The Ford Escort Mk1 RS is back… sort of.
A limited edition ‘continuous mod’ of the iconic 1970s car is being built for deep-pocketed buyers, but there are only 150 units for sale, so you’d better move fast.
Fifty years after the last Escort MK1 RS rolled off the production line, the new Mk1 RS models will be “a true continuation” thanks to their “approved chassis numbers”.
Makers of the reborn Escorts, Boreham Motorworks, are in the unique position of being Ford Motor Company’s official brand licensing partner, meaning the high-performance variants will carry the Escort name and Ford badge.
And although you will get 296 hp and 10,000 rpm, you will have to spend a lot of money for it.
That’s because the Ford Escort Mk1 RS Continuod costs from £295,000.
Production begins in late 2025 and the order books are now open so you can put your name down… if you can afford it.
A new Ford Escort MK1 arrives and it’s a ‘continuous modification’ of the original car you loved so much in the 1970s
The new Escort Mk1 is promised to be “plan-accurate and period-appropriate” to the original, but will “combine the timeless spirit of classic cars with modern advanced engineering, design and manufacturing”.
Very different to other restomods which are not allowed to use the license badges and names of the original cars on which they are based, these new Escorts will have Ford-approved continuation chassis numbers, making them exceptional buys rare
Built new from the ground up, they will not use original ‘donor’ Escorts.
Offered with a choice of two petrol engines, the Escort will come with a reimagined 1.8-litre Ford Twin-Cam four-cylinder unit producing 182PS or a 2.1-litre four-cylinder sports engine producing 295PS.
The former comes with a four-speed straight-cut manual gearbox, while the latter comes with a five-speed dogleg manual transmission.
The new Escorts will have no donor cars and will have Ford-approved continuation chassis numbers, making them exceptionally rare purchases.
Boreham Motorworks promises the cars will be “more accurate and period-appropriate” than the original.
Boreham Motorworks said the Escort will “proudly honor” the “exceptional performance and handling” of the Escort Rallye Sport line that “set a new benchmark or what it means to drive a high-performance car.”
To this end, Boreham added forged steel connecting rods, a billet crankshaft, and advanced fuel injection.
To make it feel like a proper Escort Mk1, it does without power steering, anti-lock brakes and traction control.
This will result in a “pure driving experience that made RS Escorts performance icons,” the manufacturer said.
The Escort will come with either a 1.8-litre Ford Twin-Cam four-cylinder unit producing 182 PS and 9,000 rpm or a 2.1-litre four-cylinder engine producing 295 PS and 10,000 rpm.
Boreham said the Escort will “proudly honor” the “exceptional performance and handling” of the Escort Rallye Sport line.
Based on the two-door Escort RS bodies produced by Ford’s Advanced Vehicle Operations before its closure in 1975, design director Wayne Burgess (who had a Mk2) stuck to an exterior design philosophy of “simplicity and form, eliminating any unnecessary ornamentation”. leave only the essential.”
With a machined aluminum grille, simple taillights, removed side bumpers, and new door handles, mirrors, and billet components, the car looks phenomenal, blending old and new seamlessly.
Inside, the driver benefits from continued simplicity, with vintage styling but modern practicality; The low, horizontal dashboard opens the leather and Alcantara-blend interior, with a compact binnacle within the three-spoke steering wheel, an analogue-inspired instrument panel, as well as heated and cooled displays.
In keeping with the rally Escorts of yesteryear, there’s an optional four-point harness in place of the standard three-point inertia reel belts, and a rear compartment for racing helmet storage and a roll cage complete with door bars removable for greater rigidity.
Wayne Burgess commented: “Every detail, from the minimalism of the exterior to the thoughtful functionality of the interior, seeks to distill the essence of what made the Mk1 so special.”
The design is all about “simplicity and form”, both outside and inside, with a mix of vintage and modern style.
The leather and Alcantara mix interior has a low dashboard, with a compact binnacle inside the three-spoke steering wheel and an analogue-inspired instrument panel.
There’s an optional four-point harness in place of the standard three-point inertia reel belts, and a rear compartment for racing helmet storage and a roll cage complete with removable door bars.
While the images look great, there is a hefty price tag of £295,000, and the book is already open.
As we’ve already said, there are only 150 cars up for grabs, and to secure a piece of this limited-edition rally-style pie, enthusiasts will need to have at least £295,000.
Considering you’re looking at spending anywhere from £40,000 for a MK1 in good condition to £100k for the best RS2000 example ever seen, that’s a hefty premium for a modern reincarnation.
The “finest example” Iconic Auctioneers said it had ever seen sold for £108,000 in 2023 after a five-year restoration.
However, when a similar example went on sale in November this year, following a £130,000 rebuild, it failed to meet its reserve price.
However, the new Escort comes with a two-year/20,000-mile warranty and will enter production in the third quarter of 2025.
Customers will be able to see the car in person next summer before production begins.
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