Fans of legendary rally racer Ken Block will appreciate the new exhibit now on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum. Titled “People’s Champ: The Impact Of Ken Block,” the exhibit features a number of Block’s iconic vehicles, including his 1986 Ford RS200, an ultra-rare Group B homologated race car.
The 1986 Ford RS200 – which changed hands in 2021 for a cool $550,000 – was Block’s self-proclaimed “dream car,” and is one of 148 examples ever built. Only 24 of those were upgraded to Evolution (EVO) specs, and once Block got his hands on this one in 2017, he immediately got to work fitting it with a generous list of upgrades that make it a true one-of-one. It features a matte black paint scheme and a custom suede interior with comfortable Recaro bucket seats and five-point harnesses to keep occupants safe in rally settings.
Under the hood, the 2.1L EVO spec engine produces a healthy 700 horsepower when running regular gasoline, although feeding it with racing fuel ups the output to 800 horsepower. A custom handbrake gave Block the ability to throw his 1986 Ford RS200 completely sideways around turns, while modern suspension components helped keep the ride level under extreme circumstances.
The 1986 Ford RS200 is on loan from the collection of Philip Sarofim, and will be on display alongside other Block builds such as the Hoonitruck that starred in in Climbkhana Two, Gymkhana Ten, and The Gymkhana Files; the 1965 Ford Mustang known as “Hoonicorn” and Block’s 1994 Ford Escort RS Cosworth, also known as the “Cossie V2.”
Ken Block week is currently underway at the Petersen Museum, inviting Block fans and automotive enthusiasts alike to peruse the collection of truly one-of-a-kind racers. Those interested in attending any of these events during Ken Block Week can purchase tickets and read about what’s in store at the museum at Petersen’s website, which can be accessed here.
Comments
Great.
I saw some of those bad boys run in the 1986 Monaca Rally and I was REALLY impressed. I had never seen anything accelerate off the corners like them. I was not surprised when the Group B class was dropped for being too fast later that year.