RE: Spotted: Ford Escort RS1600i...

[s m]

Escort Si-130 said:

Surely regardless of it not reaching service mileage, certain items he should have changed. i.e coolant, brake fluid, oil etc

Are you sure it hasn't? Did you read the seller's replies?

[D200]

£26k for that car - words really do fail me!

There is a saying - build it and they will come

Here's a new one for the 21st Century - put any price tag on any crappy ford RS and some mental Ford nut will foolishly pay it no matter how ridiculous it is

• *disclaimer*** Please NOTE I am not saying all Ford RS’s are crap but this one is. I like RS Fords to a certain extent - Mk1 and 2 'scorts are great cars and tres cool, as are the cosworths, RS ford capri's etc, but this…

[stevenr]

D200 said:

£26k for that car - words really do fail me!

There is a saying - build it and they will come

Here's a new one for the 21st Century - put any price tag on any crappy ford RS and some mental Ford nut will foolishly pay it no matter how ridiculous it is

• *disclaimer*** Please NOTE I am not saying all Ford RS’s are crap but this one is. I like RS Fords to a certain extent - Mk1 and 2 'scorts are great cars and tres cool, as are the cosworths, RS ford capri's etc, but this…

Please explain how it's crap?

[D200]

Are you being serious?

[D200]

This version of the escort is one of fords less revered cars shall we say – as agreed by loads motoring publications and ford fans themselves. I know 2 of, who have a clatter of mk2s and Capri’s – and they aint fond of them.

And the performance version of them were also never rated at the time either. Poor chassis, handling, unrefined etc

Please tell me what is so brilliant about it? Maybe I am missing something?


An in investment they are a very good car – if you have one and didn’t buy at a silly price it’ll go up in value, but as a performance car for that sort of money of the one advertised, total madness!

I should probably have been more clear and said for that sort of money - i.e. £26k - its commands its not a lot of car for the money - driving wise. As a cheap retro performance car its cool, but the way people go mad over these things and pay big money for them baffles me. Just because the MK2 were rally legends doesn’t mean the later fwd models automatically follow suit just because they have an RS badge on them. I think for up to 5 or 10k at the very very very most is ok, but 26k, nope...

Same with the £65 mk1 escort - its a pile of crap for that money - not a pile of crap par se

I do stand to be corrected and if I am wrong and you can convince me to think otherwise my mind can changed, but that’s my honest opinion …

[stevenr]

D200 said:

Are you being serious?

Yes very and i'm struggling to see what point you're trying to make in your other post too.

Maybe you should do a bit of proper research on these cars instead of listening to your 2 mates before you come on here rambling nonsense.

[DubZeus]

Adore these cars & it is the best out there. If it was 16k it would be more realistic. I'd love a usable one personally. Just think of it this way, it was the make or break model for the RS range so it certainly significant, it also had rally pedigree as well even though it wasn't the best it wasn't designed to be. It was Group A class car when Group B ruled.

[interloper]

This seems barking to me, the older Escorts I understand but the 1600i is nice but, it doesn't have any rally pedigree (I believe it was built for group A racing but wasn't successful). If you wanted one to drive then you would be better off looking at cheaper, leggier cars rather than buying this example because its supposed value will drop like a stone the moment you start putting miles on it. Also would a collector really want this largely forgotten car?

In my mind the RS1600 is an interesting alternative to an XR3, Golf GTI or 205, nothing more nothing less.

[DubZeus]

interloper said:

This seems barking to me, the older Escorts I understand but the 1600i is nice but, it doesn't have any rally pedigree (I believe it was built for group A racing but wasn't successful). If you wanted one to drive then you would be better off looking at cheaper, leggier cars rather than buying this example because its supposed value will drop like a stone the moment you start putting miles on it. Also would a collector really want this largely forgotten car?

In my mind the RS1600 is an interesting alternative to an XR3, Golf GTI or 205, nothing more nothing less.

It does have rally pedigree, boreham built 3: HPU73Y HPU74Y & KEV100Y

[Johnnytheboy]

Browsing the classic car mags, this doesn't seem like a surprising price, compared to some that I have seen recently.

[interloper]

Boreham may have prepared a few for rallying but the car was conceived by the Germans for racing. It was never going to be a serious top end rally car and the results back that up.

Also the Mk2 Golf GTI rallied reasonably successfully (far more successfully than the Escort) in Group A but nobody ever mentions that, possibly because Group A at the time was completely over looked by something else..........

Edited by interloper on Saturday 4th February 18:03

[DubZeus]

interloper said:

Boreham may have prepared a few for rallying but the car was conceived by the Germans for racing. It was never going to be a serious top end rally car and the results back that up.

Also the Mk2 Golf GTI rallied reasonably successfully (far more successfully than the Escort) in Group A but nobody ever mentions that, possibly because Group A at the time was completely over looked by something else..........

Edited by interloper on Saturday 4th February 18:03

Agreed on all parts.

[s m]

interloper said:

Boreham may have prepared a few for rallying but the car was conceived by the Germans for racing. It was never going to be a serious top end rally car and the results back that up.

Also the Mk2 Golf GTI rallied reasonably successfully (far more successfully than the Escort) in Group A but nobody ever mentions that, possibly because Group A at the time was completely over looked by something else..........

Edited by interloper on Saturday 4th February 18:03

Chris Hodgetts won the 85 GpA Class in an RS1600i and then moved onto the Corollas. Ford won the manufacturer title with the car in that year as well so it did have some success


1985 Trimoco RAC British Saloon Car Championship

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Final Championship Standings

Class A (2501-3600cc)
1 Andy Rouse 2.3t Ford Sierra Turbo 86 (92) pts
2 Dave Brodie 2.0t Colt Starion Turbo 54
3 Neil McGrath 3.5 Rover Vitesse 45
4 Frank Sytner 3.5 BMW 635CSi 30
5 Barry Sheene 2.8 Toyota Celica Supra 18
6 Pete Hall 3.5 Rover Vitesse 17
7 Mike Newman 3.5 BMW 635CSi 10
8 David Sears 2.3t Ford Sierra Turbo 6
9 Klaus Niedzwiedz 2.3t Ford Sierra Turbo 4
10 Dennis Leech 3.5 Rover Vitesse 4
11 Brian Chatfield 3.0 Ford Capri/3.5 BMW 635CSi 3


Class B (1501-2500cc)
1 Rob Kirby 2.5 Alfa Romeo GTV6 49 (53)
2 Richard Longman 1.6t Ford Escort Turbo 45
3 Jon Dooley 2.5 Alfa Romeo GTV6 43
4 Graham Goode 1.8t Nissan Bluebird Turbo 37 (57*)
5 Phil Dowsett 2.5 Alfa Romeo GTV6 21
6 Mark Hales 2.5 Alfa Romeo GTV6 9
7 Terry Drury 2.5 Alfa Romeo GTV6 6
8 Barry Barnes 2.5 Alfa Romeo GTV6 4
9 David Grimshaw 1.6t Ford Escort Turbo 2
10 Alex Minshaw 1.8 Volkswagen Golf 1
= Alex Postan 1.4t Renault 5 Turbo 1


Class C (up to 1600cc)
1 Chris Hodgetts 1.6 Ford Escort RS1600i 76 (84)
2 Richard Belcher 1.6 Ford Escort RS1600i 60
3 Alan Curnow 1.6 Ford Escort RS1600i 52
4 John Morris 1.6 Ford Escort RS1600i 24
5 Geoff Kimber-Smith 1.6 Toyota Corolla 21
6 Tony Crudgington 1.6 Toyota Corolla 15
7 Patrick Watts 1.6 Ford Escort RS1600i 7
8 Stig Gruen 1.6 Toyota Corolla 6
= Alex Moss 1.6 Ford Escort RS1600i 6
10 Karl Jones 1.6 Ford Escort RS1600i 3
11 Barry Lee 1.6 Ford Escort RS1600i 2


Manufacturers
1 Ford Escort RS1600i 81 (105)
2 Ford Sierra XR4Ti 81 (87)
3 Alfa Romeo GTV6 60
4 Mitsubishi Colt Starion Turbo 48
5 Ford Escort RS Turbo 42
6 BMW 635CSi 35
7 Toyota Corolla GT 34
8 Nissan Bluebird Turbo 33 (51)
9 Toyota Celica Supra 18
10 Ford Capri 2


Best nine scores count towards championship (total points in parentheses)

• Points lost as penalty

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Sources:
Autosport

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[lescombes]

I see what folks are getting at with the price tag....But... with Classic motors and modern classics that are short of numbers caused by a few factors.... price is how much anyone is willing to pay....
Shamefully..a lot of recent modern "classics" from the 80's & 90's have come about due to owners getting into the throwaway attitude that we have these days....some good cars got took off the market during the scrappage scheme.
I know many of you wont like them but an example of vehicles or lack of them on the UK roads is the Fiat Strada and variants... they do and will command serious money to a collector... being right hand drive and called Strada as they were badged Ritmo in the EU...that's a mere example.. Bet you can think of many many more..

[Blowfish]

How much did one of these turds cost when new?

[s m]

Leigh996tt said:

Here's a few snaps of one I helped restore. Four months of hard graft, around 800 man hours between us resulted in what you see. Soon to be appearing in the PH classified section

Done a lovely job on that Leigh

[interloper]

s m said:

Chris Hodgetts won the 85 GpA Class in an RS1600i and then moved onto the Corollas. Ford won the manufacturer title with the car in that year as well so it did have some success

Ah but certain people were saying it has rally pedigree, those results are for saloon car racing and even then it was only successful in its class, not overall.

I think my point was that some Fords have legendary race or rally heritage, by being either spectacularly dominant like the MK1 and 2 Escorts in Rallying or the Cosworth at touring car racing. This one doesn't have that kind of prestige.

[D200]

stevenr said:

D200 said:

Are you being serious?

Yes very and i'm struggling to see what point you're trying to make in your other post too.

Maybe you should do a bit of proper research on these cars instead of listening to your 2 mates before you come on here rambling nonsense.

I still do not see what is so amazing about these cars and how someone could demand a price like that for one - a fwd 1.6 mk3 escort with c115BHP. I can't see how this car is so revered.

As stated in other reply if you could tell me why is so brilliant and worth so much money I could be swayed. But I have researched it by the way [the internet is full of info on it] and until someone convinces me otherwise that my honest view on it. Main view being £26k for that car is madness, but if people are willing to pay it good luck to them...

[s m]

interloper said:

s m said:

Chris Hodgetts won the 85 GpA Class in an RS1600i and then moved onto the Corollas. Ford won the manufacturer title with the car in that year as well so it did have some success

Ah but certain people were saying it has rally pedigree, those results are for saloon car racing and even then it was only successful in its class, not overall.

I think my point was that some Fords have legendary race or rally heritage, by being either spectacularly dominant like the MK1 and 2 Escorts in Rallying or the Cosworth at touring car racing. This one doesn't have that kind of prestige.

Don't think it was ever going to win overall in the Touring Cars - just its engine class ( up to 1600cc ). Whether or not people like it or wail and gnash their teeth about how much someone has pitched it for, they did sell nearly double the number they had to make to homologate it.

Maybe it will sell for a lot, maybe not ....I don't think competition success will necessarily mean a lot. Skoda won their class for years but no-one wants them particularly.

Just like those weird old Bugattis or Ferraris that fetch more than a lottery win, something like this is destined for a collection most likely. You can buy a daily driver one for far less. Does amuse me how worked-up people get about the prices some old cars go for though

[williamp]

RS500 Registrar said:

It doesnt matter if the car sells or not as the older it gets the more its worth , just like a fine wine .

The price of the car maybee high but like anything in life you get what you pay for , and this car will not be bought by anyone wishing to use it , Its a collectors item and true collectors will pay top money for the best in its class

Edited by RS500 Registrar on Thursday 2nd February 20:51

Thanks for posting. Its interesting that you feel it is purely an investment. Therefore, for someone to invest in it the item would have to appreciate more then other investments for the simmilar price. You have priced it straight into Aston/ferrari/Porsche terratory. Will a (now rare) version of a mass produced hatchback be as good an investment as one of those listed above- and unlike the Ford, they can be useed and enjoyed whilst manintaining/appreciating in value?

Good luck if you can sell it, but from an investors point of view, it doesnt make sense to me.