1976 Ford Escort Mk II Saloon
A Ford Escort (registration NUS 877P) with a well-documented place in Scottish motorsport history, this car was lent by Hugh 'Shug' Steele to his nephew Colin McRae for the Hackle Rally shortly before McRae signed with Prodrive and Subaru. McRae and navigator Robert Reid won by over two minutes from a four-wheel-drive field. Alistair McRae and Reid later drove the same car in the Galloway Hills Rally. After three decades in the McRae family, the car passed to a private collection and received a full rebuild.
Ownership
- 2023-02-24Auction saleEstimate £200,000 – £240,000
- Date unknownHugh 'Shug' Steelepartial documentation
Scottish rally driver and Colin McRae's uncle; made the Escort available for the Hackle Rally. Retained in the McRae family for approximately 30 years following this period.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownMcRae familypartial documentation
The vehicle remained within the McRae family for roughly three decades before passing to a private collector.
- Date unknownPrivate saleCurrent private collectorpartial documentation
Acquired the car after it left the McRae family; commissioned a full rebuild and used the car at various events including a 2022 appearance at the Knockhill McRae Challenge.
Competition
- 1990Scottish Rally ChampionshipHackle RallyDriver: Colin McRae1st overall
Robert Reid navigated; victory margin over the second-placed four-wheel-drive Toyota Celica GT4 of Jimmy Girvan was approximately two and a half minutes. McRae famously leaned across the cabin at speed to hold a wiper blade against the screen when it lifted clear.
- 1990Scottish Rally ChampionshipGalloway Hills RallyDriver: Alistair McRae
Robert Reid again navigated; took place approximately six weeks after the Hackle Rally.
- 2022Knockhill McRae Challenge
One of several outings made during the current owner's period of ownership following the car's full rebuild.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Restoration
A comprehensive rebuild was carried out during the tenure of the current private owner, restoring the car to a usable competition condition.
Work took place after the car left the McRae family; exact dates not specified in the catalogue.
Are you the owner of this car?
This car's public record is built from its auction and competition history. Register your ownership and privately add your own records to make it a verified Legacy Metrics passport — provenance that backs your car's value at sale and gives your insurer evidence to price against. Roy reviews and verifies every registration personally.