2017.

1972 Ford Capri Perana V8

Ford’s South African division needed something mighty for touring car racing, so it turned to local tuner Basil Green Motors to create the Capri Perana. With a 302ci Windsor V8, the lightweight car won 12 of 13 races in 1971. In the end it was effectively banned from Group 5.

With 280bhp and upgraded mechanicals all round, the road car could hit 60mph in less than 6.0 seconds and top out at 140mph-plus. Fewer than 500 were built, and only a tiny number went abroad.

This car was once owned by South Africa

World Heavyweight boxing champ Gerrie Coetzee. It’s just had a nut-and-bolt restoration, with all work excluding the respray undertaken by the current owner.

2005 Ford GT

To celebrate 100 years in 2003, Ford needed to do something special, and the GT – the spiritual successor to the GT40 – was the result. After four years of R&D, a concept was shown at the 2002 Detroit Auto Show. Just 15 months later, in June 2003, three production-spec cars were displayed at the Centennial Celebration.

A supercharged 5.4- litre V8 engine boasting 550bhp and s0olb ft of torque resulted in a top speed of 205mph and a 3.5-second 60mph sprint.

Between 2005 and 2006 4038 examples were built, with just 101 coming to Europe – and 28 of them heading to the UK.

This particular car is in original spec aside from a sports exhaust.

1986 Ford RS200

Ford had a long and proud rallying history, and in the 1980s it built this mid-engined 4WD car to conquer the WRC.

The 1.8-litre engine made 250bhp in road trim and up to 450bhp in rally spec. The Group B ban meant the RS200 never achieved its aim, but it did win the British Rally Championships.

One of 15 built to RHD rally spec, this car spent its first 30 years largely in storage. The present owner got it on 1100 miles, and has doubled that since.

It is regularly used during the summer, and it joined 29 other examples at the Silverstone Festival in 2023, for a bid to get the most RS200s in one place.

1986 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth

The Sierra Cosworth was built to dominate Group A touring cars. Its Cosworth head on a Ford Pinto block produced 204bhp in road trim, but 500bhp-plus for racing and aftermarket tuning. The Cossie soon became a folk hero – with a few tweaks, it could better Ferrari and Porsche exotica.

This particular model, the 171st built, has been with its current keeper since June 1992. The unchipped engine is original, and the car served as the owner’s daily early on. It’s had some bodywork restoration, a few cosmetic changes and tech upgrades. The original dash has been replaced and additional gauges fitted.

2021 Ford GT Carbon Edition

Celebrating 50 years since its 1966 Le Mans win, Ford took victory in the LM GTE-Pro in 2016 with a new GT. The car imbued the original model’s design cues in a teardrop shape inspired by LMP1 endurance racing cars. It used a 647bhp 3.5-litre twin-turbo Eco Boost V6.

With a carbonfibre monocoque attached to aluminium front and rear sub frames, carbonfibre bodywork, pushrod suspension and optional carbonfibre wheels, the GT was state of the art.

All out the Ford GT could hit 216mph, having blasted through the 0-60mph sprint in a mere 3.0 seconds. It was so quick, it took little more than twice that to reach 100mph, with 170mph taking just 21.4 seconds from rest.

1980 Ford Capri 3.0S X-Pack

The X-Pack programme featured factory-approved performance upgrades developed by Ford’s Special Vehicle Engineering division.

This particular Capri started out as a standard 3.0S but was enhanced with numerous X-Pack options such as the Series X wide body kit, RS lowered suspension, 7.5in RS wheels, a Group 1 RS rear spoiler and triple 42 Weber carbs. When finished it was a £10,300 car (£57,615 now), with upgrades accounting for half of that. The current owner bought the car in 2008.

He carried out a full body restoration with a Ric Wood 205bhp 3.4-litre Essex engine. It’s now finished in Midnight Blue metallic with split-rim alloys, a Jan speed exhaust and Bilstein dampers.

1965 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk1

In a 1960s bid to shake off its staid image and break into the world of motor sport and performance cars, Ford of Britain decided to partner with Colin Chapman of Lotus Cars. As a result, the resultant saloon featured a 1.6-litre twin-cam with Lotus aluminium head, close-ratio gearbox, and aluminium panels. Ultimately, around 3,000 were built, and consequently, it went on to win the British Saloon Car Championship.

This particular car is the longer-ratio 2000E ‘box, leaf-sprung axle, revised dash and self-adjusting rear drum brakes. It boasts the full set of aluminium panels. It had a total engine, transmission and bare-metal body restoration in 2015. If you want to see more London Concours content, head over to our YouTube channel to see our London Concours playlist.

A Tribute to Performance Heritage

Each vehicle in the ‘Fast Fords’ class told a story of innovation, competition, and passion. From rally stages to race tracks, these models had left an indelible mark on automotive history. Their inclusion in the London Concours 2025 gave attendees a unique opportunity to appreciate the evolution of Ford’s performance lineage.

Engage with the Legacy

The London Concours 2025 not only celebrated these iconic vehicles but also invited enthusiasts to reflect on their impact. Which of these ‘Fast Fords’ resonated most with you? Did you have memories or experiences with any of these models? Share your thoughts and stories in the comments below.

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