In 1982, the Group B set of regulations for rallying was introduced by the Federation Internationale du Sport Automobile (FISA). The regulations encouraged very fast, powerful and highly sophisticated cars; many manufacturers including Austin Rover, Peugeot, Lancia, Audi and Ford decided that they had to have a presence in the Group.

The Ford RS200 was designed from scratch as a Group B rally car. It was lightweight with a mid-mounted and turbocharged engine, four-wheel drive and enveloped in a fibreglass coupé body. Destined to become the costliest Ford to date, the 200 cars required for homologation were built by Reliant of Tamworth and completed in 1986. With 250 bhp in standard form, the rally specification cars had between 350 and 450 bhp, and were truly fire-breathing, with flames being ejected from the exhaust on the overrun.

Following a series of fatal accidents involving Group B cars the FISA banned the class outright in 1987. Having invested heavily in the RS200, Ford rebuilt them into luxurious sports cars with interiors trimmed by the coach-building company Tickford. This car was built by Ford apprentices to full rally-specification but was never put to the test.