The 9 best Ford touring cars of all time
Ford touring cars have made appearances, won races and clinched championships across an incredibly varied spectrum of touring car classes worldwide. Fighting with the best the world has to offer and often coming out on top, Ford touring cars have not only been quick, they’ve come in all sorts of shapes and sizes too. There have been many, but these are the best:
1972 – Zakspeed Capri RS 2600
1972 marked the inaugural season of the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft (DRM) championship, and this was the car to beat. Prepared by Zakspeed and driven by Hans-Joachim Stuck, the Ford Capri RS was on the podium for 12 out of the 15 races it finished in 1972, including 10 wins from a total of 18 starts. Pictured here sliding gracefully through the bends at Hockenheim in ’72, this was one of the great Ford race cars.
1981 – XD Falcon 
Dick Johnson achieved his first Australian Touring Car Championship driving this 1981 XD Falcon, which included victory at the coveted Bathurst 1000. Johnson won the overall championship again in the XD again come ’82, with the car kick started a DJR legacy which survives even today.
1975 – Zakspeed Ford Escort MKII
Built by Zakspeed for the purpose of Group 2 DRM racing, this MKII Escort is truly legendary. Hans Heyer drove the car to victory in both 1975 and 1976, and then the following year it was converted for use in Group 5.
1968 – Alan Mann Racing Ford Escort MK1 twin-cam
The classic red and gold Alan Mann Racing livery draped over the timeless lines of a British Saloon Car Championship prepped MK1 Escort made for one of the most beautiful early touring cars of all time. Frank Gardner wrung the neck of the twin-cam engine to win the 1968 BSCC.
1993 – BTCC Mondeo
1993 and 1994 saw some of the fiercest competition the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) ever experienced. Tw0-litre touring cars were at their peak, and against the best cars in the world at the FIA World Touring Car Cup that the Ford Mondeo of Paul Radisich came out on top, twice. Not only did Radisich win the WTCC event in ’93 and ’94 behind the wheel of this car, but he also placed 3rd overall in BTCC. Nigel Mansell even hopped behind the wheel of one in 1993 for the TOCA Shootout which was thrilling – even if he did end up unconscious!
1964 – Lotus Cortina
Jim Clark could drive anything, and his overall victory in the 1964 British Touring Car Championship proved it! We love the little Lotus Cortina, often seen three-wheeling, it’s one of the greatest of the early Ford touring cars.
1988 – Ford Sierra RS500
The first turbocharged car to ever win at Bathurst. Tony Longhurst drove the Benson & Hedges Sierra RS500 to victory at the 1988 Tooheys 1000 following a highly controversial lead-up, which saw the car become the subject of a formal protest by Tom Walkinshaw. A highly flexible Group A chassis, the Sierra RS500 won the overall Australian Touring Car Championship in both 1988 and 1989 with Dick Johnson pushing the pedals, the latter including a victory at Bathurst. Additionally, the Sierra RS500 also experienced championship victory in the 1990 British Touring Car Championship with Robb Gravett behind the wheel.
1977 – Falcon XC Coupes
Who could ever forget the sight of Moffat and Bond cruising to victory at the Hardie-Ferodo 1000 at Bathurst? One of the most legendary events in Australian Touring Car history, and one which instantly granted the huge XC Falcon Coupe icon status.
1981 – Zakspeed Group 5 Capri 
For us, this is the king of them all. With Klaus Ludwig behind the wheel, the Zakspeed Group 5 Capri was DRM champion in 1981. Turbocharged and winged to within an inch of it’s life, the Zakspeed Capri will forever be the ultimate Ford touring car.
Photos: Speedhunters
