ken block’s 1978 ford escort gymkhana drift car for sale on bring a trailer This once humble Ford has a special history.
By Brendan McAleerPublished: Mar 27, 2026 Save Article ken block ford escort 1978 Bring a Trailer Ken Block’s first rear-wheel-drive Gymkhana build, this little Ford is as wild as they come. It’s full of tarmac rally-spec parts and has a punchy four-cylinder that revs to the moon.\nThis Escort is impressive enough as a performance build, but the Block connection is sure to bring big money.\nThe late Ken Block is responsible for getting many new fans into the sport of rallying, entertaining millions with his series of Gymkhana videos. Never has so much positivity flowed out of what was clearly an abiding and persistent hatred of tires. In his day, Block built all kinds of specialized machinery to destroy rubber with extreme prejudice, and here’s one of the simplest yet most effective hooning machines made.\n\nBring a Trailer\nSliding into view at Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos) is a 1978 Ford Escort, built up over two years specifically for stunting around obstacle courses and shredding tires. It’s got a straightforward layout: a vicious race-prepped Ford four-cylinder up front, a six-speed sequential gearbox in the middle, and rear-wheel drive. Wrap the whole thing up with a widebody and a reinforced version of a humble Euro-Ford economy sedan, and light up those tires.\n\nFor Sale Near You\nSee all results for Ford Escort for sale near 634720\n\nBring a Trailer\nThe first Gymkhana films featured Subarus doing all-wheel-drive sliding around, as if plucked from a WRC tarmac stage and tossed into a playground of abandoned warehouses and whatnot. This Escort was Block’s first toe-dipping into the world of rear-wheel drive, and it can be thought of as the bridge that led to later creations like the certified lunatic Hoonicorn Mustang.\n\nSetting aside all the YouTube antics for a bit, first- and second-generation Escorts were and still are a significant part of rallying. They were a favorite of privateer teams—accessible to buy and with a wealth of knowledge available on how to make them fast. Today, they’re still incredibly popular, especially in rallying on Ireland’s narrow rural roads, where you’ll see Mk 1 and Mk 2 Escorts scampering between stone fences like hyperactive Jack Russell terriers.\n\nBring a Trailer\nThis car is a spare-no-expense build that channels the spirit of those rally cars into a tarmac-focused machine that’s crammed with details. The unibody was reinforced by a U.K. specialist and further stiffened with a roll cage welded in. The widebody carbon-fiber kit is from Japan’s Rocket Bunny, and mass has been further reduced with lightweight glass and carbon fiber seats.\n\nThe engine is a 2.5-liter inline-four from Millington Diamond, with quad individual throttle bodies. With a Cosworth ECU controlling fuel flow (all the best Fast Fords have a little Cossie input), output hits 333 horsepower with a heady 9000-rpm redline.\n\nBring a Trailer\nThat much power in a car the size and weight of a shoebox has got to be more fun than two-thirds of Ferrari’s new-car lineup, and would likely draw some hefty bidding all by itself. The Ken Block connection is just going to spike things higher. This Escort is significant enough to have been part of the Petersen Automotive Museum’s exhibition on Ken Block’s life last year.” ken block’s 1978 ford escort gymkhana drift car for sale on bring a trailer\nThis once humble Ford has a special history.\n\nBy Brendan McAleerPublished: Mar 27, 2026\nSave Article\nken block ford escort 1978\nBring a Trailer\nKen Block’s first rear-wheel-drive Gymkhana build, this little Ford is as wild as they come.\nIt’s full of tarmac rally-spec parts and has a punchy four-cylinder that revs to the moon.\nThis Escort is impressive enough as a performance build, but the Block connection is sure to bring big money.\nThe late Ken Block is responsible for getting many new fans into the sport of rallying, entertaining millions with his series of Gymkhana videos. Never has so much positivity flowed out of what was clearly an abiding and persistent hatred of tires. In his day, Block built all kinds of specialized machinery to destroy rubber with extreme prejudice, and here’s one of the simplest yet most effective hooning machines made.\n\nBring a Trailer\nSliding into view at Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos) is a 1978 Ford Escort, built up over two years specifically for stunting around obstacle courses and shredding tires. It’s got a straightforward layout: a vicious race-prepped Ford four-cylinder up front, a six-speed sequential gearbox in the middle, and rear-wheel drive. Wrap the whole thing up with a widebody and a reinforced version of a humble Euro-Ford economy sedan, and light up those tires.\n\nFor Sale Near You\nSee all results for Ford Escort for sale near 634720\n\nBring a Trailer\nThe first Gymkhana films featured Subarus doing all-wheel-drive sliding around, as if plucked from a WRC tarmac stage and tossed into a playground of abandoned warehouses and whatnot. This Escort was Block’s first toe-dipping into the world of rear-wheel drive, and it can be thought of as the bridge that led to later creations like the certified lunatic Hoonicorn Mustang.\n\nSetting aside all the YouTube antics for a bit, first- and second-generation Escorts were and still are a significant part of rallying. They were a favorite of privateer teams—accessible to buy and with a wealth of knowledge available on how to make them fast. Today, they’re still incredibly popular, especially in rallying on Ireland’s narrow rural roads, where you’ll see Mk 1 and Mk 2 Escorts scampering between stone fences like hyperactive Jack Russell terriers.\n\nBring a Trailer\nThis car is a spare-no-expense build that channels the spirit of those rally cars into a tarmac-focused machine that’s crammed with details. The unibody was reinforced by a U.K. specialist and further stiffened with a roll cage welded in. The widebody carbon-fiber kit is from Japan’s Rocket Bunny, and mass has been further reduced with lightweight glass and carbon fiber seats.\n\nThe engine is a 2.5-liter inline-four from Millington Diamond, with quad individual throttle bodies. With a Cosworth ECU controlling fuel flow (all the best Fast Fords have a little Cossie input), output hits 333 horsepower with a heady 9000-rpm redline.\n\nBring a Trailer\nThat much power in a car the size and weight of a shoebox has got to be more fun than two-thirds of Ferrari’s new-car lineup, and would likely draw some hefty bidding all by itself. The Ken Block connection is just going to spike things higher. This Escort is significant enough to have been part of the Petersen Automotive Museum’s exhibition on Ken Block’s life last year.” 42574195″
Title: Ken Block’s Legendary 1978 Ford Escort Gymkhana Drift Car Hits the Auction Block in 2026\n\nIntroduction: The Icon of Hoons\nFew names in the automotive world command the same reverence and adoration as Ken Block. A pioneer of Gymkhana and a true motorsport legend, Block redefined what was possible behind the wheel of a car, transforming tire destruction into an art form. His legacy lives on through his iconic builds, and one of his most significant creations—the 1978 Ford Escort Gymkhana drift car—is now available for auction. This isn’t just any vintage Ford; it’s a meticulously crafted, tarmac-ready machine that served as the launchpad for Block’s rear-wheel-drive domination. As we delve into the 2026 market, this Escort represents a unique opportunity to own a piece of automotive history, blending rally heritage with modern performance engineering.\n\nSection 1: The Evolution of a Legend—From Humble Beginnings to Hooning Icon\nTo fully appreciate the 1978 Ford Escort, one must understand the journey that led to its creation. Ken Block’s early Gymkhana videos showcased his mastery of all-wheel-drive platforms, primarily Subaru WRXs. However, Block’s insatiable appetite for pushing the envelope led him to explore the untamed territory of rear-wheel drive. The 1978 Ford Escort was his canvas for this transformation, a lightweight, nimble chassis that would become the foundation for his most audacious stunts.\n\nThe decision to build a rear-wheel-drive platform was a calculated risk that paid off spectacularly. Block sought a car that could dance on the edge of control, offering a more visceral and engaging driving experience than its AWD counterparts. The Escort, a car steeped in rallying heritage, provided the perfect DNA for
