The only reference I can find is the inside cover of the Gregorys Mk2 Escort workshop manual, this one shows black stripes???? In saying that I remember one around the corner from me as a kid with white stripes????
Cheers Drew.....

All i am saying is i have seen several midnight blue cars with evidence of black stripes (e.g. tails inside doors) but have never seen one with red ... until your photo.

I definitely recall the black stripes and RS2000 decals from Ford.
However I also recall seeing several near new (only months old) Midnight RS's having light silver coloured stripes and decals and assumed was either Ford or the new car dealers trying to make slight changes to a not so popular colour to sell slow moving stock. In early 1980 when I was sussing out the RS2000's pending my purchase at Thompson Ford at Parramatta (Sydney) there was a 2 door Midnight RS2000 in the showroom with the Aunger Hustler mags, extractors and sports exhaust and silver stripes and decals. Looked a treat.