RE: Dream-grade Ford Escort RS1600i for sale
Discussion
Amazing prices on these and great memories. I bought a 1983 model back in 1985. I remember paying £6000 for it, from John Clarke, a big BMW dealership in Aberdeen. Was likely overpriced a bit but did have a special warranty. I recall that the price of the car was the same as my annual salary.
Coming from a 2.0S Capri, the RS was a real racer and great to drive. I kept it for 6 years. The 195/50x15 tyres seemed impossibly wide and low profile in the mid 80s and 15” diameter was simply massive!
Can’t believe my friend and I fitted a towbar on it so I could tow his boat whilst he towed a caravan with his XR3i.
I was told back then that either the body shell and or the chassis were different from the XR3i due to altering the suspension for the rallying. Also there were a red and orange light on the speedo, I think, these came on when you took your foot off the throttle. Cannot remember what they were for but the XR3i did not have them.
Coming from a 2.0S Capri, the RS was a real racer and great to drive. I kept it for 6 years. The 195/50x15 tyres seemed impossibly wide and low profile in the mid 80s and 15” diameter was simply massive!
Can’t believe my friend and I fitted a towbar on it so I could tow his boat whilst he towed a caravan with his XR3i.
I was told back then that either the body shell and or the chassis were different from the XR3i due to altering the suspension for the rallying. Also there were a red and orange light on the speedo, I think, these came on when you took your foot off the throttle. Cannot remember what they were for but the XR3i did not have them.
Always liked how crisp looking these were, definitely had the edge over an XR3i and though the RS Turbo did look good, these had the rarity factor on their side.
45k is rather optimistic but who knows, Fast Ford fans are some of the most zealous, a MK7 ST would give more thrills for five/six grand but its not yet a classic.
Classic prices are tumbling, there are less middle aged and older blokes wanting them compared to my dads generation, that will eventually catch up with Fast Fords as well, based ont he auction results the odd thing meets its lower estimate, but not much. A few things buck the trend, some commercials and very special Fast Fords perhaps, but most is in the doldrums, wouldnt want to be selling a Stag or similar at the moment.
45k is rather optimistic but who knows, Fast Ford fans are some of the most zealous, a MK7 ST would give more thrills for five/six grand but its not yet a classic.
Classic prices are tumbling, there are less middle aged and older blokes wanting them compared to my dads generation, that will eventually catch up with Fast Fords as well, based ont he auction results the odd thing meets its lower estimate, but not much. A few things buck the trend, some commercials and very special Fast Fords perhaps, but most is in the doldrums, wouldnt want to be selling a Stag or similar at the moment.
I come from a family of Ford fanatics, but I have never understood the love for some decidedly average models and adoration for some utter junk going for mad prices. However, this is an absolute beauty and for me the one of the most desirable Escorts out there, almost up there with the MK1 RS1600, Mk RS2000, RS1700T and Cosworth, not forgetting the rarest of them all the utilitarian Escort 100E.
My mate had one of these as a company car & I used to work at the dealer that supplied it. He always insisted that I did the S & R on it. Essentially, the seats were the notable things from driving it. But the Mk 1 RS turbo kind of overshadowed it somewhat. Somebody posted earlier that he suspected that these cars weren't so nice do drive as their modern counterparts, but I guess those are what memories are about.
IMHO the best A-B out odf all of them was the Peugeot 205 GTI. Quirky after a Ford, but I was hooked and went on to own 3!
IMHO the best A-B out odf all of them was the Peugeot 205 GTI. Quirky after a Ford, but I was hooked and went on to own 3!
I owned 3 black ones of these , buying them from 1998 to 2008 when I sold them all again , scrapping 1 and the other 2 to the same bloke for restoration .
1 of them had an MOT and had been driven to Italy in 2006 .
the suspension on this red car is not standard as it's far lower than factory settings .
I don't think there is any value difference for rarer colours ,after all of them are rare after 40 years .
6 colours were available .
1 of them had an MOT and had been driven to Italy in 2006 .
the suspension on this red car is not standard as it's far lower than factory settings .
I don't think there is any value difference for rarer colours ,after all of them are rare after 40 years .
6 colours were available .
Edited by W i d e body on Wednesday 12th March 10:13
Terminator X said:
Mark_Blanchard said:
That’s superb. I seem to remember they were super rare in the 80s. As opposed to XR3’s which were 2 a penny.
I only had eyes for the XR4i though.
My Uncle had a number of them, he owned a shoe shop and it was the ultimate estate back then.I only had eyes for the XR4i though.
TX.
I've had 2 XR3i's and a mk1 RS turbo in my time and I just can't see why people are prepared to pay such silly money for them. They weren't particularly qucik nor did they handle that well even by the standards of the day.
3rd gear in the RS was a peach though as the turbo kicked in it really did pick up well
Having said that I wish I still had them given what they'd make.
3rd gear in the RS was a peach though as the turbo kicked in it really did pick up well
Having said that I wish I still had them given what they'd make.
As an impoverished student, I had an ancient Mk 4 Orion 1.6i ghia that was approaching the end of its usable life. It was very similar to the contemporary XR3i mechanically (which was also ancient by that point), but insurable without using up too many student beer tokens!
It was great for thrashing around London and fairly quick on the motorway - with a long enough run up on the M40 heading downhill towards the M25, I could hit an indicated 120. I thought it was great at the time, but even back then I could tell the engine was fairly agricultural.
It would be interesting to have a short drive in this (or an XR3i) now just to remind myself what seemed fast to the 20 year old me.
This isn’t mine - mine looked much better with spotlights and clear indicators:
It was great for thrashing around London and fairly quick on the motorway - with a long enough run up on the M40 heading downhill towards the M25, I could hit an indicated 120. I thought it was great at the time, but even back then I could tell the engine was fairly agricultural.
It would be interesting to have a short drive in this (or an XR3i) now just to remind myself what seemed fast to the 20 year old me.
This isn’t mine - mine looked much better with spotlights and clear indicators:
Edited by chirurgus on Wednesday 12th March 10:17
This has bought the memories flooding back !
I grew up in Chingford East London and there were several RS1600i floating around locally and I well recall a Blue Y plate one.
The local Ford main agents were the Gates group, who had branches in Woodford and Epping ( and also Bishops Stortford in Hertfordshire) The Woodford branch ( and likely Epping ) were Ford RS dealers and would have supplied many RS1600i in the district.
In 1987, 2 pals were flipping cars, they bought my then g/fs Silver Fiesta SuperSport, they came to collect it in a Silver RS1600i that they had also just bought. I had a quick spin arround the block in it, the seats in these were absolutely superb, really supportive. It felt a much more special car than the immaculate red Y plate XR3i that my Mum owned.
Were the seats Scheel or Recaros ?
Also In the mid 80s, I well recall suggesting one of these and also a Sunbeam Lotus to my dear Late step dad, as a replacement for his immaculate silver V plate Golf GTi.
Sure I am correct in saying that the 1600i had suspension tweaks as well, inc more rear negative camber and revised caster and camber for the front ?
I grew up in Chingford East London and there were several RS1600i floating around locally and I well recall a Blue Y plate one.
The local Ford main agents were the Gates group, who had branches in Woodford and Epping ( and also Bishops Stortford in Hertfordshire) The Woodford branch ( and likely Epping ) were Ford RS dealers and would have supplied many RS1600i in the district.
In 1987, 2 pals were flipping cars, they bought my then g/fs Silver Fiesta SuperSport, they came to collect it in a Silver RS1600i that they had also just bought. I had a quick spin arround the block in it, the seats in these were absolutely superb, really supportive. It felt a much more special car than the immaculate red Y plate XR3i that my Mum owned.
Were the seats Scheel or Recaros ?
Also In the mid 80s, I well recall suggesting one of these and also a Sunbeam Lotus to my dear Late step dad, as a replacement for his immaculate silver V plate Golf GTi.
Sure I am correct in saying that the 1600i had suspension tweaks as well, inc more rear negative camber and revised caster and camber for the front ?
Edited by SS427 Camaro on Wednesday 12th March 10:40
chirurgus said:
As an impoverished student, I had an ancient Mk 4 Orion 1.6i ghia that was approaching the end of its usable life. It was very similar to the contemporary XR3i mechanically (which was also ancient by that point), but insurable without using up too many student beer tokens!
It was great for thrashing around London and fairly quick on the motorway - with a long enough run up on the M40 heading downhill towards the M25, I could hit an indicated 120. I thought it was great at the time, but even back then I could tell the engine was fairly agricultural.
It would be interesting to have a short drive in this (or an XR3i) now just to remind myself what seemed fast to the 20 year old me.
I was 20 and almost turning 21 when I had my first XR4x4 back in 1994, and I can't believe now that I actually thought a 150bhp was a decent amount back then really! We were easily pleased back then weren't we?(my current daily driver has 425bhp now for example). It was great for thrashing around London and fairly quick on the motorway - with a long enough run up on the M40 heading downhill towards the M25, I could hit an indicated 120. I thought it was great at the time, but even back then I could tell the engine was fairly agricultural.
It would be interesting to have a short drive in this (or an XR3i) now just to remind myself what seemed fast to the 20 year old me.
I remember seeing 138mph on the clock in it on the M1, but I'd imagine that the reality was only around 125mph though. I still have very fond memories of it regardless in fairness.
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