New Focus RS transport delivery - 8th January 2003

[Clayton]

On this day in history a transporter arrived at Dagenham Motors in Colindale with four Mk1 Focus RS cars, as reported by Stuart Griffiths.

Stuart Griffiths (AKA - The Mad Welshman) arranged delivery of 175+ Mk1 Focus RS which he sold at Dagenham Motors in 2002/2003. Stuart signed the cars in the boot of the first batch that were delivered. The signature was all about a little something for the customer to find at a later date.

Focus RS 0118 was the first Mk1 Focus RS to be handed over in the UK. Stuart arranged for Colin Mcrae to hand the Keys over to the first owner (Brian).


I would also like to take this opportunity to remember the late Stuart Griffiths. A man who made so many Mk1 owners' happy.


Focus RS delivery 2003.jpg


Sorry it's late in the day to post this as I have just remembered the date.

[Garry T]

A great piece of history.
Looking at the cars on the transporter,they are an ageless design.

[DanT404]

Very cool. Obviously we are biased but the exterior of these especially has aged so well! The interior...well i like it but i see why its not so popular!

[RS001]

RIP Stuart ❤️.

Thanks to him and his relentless efforts, I could follow online and ask him questions/info/updates about the car when I ordered it back in January 2002 untill I received it in November 2002 and even long after. Over here in Belgium info was very poor regarding info/updates from FMC, because their Belgian department was also left in the dark about it.

[S1 RST]

Some nice history 👍

[Rutts]

Awesome bit of knowledge and history there Clayton!

[Tomo]

Brilliant history, interesting read Clayton. The transporter looks worst for wear. lol

[1374lee]

Brilliant that Clayton, great pic too. Thank you for sharing that piece of history with us all.

CheeRS.L ee.

[1374lee]

Very cool. Obviously we are biased but the exterior of these especially has aged so well! The interior...well i like it but i see why its not so popular!

I love the interior myself Dan, even today. I agree with you on that one. Everybody has their own opinions I guess. Sparco seats scream hard core rally to me....I love that. My second favorite thing about the car is those seats, my first being the wide arches of course.

CheeRS. Lee.

[S1 RST]

On the interior side, it could have been a lot better, and personally, I don't think the fake Sparco seats are that great. A nice set of CS Recaros would have been a lot better.
on the other hand the interior suits the car with all the blue in it, partof the car and its time where it was in.

[DanT404]

I love the interior myself Dan, even today. I agree with you on that one. Everybody has their own opinions I guess. Sparco seats scream hard core rally to me....I love that. My second favorite thing about the car is those seats, my first being the wide arches of course.

CheeRS. Lee.

The seats are not the most supportive, and they sit a little high for my liking but i like the way they look as it ties in with the rest well. Seats have improved a lot since the early 2000's though so its to be expected imo. If i could get the seat 50 odd mm lower i would be happy enough!

[1374lee]

Yes I agree Dan, they are too high for sure, shame you can't get a kit like you can for the mk2 RS.

[NickB]

Collected mine 18 Dec 2002.
I came across from Germany, where I was based, and collected mine from Enfield.
Had been in regular contact with Stu since I placed my order in April 2001.
All the different forums and Yahoo chat groups prior to collection.
He also arranged the sneak preview at Gaydon in the Aug of 2002 for us soon to be owners

[DommyC]

Its mad to think these cars are now 22 years old. I was a mear 11/12 year old boy who go dead excited at a Trax it might have been seeing these cars when my family were into Vauxhall's...
A poster sat on my wardrobe door until I moved out at 25 and then at the age of 30 I picked up 0433. I've been in difficult positions, divorce nearly saw it be taken away from me, but, sacficies where made and I still have it tucked up in the garage.

Ageless cars and possibly one of the best car group comminities I've ever been part of. Long may it continue.

[Hax]

Stuart did indeed keep the updates coming pre-delivery then also following with updates in the map revisions and other stuff like the seat base creasing.
My mind is playing tricks but was he involved with the Turbosport forum and the web shop?