The legendary Ford believed to have been missing for more than 20 years will be sold for an exorbitant sum

CAR fanatics have the chance to own an exclusive classic engine that was custom-made for an important industry figure – and long thought gone.

Unique 1976 Ford Escort MkII RS2000 in Roman Bronze goes up for auction next month in the UK and is expected to sell for an exorbitant sum.

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It is the only version ever made with right-hand drive, automatic gearbox, white and gold stripes and a cream leather interior.

But it’s the original owner that really sets it apart – Henry Ford II, grandson of the industrial giant’s founder, Henry Ford.

The engine – registration ‘NUF 6I7P’ – was created so that businessman Ford, nicknamed Hank the Deuce, could travel around Europe in the 1970s.

His bronze Escort appeared to have been missing for almost two decades before it was bought by a collector and is now set to fetch a staggering sum on August 24th.

Auction house Iconic Auctioneers predicts the car will fetch between £50,000 and £60,000.

It had previously been on display at the Ford Historic Center for several years before going into hiding.

The Ford II itself is credited with reviving the famous company’s fortunes.

Edsel Ford’s eldest son and Henry Ford’s eldest grandson, he served as president of the Ford Motor Company from 1945 to 1960.

He was also CEO from 1947 to 1979 and chairman of the board of directors from 1960 to 1980.

Ford II oversaw FCM’s transition to a publicly traded company in 1956 and pioneered some of its most iconic models.

Ill-prepared for business, he was discharged from naval service to take up a position as vice president of Ford at just 26 when his father, Edsel, died suddenly of cancer in 1943.

The young man took an intensive two-year course in industrial management before becoming president in 1945.

Ford II took over a struggling company, with the elderly Henry Ford I resuming the presidency after Edsel’s death.

This coincided with the company’s rapid decline, losing more than $10 million (£7.78 million) a month – the equivalent of $217 million (£169 million) today.

The US government was even considering acquiring the company to ensure continued war production.

Despite the chaos he inherited, Henry II quickly sought to modernize the company, including the introduction of the famous Mustang and Thunderbird models.

And in the mid-1950s he returned FMC to financial health and the foundation of the modern auto-industrial era.

MOVING TO GREAT BRITAIN

Henry II decided to buy property in Britain in 1974 due to his chairmanship of Ford Europe, meaning he spent a lot of time here.

He often borrowed cars to make long trips to various factories in the UK and ended up asking his friend and vice-president of Ford of Europe, Walter Hayes, to build him “something special”.

The then-new RS2000 had a 2.0-litre four-cylinder Pinto engine and a distinctive ‘droop snoot’ polyurethane nose – and it seemed to fit the bill.

However, the Ford II required an automatic gearbox, despite being able to drive a manual gearbox, something that was not available in the UK.

And so Hayes had his special vehicle team create a one-of-a-kind Fast Ford for the boss.

It was registered in the name of Henry Ford II for his exclusive use on June 8, 1976.

The odometer shows it has covered 44,495 miles in its 48-year history.

“We are delighted to be able to offer this unique RS2000 that was once enjoyed by one of the most influential figures in the history of the automotive industry,” the auction house said, reports. This is money.

Gary Dunne of Iconic Auctions added: “Owning a Ford that was Henry Ford II’s personal car while living in the UK is living history.

“This is also such a unique vehicle that just adds to the potential value and collective.”

The engine will be sold at the Silverstone Festival on August 24th.

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