Lot Ended
Description
Exceptionally well-preserved example; twin fans; oil cooler; uprated
starter motor; recent new turbo and gearbox overhaul; dyno sheets showing
157bhp; driven 80 miles to the sale
Ford announced
its all-new MkIII Escort in 1980, the new car being the first Escort model to
feature front-wheel drive and a transverse mounted engine. A 'hot-hatch' version, the XR3, was available from the start and
was followed by a much hotter limited edition version in 1983, the RS1600i. This
only lasted in production for one season, and in 1984 it was replaced by the new
Escort RS Turbo.
The RS Turbo used a
combination of a tuned 1.6-litre CVH fuel-injected engine with a Garrett turbo
bolted on. This package worked very well and produced a healthy 132bhp, making
it one of fastest Escorts, sprinting to 60 in 8 seconds on its way to a maximum
of 125mph.
The RS Turbo was very successful for
Ford, becoming a favourite with tuners and remained in production until 1990,
with a minor facelift in 1986 for the MkIV models.
First registered in April 1989, this Ford Escort RS Turbo has had
five owners from new and has been in the current ownership since April 2018. It
has covered 96,927 miles to date and comes with a large file of invoices to show
regular upkeep over the years.
The invoices
show that the gearbox was overhauled in 2000 at c.85k miles and in 2010 it was
fitted with a new turbo supplied by Turbo Technics of Northampton. A new front
mount intercooler has also been fitted at some point. Other modifications
include a Mongoose stainless steel exhaust; Jamex shocks and lowering springs
(25mm drop); uprated Airtec radiator with twin electric cooling fans; CVH34 fast
road camshaft; oil cooler; high torque starter motor; Clifford Concept 600
alarm/immobiliser.
In June 2018 at 94,490
miles the car went to Interpro Automotive of Bristol for a rolling road tune-up,
the dyno sheets showing 157.8bhp and 175lb/ft. This was a healthy increase from
standard and the compressions and the fueling system were all found to be in
good shape. It has also been fitted with a new set of Goodyear tyres fairly
recently.
Treated to an oil and filter change
less than 500 miles ago we are told that the car drives beautifully and never
runs hot thanks to the uprated cooling system. It has an MOT until November 2023
with just two advisories (minor oil leak; rear exhaust mounting defective).
Retaining all its original handbooks in the original wallet it also comes with
19 old MOTs. Driven 80 miles to the sale it has
certainly been starting promptly and running well as we have moved it around on
site.
Fast Fords have become increasingly
collectable of late and this unusually well-preserved example, with lots of
history and a few sensible upgrades, could prove a shrewd buy at the sensible
guide price suggested.
For more information
contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com
* All charges are subject to VAT