Chasing the lineage of the Ford Focus RS

10 August, 2016

Ford has released the latest in a long line of gravel- and track-bred monsters in the form of the brand-new Focus RS. The Focus has been built up by the PlayStation generation more than any car in recent history. One of the reasons for this may be Ford’s relationship with YouTube star, driving genius, and all-round good guy Mr Ken Block. If you’re unfamiliar with Block’s work, check out our coverage of the guy here. I guarantee you’ll be in awe of his skill. It will also give you some understanding as to what this new Focus is all about.

We were put in touch with the New Zealand RS Owners Club and pitched the idea of exploring the lineage of the RS, and suggested a few of its members might be able to come and meet us for a photo shoot and a chat about their cars. Instead, the club kindly put us in touch with a Ford collector who fit the bill perfectly and we jumped at the chance to spend some time with these cars. Here’s an RS gallery to explore, but to get the full review, check out the September issue of New Zealand Classic Car.

Grab a print copy of the mag now!

Lancia Stratos – building a winner

12 March, 2025

On his own, and later with his wife Suzie, Craig Tickle has built and raced many rally cars. Starting in 1988, Craig went half shares in a Mk1 Escort and took it rallying. Apart from a few years in the US studying how to be a nuclear engineer, he has always had a rally car in the garage. When he is not playing with cars, he works as an engineer for his design consulting company.
Naturally, anybody interested in rallying has heard of the Lancia Stratos, the poster child and winner of the World Rally circuit in 1974, ’75, and ’76. Just as the Lamborghini Countach rebranded the world of supercars, so, too, did the Lancia Stratos when it came to getting down and dirty in the rally world.

This could be good news for restoring cars and bikes – but we must be quick!

5 March, 2025

Our parliament is currently considering a member’s Bill, drawn by ballot, called the ‘Right to Repair’ Bill.
It’s due to go a Select Committee for consideration, and we can make submissions ie say what we think of it, before 3 April this year. It’s important because it will make spare parts and information for doing repairs far more readily available and this should slow the rate at which appliances, toys and so on get sent to landfill.

Chasing the lineage of the Ford Focus RS

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