The logic of trying the Classic Car Club's RS2000 was to see if it lived up to my expectations: a kind of try-before-you-buy. Spending ΂£4-5K on a stripped and caged Escort only to find that it wouldn't be able to break traction, let alone oversteer on demand, doesn't bear thinking about.

The Club's Bristol division has built this RS2000 from a shell - it's not a real one, but I'd probably be looking at a 'bitsa' too. With riveted-on arches, Minilite-alikes and a Spartan interior, it looks like it'll be perfectly at home on the track. Only the lack of a rollcage spoils the overall effect.

Unfortunately this Escort is a work in progress. It looks the part but mechanically it's not quite so convincing. The 2-litre Pinto engine is in its basic state of tune (around 100bhp) and there's no limited-slip diff. Combine that with chunky 205-section tyres and it's clear that the Escort isn't going to indulge me in Ari Vatenen-style oversteer. In the dry it simply won't budge, spinning its inside rear wheel at best. A more aggressive approach is needed, so I head to Bedford Autodrome.

The Escort doesn't exactly fly, but there's a seed of just how much fun you could have with one of these cars packing the right mechanicals. Turning in on the brakes gets the tail swinging and although it takes on some seriously impressive angles, there's no sense that it's going to bite. Applying a good turn of opposite lock and keeping the throttle buried recovers the slide as smoothly as it began. Out of interest we hooked up our Racelogic timing gear and it recorded a lap time of 1.47.3min, compared to the 1.6-litre Focus we timed earlier in the month at 1.45.9. Not too shabby at all.

So, do I still want a Mk1 Escort? Well, take a look at it! Of course I do. But it's got to be absolutely right. I reckon 170bhp should be enough (a stripped Escort should weigh under 900kg), and it'll need a decent lsd to keep that tail hooked-up once it's swinging. Can it be done for under ΂£5K? That's another question. Whaddaya reckon Mr Barker? www.classiccarclub.co.uk, tel: 0207 490 9090