another reason for it stating 1999 is it could have been imported as I once owned a rs1600i which stated it was registered in 1989 but in fact it was made in 1983 and was first registered from the imported country in 1989 on the v5 and yes it was right hand drive too

ebay advert for the escos

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Low-mileag...-/271110374763