Miniature of a head gasket for Ford BD Cosworth (BDA, BDG etc.)

Keychain – Head Gasket for Ford Cosworth BD (BDA, BDG)

The Cosworth BD family is pure Ford motorsport heritage: DOHC, 16 valves, four cylinders, and that unmistakable high-rev character that makes a BD feel alive above 8,000 rpm. From the early BDA as the 1.6-litre heart of the Escort RS1600 to the BDG as the classic 2.0-litre race specification, “BD” runs through rallying, circuit racing and historic single-seater categories from the 1970s onward. This keychain turns the BD head-gasket outline into a detailed stainless-steel miniature – with BDA and BDG as the two engraving options that enthusiasts instantly recognise.

Technically, the BD concept is beautifully straightforward: a Ford-based bottom end as the foundation, topped with a Cosworth crossflow head, four valves per cylinder and a valvetrain designed for revs. BDA immediately brings to mind 1.6-litre setups on twin Webers (and later injection variations), while BDG points to 2.0-litre development and that “proper” Cosworth race-four reputation. This description is meant to cover the whole BD family while still putting BDA and BDG front and centre – because those are the names people actually live by.

If you run or rebuild a BD, you know the usual topics without the doom-and-gloom: getting the cam-belt and tensioning right, keeping valve clearances consistent, taking oil pressure and oiling seriously at sustained high rpm, and making sure the cooling system matches the way the car is used. Then come the classic BD choices enthusiasts obsess over: carb setup vs. injection, cam profiles, ignition mapping, and whether you’re chasing punchy mid-range drivability or a top-end scream that belongs on a stage or a grid.

Few engines are tied to icons as strongly as the BD: Mk1 and Mk2 Escort builds, RS1600 and RS1800 lore, Group 2/4 rally history, rallycross brutality and the whole historic racing world where “Cosworth BD” still carries weight. Today you’ll find BDAs and BDGs living on in historic rally Escorts, trackday restomods, quick kit cars and projects where the goal is simple: give a classic Ford real motorsport DNA instead of a generic modern swap.

That’s exactly what this keychain is for. It’s a perfect gift for RS1600/RS1800 fans, historic rally people and anyone who can tell BDA and BDG stories without looking them up. And if it ends up on your own keys, it’s the best kind of insider detail: minimalist stainless at first glance – instantly readable to the right people once they take a second look.

Proudly crafted in Germany, meticulously detailed and finely finished for a refined in-hand feel paired with a premium brushed surface.