For years, Jay Leno has brought dozens of unique and random cars on his YouTube channel, from classic Hudson Hornets and classic Ford Mustangs. Recently, the former host of the Tonight Show brought his friend Tim Allen of Home Improvement fame and his rare 1986 Ford RS200.

The RS200 was a homologated transfer case four-wheel drive that in its street form, as Tim Allen told Jay, would truly perform with one or two wheels on off-road. Jay said that on California roads, with a Ford RS200, you have to hit the potholes to feel its rallying performance.

The RS200 was not just a rally car, but a pedigree that follows the iconic Ford GT40 that beat Ferrari in Le Mans back in the 1960s. Plus, dozens of Fords were built by Ford Europe, a subsidiary based in jolly old England. Let's see what Jay and Tim think of this incredible rally car legend.

Jay Leno's Garage Video With Tim Allen's Ford RS200

Engine Specs

In the Jay Leno's Garage episode, they adore the insane performance capabilities of the Group B rally icon. Although Tim and Jay talk about the problems with its mid-range and lack of torque, both had a fun time riding around the streets of California.

To quote Jay in the video's opening shot, "You know, a lot of ways, it's more fun than a lot of sports cars, 'cause on a California road, you always afraid you're gonna break the car somehow on the road. Whereas this thing that's what it was built for."

Related: Here's What Made The Ford RS200 An Incredible Rally Car

More jokes along the way, but Jay said it best that the RS200 was made to be tested. Not just on dirt roads, which the car was not tested on in the video, but the roads of California. The RS200 was also, the last of the Group B Rally cars, and has become one of the rarest Fords to buy in 2023. In fact, only about 200 homologated variants were made.

The Last Of The Group B Rally Cars

The rally car phenomenon never caught on in the United States unlike in Europe, where the exciting Group B rally cars raced in the 1970s and until 1986, ruled the rally circuits. After a few tragic deaths in the Ford RS200, notably in the 1986 Rally de Portugal, Group B ended for good. One year later, Group A came up with greater rules and regulations for driver and spectator safety.

The Ford RS200 was one of the last of its kind made from 1983 to 1986. The legendary rally car made an excess of 400 horsepower from its sturdy 1.8-liter engine. It is also part of a long history of RS models that Ford Europe made as far back as the 1960s, which included the 1973 Escort RS1800, the 1986 Escort RS Turbo, and the 1990 Fiesta RS Turbo.

A Unique, But Flawed Build

Throughout the episode, Tim Allen talked constantly about the odd designs of the rally car, specifically its mid-engine design. Tim said constantly that a mid-engine car is sought after for its speed and agility. Some mid-engine cars failed, but Tim's RS200 was a success for its time.

In fact, the car Tim brought to Jay's was modified from its original rough rally heritage to make it street-worthy for not just European roads, but American roads as well. Ken Block was a name mentioned, who owned a black RS200 numbered 80 of 200, and was a modified RS200 that fit Ken Block's eccentric nature.

Related: 10 Things Only Real Gearheads Know About the Ford RS200

Both Tim and Jay constantly stressed the unique build of the RS200 and other rally cars. It is a shame that the RS200 was never offered in the United States because it combines the capabilities of a sedan and truck. Although Tim says he doesn't like trucks, there are millions of Americans who do.

Certainly, another problem is that the rally races in Europe and abroad are not popular in the United States. Just like rugby's popularity in other English-speaking countries, rally races are slowly getting traction in the states.

The Cosworth Confusion

A great little banter ensues before both men take the RS200 on the streets of Los Angeles. The term "Cosworth" that Tim throws in the video might be confusing for some viewers though.

Related: These Are The Coolest Cars With A Cosworth-Developed Engine

The Cosworth company in England has been making high-performance engines for decades, as far back as the 1950s. A few Ford Europe cars have the Cosworth name stamped on their name, such as the Ford Escort RS Cosworth. The RS200, as mentioned above, was built with a strong 1.8-liter engine that can clock 0 to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds. This is an incredible speed for the dirt rally races.

A Homologated Build

Rally cars of the past were built for homologation not just to greatly improve their performance, but rules dictate that manufacturers had to make a number of street-legal cars for the civilian market. With that in mind, there are flaws in the build quality and performance, as Tim says to Jay as they ride the RS200 around L.A.

Nevertheless, many who grew up with or drove a homologated RS200 in its prime still recall the cool factor the car brought to the world of rally racing. Once again, the Ford RS200 is still one of the highest-rated rally cars in not just the Group B histories, but in rally history. Compared to some greats like the Audi Sport Quattro S1 to the Peugeot 205 Turbo 16, it commands allure and respect.

Related: 10 Group B Rally Monsters That Couldn't Be Tamed

For those who may recall the icon that is the Ford GT40 from the 1960s, that is a homologated car made for the civilian market as well.

Final Thoughts By Jay On The RS200

A Jay Leno's Garage episode is never complete without a test drive. A few mentioned lines about the performance are that the car does not feel like a nearly 40-year-old car.

It is a shame that neither took the car out to a dirt path, but both men had a fun time driving about with its decent torque. Also, compared to what French manufacturers Peugeot and Renault sold at the time, the Ford RS200 could not compete at slow speeds.

Jay stated the car truly sings when it is at 7,000 rpm, and that it was a joy to drive the car with all the power all the time. The Ford RS200 is an icon of a day long gone. To watch a car enthusiast driving an icon of the rally circuit, with jokes, and seeing the car driving about the hilly roads of California was certainly a treat.