RE: Ford Escort RS2000: PH Heroes
Discussion
J4CKO said:
soad said:
Think I'd rather have a Capri. 
I know what you mean, the Escort was more or less a 2.0S Capri engine in an Escort (as opposed to a Cortina) floorpan, albeit a bit lighter, the whole thing with these old Escorts is that they were fun, but like the article says, they weren't all that fast or capable, the image is everything with MK1's and MK2's and I sort of get it but not that I would want to pay between 10 and 30 grand for one.At the same time as Ford were selling these, Porsche were selling the 924, which I think retailed for about twice what the Escort did, it was more powerful (125 bhp) and more capable as it had independent rear suspension, plus it was several times better quality, a nice 924 is about three grand now but it seems not to matter as everybody wants the Escort, the Porsche has very little image in comparison.
Having said that, fast Escorts are a special kind of fun
MadDog1962 said:
J4CKO said:
soad said:
Think I'd rather have a Capri.
I know what you mean, the Escort was more or less a 2.0S Capri engine in an Escort (as opposed to a Cortina) floorpan, albeit a bit lighter, the whole thing with these old Escorts is that they were fun, but like the article says, they weren't all that fast or capable, the image is everything with MK1's and MK2's and I sort of get it but not that I would want to pay between 10 and 30 grand for one.At the same time as Ford were selling these, Porsche were selling the 924, which I think retailed for about twice what the Escort did, it was more powerful (125 bhp) and more capable as it had independent rear suspension, plus it was several times better quality, a nice 924 is about three grand now but it seems not to matter as everybody wants the Escort, the Porsche has very little image in comparison.
Having said that, fast Escorts are a special kind of fun
Owned lots of std escorts inc a mk2 rs2000,and tbh std they are pretty rubbish. Blame the live axle and asthmatic engines,although it is that weighty axle that gives the car it's handling characteristics, and thats what people want from an escort. My current mk1 has 340 bhp, a 6 link lsd axle and compression strut front suspension. To drive,I suppose it's similar to a std one just everything is tightened up,turning into a corner there is no'waiting' for the axle to hop or suspension to wallow, it just turns in. And under acceleration it is bonkers quick. Would I pay £30k for one? No.
Wills2 said:
True but that old 911 is a 2.7rs with 210hp/tonne so not slow even by modern standards and IIRC they are fetching huge money 500k+
Agreed price if it were an actual 2.7 RS but is a an early car with a 2.8 engine and worth much less,although still more than an RS2000. However big difference is not the extra power but the handling.
strummerville said:
Love these, perhaps more than I should. I managed to own a 79 Custom in 1986 when I was 21. I was the RS Owner's Club magazine editor for five years from 1989 and managed to drive quite a few examples of Mk2 RS Escorts.
We likely met back in the day then, as I was on the committee of AVO OC from mid 80's till about 89/90.Owned a beautiful Terracotta example with 'bitter chocolate' reactor trim some years ago in the 80's, ans back then it was a good car. A very good car even bearing in mind the onset of hot hatches.
But would I want to own one one, and be disappointed by its lack of performance? Hmmm. Yes. And no. I guess some of it is about the driving experience and nostalgi that would make me want one again, just as owning another RS500 might be disappointing if I chose to go down that route again.
But, I still see them as a fast-ish Ford Escort that should be worth £10-15 max rather than the over-inflated prices some are asking.
But would I want to own one one, and be disappointed by its lack of performance? Hmmm. Yes. And no. I guess some of it is about the driving experience and nostalgi that would make me want one again, just as owning another RS500 might be disappointing if I chose to go down that route again.
But, I still see them as a fast-ish Ford Escort that should be worth £10-15 max rather than the over-inflated prices some are asking.
lee_erm said:
J4CKO said:
I know what you mean, the Escort was more or less a 2.0S Capri engine in an Escort (as opposed to a Cortina) floorpan, albeit a bit lighter, the whole thing with these old Escorts is that they were fun, but like the article says, they weren't all that fast or capable, the image is everything with MK1's and MK2's and I sort of get it but not that I would want to pay between 10 and 30 grand for one.
At the same time as Ford were selling these, Porsche were selling the 924, which I think retailed for about twice what the Escort did, it was more powerful (125 bhp) and more capable as it had independent rear suspension, plus it was several times better quality, a nice 924 is about three grand now but it seems not to matter as everybody wants the Escort, the Porsche has very little image in comparison.
This is why I'd have a "sorted" Escort.At the same time as Ford were selling these, Porsche were selling the 924, which I think retailed for about twice what the Escort did, it was more powerful (125 bhp) and more capable as it had independent rear suspension, plus it was several times better quality, a nice 924 is about three grand now but it seems not to matter as everybody wants the Escort, the Porsche has very little image in comparison.
t out of me, so some kind of barking twin cam with 200 - 250p bhp.A Honda S2000 engine seems like a better match for a light rwd car like an Escort, I have no actual experience of a YB engined one so may be talkign out of my arse but I am not sure that the massive torque would make for the best combination for something light and with a reputation for being a bit lively with < 100 bhp, or does the four linking cure/mitigate that or does it just stop the power tearing the axle off the leaf springs, spring mounts off the body or the axle hopping all over the place ?
I suppose I do get the Escort thing but dont want to admit I want one, there is something so right in how they look, something that sends a bit of a shiver down the spin when you see one, its weird, in the early eighties you couldnt give them away.
Edited by J4CKO on Monday 23 March 14:58
Mine's a little warmer than standard with a list of upgrades which are too extensive to ever list - still looks standard and key elements are present. Grp1 and X-Pack bits were optional. My Custom steering wheel isn't leather. Really need to get on and get mine finished this year - I bought mine, with a rotten floor-pan for about £2k many, many years ago, the restoration has taken a while and consumed almost as much cash in parts (probably more, I don't really want to know) as the car is now worth.
rtz62 said:
But, I still see them as a fast-ish Ford Escort that should be worth £10-15 max rather than the over-inflated prices some are asking.
Blame historic rallying for inflating the prices - that was the initial primary reason for prices rocketing once the Escorts became FiA Historic eligible......which is what most on here don't seem to understand.Saw the same thing with all the pre-68 stuff a decade prior to that.
aeropilot said:
Blame historic rallying for inflating the prices - that was the initial primary reason for prices rocketing once the Escorts became FiA Historic eligible......which is what most on here don't seem to understand.
Saw the same thing with all the pre-68 stuff a decade prior to that.
Even 4 doors, vans and estates have gone silly, suppose it is part of the knock on, if people cant afford a 2 door performance variant, they migrate down the pecking order to the other variants.Saw the same thing with all the pre-68 stuff a decade prior to that.
Much as I love them I wouldn't want to pay that kind of overhead to own one, would be worth looking at other RWD stuff that can do a reasonable and similar kind of Job, a lot tend to be getting expensive in their own right, am thinking it would be a case of buy a decent, non performance model and modify it,
E21/E30 BMW
Avenger
Marina/Ital, maybe not but maybe if suspension sorted ?
Triumph Dolomite
Cortina, Mk1 or 2, Mk3 2 door
Capri
Mk1 Cavalier/Ascona
Manta
RWD non Z Datsuns
Mitsubishis, Starion ?
Toyota AE86 - already gone the same way,
Early Celica
Aforementioned 924, maybe even a 944.
Vauxhall Chevette (i.e. not a HS/HSR)
Vauxhall Viva/Firenza/Magnum
Talbot Sunbeam
Shaw Tarse said:
Countersteer said:
I grew up watching The Professionals. That is all I have to say...
So you also need a Crapri & a Granada Ghia 
Bacchus said:
I used to doodle escorts like that when I was day-dreaming in school... little did I imagine the prices today would keep them a day-dream.Lovely photos.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff