Seeing a PH-featured car later for sale on our classifieds is always rather exciting. We'll have our cursors lingering over the '997 GT3' section over the next few weeks as
911 GB gets defleeted
ZT-T V8
known to us for sale was a pleasant surprise.
Who doesn't love an homologation special?
And now we have another. Remember our story on the
Bonkers Collection
a couple of years back? Fast Ford fanatic Mark Bailey had spent many years compiling a selection of low-mileage RS models in fabulous condition.
One of those cars, to be found in the gallery of pics at the end of the story, was an Escort Cosworth Monte Carlo Edition. Mark has now relinquished ownership of L703RTW, and it's now ready for a new owner.
There's something about naming a car Monte Carlo, isn't there? Lancia of course used it as a full model name, and Skoda have jumped on the rally success bandwagon too with a tarted-up Fabia. It presumably evokes thoughts of glamour and style, which is ironic given the rally takes place up on the mountains in January.
Still looks brilliant two decades on
Still, wins there on the WRC campaign in '93 and '94 was sufficient for Ford to commission a limited-edition Escort Cosworth. Just 200 were built, 70 of which were RHD. It was only offered in three colours too, but none of that matters especially. The Monte Carlo is all about those wheels.
They're by OZ Racing and just look superb on the Escort. They emphasise the tarmac rally car look perfectly, and to these eyes make for a much better aesthetic package than the standard five-spoke items.
But an Escort Cosworth is about driving and not appearances if we're honest. Being an early Cossie, it uses the larger Garrett T3 turbo with 227hp rather than the later and smaller T25. Mercifully, this car has been used rather more than some of Mark's collection, with 37,000 miles recorded. You'd want to use it sparingly, but it probably doesn't need to be preserved as a garage queen. And it would take someone of greater self-resolve than us to leave an Escort Cosworth stationary!
Interior not quite as alluring!
We thought such a pristine Escort RS would be a unique find in the PH Classifieds, but evidently not. With the £30,000 the Monte Carlo is up for, there's also the choice of this very low mileage
1996 car
Cosworth Lux
. For those feeling particularly flush, there's even an RS with
POA next to it
. For half the cost of those cars, this
small turbo Cosworth
is for sale at a Lotus garage.
For a slice of fast Ford and PH history though, the Monte Carlo is rather unique. And if you wanted a true early-90s WRC revival, we know a man with an Integrale...
FORD ESCORT RS COSWORTH MONTE CARLO EDITION
Engine: 1,993cc 4-cyl turbo
Transmission: Five-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 227@6,250rpm
Torque (lb ft): 224@3,500rpm
MPG: 27
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1994
Recorded mileage: 37,000
Price new: £22,050 (standard car, 1992)
Yours for: £29,990
See the original advert here