1994 FORD ESCORT

Introduced in 1992, the Escort RS Cosworth was an homologation special based on the fifth-generation Ford Escort and its sole purpose was to incorporate parts that Ford planned to use in their Group A rally cars to ensure success in the World Rally Championship, a Group A rally car for the road - pure and simple.

It was available as a road car from 1992-1996 in limited numbers from Ford’s Specialist Vehicle Engineering (SVE) team, combining the hand-assembled engine expertise of Cosworth and the coachbuilding crafts of Karmann. Powered by the familiar 2.0-litre turbocharged, longitudinally-mounted, Cosworth-developed engine driving all four wheels, the Stephen Harper-designed car was engineered in Boreham with final assembly by Karmann in Germany.

The potential of the Escort was evident in its first ever event, the 1993 Monte Carlo Rally, where Delecour and Biasion came second and third respectively. The Escort continued to be very competitive throughout the 1993 and 1994 seasons, but it was a one-off guest drive by Tommi Mäkinen that provided the long-awaited win on the 1994 '1000 Lakes' Rally, the first of many high-profile top-flight rally victories. Additionally, and true to Ford's grassroots philosophy, the Escort Cosworth provided a platform for National Rallying and Club enthusiasts throughout the world to enjoy 'off-the-shelf' competitive support, securing its status as a true Ford icon.

Between 1992 and 1996, a total of only 7,145 Ford Escort RS Cosworth examples were produced. In mid-1994, Ford introduced a revised ‘Small Turbo’ model equipped with a Garrett T25 turbocharger and an upgraded engine, replacing the original ‘Big Turbo’ (Garrett T3) version. Earlier (pre-1994) big-turbo cars feature what’s known as a ‘YBT’ engine, most easily identifiable by the blue cam cover. Later, small-turbo engines are known as ‘YBP’ units and are identified by a smoother, silver-finish cam cover.

The car presented here is a 1994 Ford Escort RS Cosworth Lux, which is offered to market for the first time in 31 years – a remarkable ownership period (documented as shared between an individual and his businesses, but effectively the same owner throughout). In Mallard Green paintwork, it was supplied new through Ford dealers, King Ford of Stoke-on-Trent, with their Dealer Principal recorded as the car's first owner before being sold to our vendor, a stalwart RSOC member, in 1995. As a garage owner and engineer, it has been routinely serviced and garaged its whole life. As was de rigueur in the late-1990s, the car was enhanced, but only minimally, with a headlight conversion, uprated brake discs/pads, and an easily-reversible turbo conversion (small turbo to big turbo) carried out by Castle Performance Engineering.

Being a Lux specification, it's equipped with opening rear quarter windows, electrically operated and heated door mirrors, Quickclear heated windscreen, heated washer jets, three-spoke leather-covered steering wheel, central double locking, tailgate release, lights on warning, rear centre armrest, rear head restraints, electric sunroof, electric windows, with the factory fitted Ford radio cassette alongside the factory upgrade 2040 CD player. It sits on its original Ronal soft-spoke 8x16-inch genuine Ford alloy wheels.

With just under 38,000 miles covered, supported by a complete service/MOT history, this Escort Cosworth has been lightly used in the last few years and has been carefully stored. Not in concours condition currently (the flaking gear-lever gaiter was retained for originality) but offers any new owner huge potential. What’s right with this car is very right – originality aplenty, low mileage, unrestored, and (mostly) unpainted - a very wholesome example and a great entry into the world of RS-ownership.