RE: Spotted: Ford Escort RS1600i...

[s m]

porsche666 said:

If I remember there was also a very rare RS1800 made with a RWD configuration (It looked like the XR3i & RS) perhaps some one can en-lighten me ...
I also spent time working in South Africa where Ford built an XR5 it looked like an XR4 but with a big 5 litre motor big wheel
aches and Wing/Spoiler.............Perhaps someone has info on this also .

Might have been the RS1700T you're thinking of? RS1800 was either a Mk2 Escort or a later Fiesta

South Africa did an XR8 like your XR5 description

[porsche666]

Perfect ..I knew there was some nice RS's made for outher markets ....1700T was that a turbo engine ?

[richard300]

porsche666 said:

Perfect ..I knew there was some nice RS's made for outher markets ....1700T was that a turbo engine ?

Yeah, Cosworth 1.8 Turbo i think. Not sure if the cars were ever developed further than prototype format.

I know that back in the late 80's early 90's full RS1700T replica bodykits could be purchased so no doubt there are/were some replica's around.

Talking of rare Mk3 Escorts..... Waaaaayyyyyy back in the day my mother had a
W-Reg Mk3 XR3 (Carb) I know they were not a limited run car, and probably are not that desirable, But i wonder how many are on the road today? I remember she had it from new and PX'd it for a new E-reg Escort Bravo, and then moved on to an Orion 1600E. Throughout this period my father had a succession of New Sierra Ghia Estates.

It's no wonder i have such a soft spot for 80's fords.

Edited by richard300 on Monday 6th February 12:20

[richard300]

cragswinter said:

Investment cars are funny things, but the one thing going for these cars (old ford rs' & the like) is that unlike old porsches & ferrari's they are attainable classics for the common man.

Look at the other thread on the 911 speedster, that is an investment grade Porsche & you're looking at 60k+ for one these days.

Ok that's not in the jay leno/ralph loren league but it's out of reach for a regular working man, with two grown up kids & a semi in the suburbs.

Yet for around 25 grand, said working man can have what is possibly the best of the best, in perhaps something that he lusted after when he was young. This best example will get you invited to concourse events, shows, even places like the goodwood festival of speed should someone like the rsoc have a display there & want a good car to put on the stand.

Would I buy it? No. Would I consider Leigh's restored example? Yes. Will someone out there treat themselves to a car that they can keep forever? Quite possibly.

I see the the point you are making, but the fact is, how many average working men can afford to have £26,000 worth of car that they cannot use. Because the second you start using this car, its value will fall significantly. And if you are said average guy, who really wants an RS1600i then you could pick up a good mileage, fully restored or former concourse car that you could not only covet, but drive and enjoy also, for mayby £20,000 less.

[preciousmetal]

pay £26k for car that as soon as you drive it the engine will probably blow up as according to the advert its not due a service yest and has not been serviced so the engine oil is nearly 30 yrs old !! great one

[s m]

preciousmetal said:

pay £26k for car that as soon as you drive it the engine will probably blow up as according to the advert its not due a service yest and has not been serviced so the engine oil is nearly 30 yrs old !! great one

You didn't read the comments from the seller?

Besides, this type of car will most likely go into a collection and not be driven.......similar to the delivery mileage E30 M3 that was sold recently

[RS500 Registrar]

Thanks for the comments fellas

The car was viewed on sunday afternoon and a deposit recieved this morning

The new owner is a collector and was very very happy with the car

Thankyou all for your publicity on this great car

Paul

[Nors]

RS500 Registrar said:

Thanks for the comments fellas

The car was viewed on sunday afternoon and a deposit recieved this morning

The new owner is a collector and was very very happy with the car

Thankyou all for your publicity on this great car

Paul

Had to be a collector really! Well done, you got your price (assuming you did), so to all those that said you'd never get that for it..........

A car is always worth what someone is willing to pay you for it!

[richard300]

Nors said:

RS500 Registrar said:

Thanks for the comments fellas

The car was viewed on sunday afternoon and a deposit recieved this morning

The new owner is a collector and was very very happy with the car

Thankyou all for your publicity on this great car

Paul

Had to be a collector really! Well done, you got your price (assuming you did), so to all those that said you'd never get that for it..........

A car is always worth what someone is willing to pay you for it!

Congratulations on the sale, hope it hasnt set a president for these cars to become so coveted for their value, that they never get seen on the road (being thoroughly enjoyed) again.


I still think its a terrible shame that cars like this become such as they can never be driven.

My hat tips to those that drive the cars, then lovingly restore them so they can enjoy them on the road and share them with others for another 30 years.

[Johnboy Mac]

RS500 Registrar said:

Thanks for the comments fellas

The car was viewed on sunday afternoon and a deposit recieved this morning

The new owner is a collector and was very very happy with the car

Thankyou all for your publicity on this great car

Paul

Congrats & well done. Glad to here the owner was a collector, that makes the price paid somewhat more understandable. Still it's a hill of money all things considering.

Anyway, so what's next since you've got the guts of 26 big one's in your pocket?

[s m]

RS500 Registrar said:

Thanks for the comments fellas

The car was viewed on sunday afternoon and a deposit recieved this morning

The new owner is a collector and was very very happy with the car

Thankyou all for your publicity on this great car

Paul

Good result!

[chiefski26]

Wonder how all those who said it would fetch £10k max feel right now ?

[J4CKO]

chiefski26 said:

Wonder how all those who said it would fetch £10k max feel right now ?

Perhaps they are utterly gutted and considering suicide, or just think that there is indeed either one born every minute or people with more money than they know what to do with and will spend it on the best example of the car(s) they want. Like I said, good luck to the seller but without a copy of the invoice, which I wouldn't expect to see we realistically don't know what the sale price was, could have been half the headline figure or a good few grand off.

I don't get the collecting thing, sure its nice to have a few cars, that you actually drive but I cant see the point of them just sitting there, as investments go, sticking 26 grand into an old Escort isn't top of my list but then neither is sticking it in a bank at the current rates, I think most of the investment potential has gone to the seller in this case, it isn't going to rocket in value now as its already (if it went for 26) its up with RS500's and all rare RS models.

[Sandcrook]

I read with interest about the Escort RS1600i that recently sold for 26K I in fact used to own from new a 1972 RS1600 16 valve twin overhead cam model but with the old body shape,and twin carbs which were dellorto or webers I think.I bought the car in Black with all the extras for around 10K in 1972 so dont find the price of this unreal.I did go on to try and obtain an RS2600 Capri but they were not made in the UK but in Germany in Cologne .Ford were very keen and we were invited to do a factory tour in Cologne but after doing the tour nothing more became of it as getting it serviced etc in those days was not as easy as it is now

[cboi23]

This might be already on here but heres a £28k Capri:

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...

[will261058]

At the end of the day it is worth whatever someone is prepared to pay for it. You do not need to understand why they will pay that much. I am sure that everyone has something dear to them that they would pay what may seem a lot to others for. Many wouldnt value it at 26k (me included) initially, but reading some of the posts I am starting to see that it may well be worth that much and perhaps more to someone. And you cannot argue its rarity.

[porsche666]

Perfect ..I knew there was some nice RS's made for outher markets ....1700T was that a turbo engine ?

[Gary C]

J4CKO said:

or just think that there is indeed either one born every minute or people with more money than they know what to do with and will spend it on the best example of the car(s) they want.

Think the 'one born every minute' remark is a bit unfair to the buyer. Whoever it is obviously successfull and well off, so why insult them when they buy a car they want.

[Mint FRST]

porsche666 said:

Perfect ..I knew there was some nice RS's made for outher markets ....1700T was that a turbo engine ?

Yes, a turbo charged version of the BDA engine. When the RS1700T Programme was canned the engine found its way into the RS200 albeit revised

[LewisR]

Yes, it does annoy me when adverts say "Great investment potential" then price the crap out of it.