1983 RAC Rally Ford RS1600i

After three classic car tours in three months, I have finally got my head around doing some model again. This set has been on going for ages after IXO announced back in November 2021 they were going to make the Ford RS1600i from the 1983 RAC Rally. They finally arrived in October 2022, the #20 car of Malcolm Wilson and the #22 car of Louise Aitken, but no #71 car for Mark Lovell. Only when I started to look into it did I realise that there were some differences with the #71 car, mainly because it was in a more standard form. The bumpers and interior were different being the obvious outside differences.

It's with considerable thanks to Steve who has encyclopedic knowledge and photographs of all three cars and I believe that all three cars still exist and are being restored

So, looking at the #20 & #22 cars first. This is what is required to get them correct…

Wilson #20

Remove n/s mirror
Remove rear wiper
Add Psimat sticker to n/s rear window

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Aitken-Walker #22

Remove n/s mirror
Remove rear wiper
Remove Psimat sticker from o/s rear window
Add   Junior Rally Team    on bonnet and back edge of the roof

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Lovell #71

Add   Junior Rally Team    on bonnet and back edge of the roof
Add Decosol stickers to rear wings note different positions
Add Psimat sticker to n/s rear window
Remove Motorsport & Ford from bonnet
Reposition rally plate on bonnet & add 71 correct number on rear rally plate
Correct number plates to KEV 100Y
Correct drivers names on door
Remove AP Lockheed & Pirelli from rear wing
Remove both front & rear sunvisors and add Pirelli in their place
Remove Ford Rallye Sports Parts from front wings
Add Ford logo below rear number plate and bumper
Bumpers are white on top and bottom edges.
Add over ridders on bumpers
Remove fuel cap from n/s rear wing
Floor is white and remove real parcel shelf

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83 RAC Lovell

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HPU 73Y later appeared in Mark Lovells hands on the 1985 Swedish Rally. Trying to sort the decals out for this one needed help from rally friends in Finland

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Great work Chris

I forgot to add the 85 Swedish car, photo in the morning

Chris

1985 SWEDISH RALLY

#16 Mark Lovell & Pete Davis

HPU 73Y was the car used by Malcolm Wilson on the 1983 RAC Rally.

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Chris

Looks great Chris

I love seeing posts a collection like this, it really shows to time and dedication you have put in to get them over the line.

That looks great as well

Great conversions CD. Would love both of those. First time I have ever seen pics of the Sweden car.

excellent!! well done mate! they look class,,,,

Zeus wrote:Great conversions CD. Would love both of those. First time I have ever seen pics of the Sweden car.

Dave

Email sent with a few more photos.

Chris

Chris, you are probably going to hate me, but I have a feeling the blue stripes on the Lovell car are different to the other two. I mean the actual shades of blue appear to be in a different order. sorry, Mal

Mal

No worries.

I will ask the person that knows all about these real cars for his opinion and get back to you

Chris

Mal

All three RS1600i were built by MCD and all were the same colours and shades of blue. Cant really see a reason why they would be different if they are in the same team.

This is the problem we all have looking at photos that are now 40 years old, that in period used different type of film.

Kodak always had a ting of blue, Agfa had a ting of green (or was it the other way around??) to their photos and those taken in the dark using a flash, all of which help to distort the colours. Then there are 40 years of copying and recopying....

So I think we are safe to assume that the colours would be the same across three team cars.

Chris