Ford Escorts RS2000

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Terrific performance-bred family of Escorts that offer pure and simple fun. Easy to own but prices are soaring across the board and as a result fakes are rife so buy with care

Who doesn’t love a Fast Ford? The Blue Oval has had the knack of producing fun family cars for more than half a century, starting with the Lotus Cortina. But it’s the evergreen Escort that’s offered wider appeal since the late 1960s care of highly affordable prices and an easier time running one that really was no harder or dearer than the neighbour’s company car 1100L…

With Lotus Cortinas now well out of reach of most enthusiasts. the appeal of performance Escorts hasn’t escaped enthusiasts of late – both of the classic and max power fraternity – and as a result values of these more exhilarating Escort have soared in values to eye-opening proportions. It’s 35 years since the much loved rear-wheel drive Mk1 and Mk2 ranges were replaced by the all new front-wheel drive XR3 but don’t delay a day longer if you want one before prices, already fast rising, really spiral out of reach.

HISTORY

1967 Escort launched that November to replace the Anglia (which briefly remained in service) but earlier in the year Ford’s competition department had already instigated fitting the Lotus Twin Cam engine to produce a smaller, nimbler and 300lb lighter race/rally car than the Cortina. The Twin Cam also saw the first ‘RS’ bodyshell, called Type 48.

1968 1300GT joins range, the engine essentially being a Cortina 1600GT unit downscaled to 1.3-litres and a useful 72bhp. The GT was based upon the plusher Super models plus boasted disc brakes and a closer ratio gearbox.

1970 RS1600 introduced to replace the Twin Cam, which survived for another year. It used the iconic Type 49 shell, housing a detuned 120bhp Formula 2 1.6-litre 16-valve racing engine based upon the 1600GT block, albeit classed as 1601cc. Built at AVO it cost some £1500. Mexico launched to commemorate the Escort’s victory in the London-Mexico (World Cup) rally; essentially an RS1600 fitted with the 86bhp Cortina 1600GT engine. Costing just £1150 in 1970; 9382 were made.

1971 Often forgotten 1300 Sport introduced for the enthusiasts after a less expensive road and weekend competition car. Cheaper than the 1300GT, the Sport used a halfway house Type 49 shell with flared wings to accept 13inch wheels but with a basic 1100 interior.

1973 Luxury Sport joins range, badged 1300E complete with Cortina 1600E-style appointments and a vinyl roof. But the big news that year was the logical RS2000; an upmarket, more refined Mexico using the 100bhp Cortina 2000 GXL engine. At £1586 it wasn’t much slower than the RS1600 and far more reliable, small wonder 4324 were made.

1974 Around this time floorpans from the forthcoming Mk2 are adopted featuring upright rear dampers and an anti roll bar.

1975 The year started off badly with the closure of AVO making the new Mk2 mainstream builds. 1300/1600 Sports replaced the Mexico while the 1300E was displaced by the Ghia that was also available in 1.6-litre guise. The RS1600 was superseded by the RS1800 which used a new lighter all alloy BDA (Belt Drive, Type A) engine yet with slightly less power thanks to the deletion of the twin Weber DCOEs for a single unit from the V6 Capri.

1976 RS2000 and Mexico are launched, the former identified by more aerodynamic look with front and rear spoilers. The RS Mexico was basically an RS1800 now fitted with the ‘Pinto’ Capri 1600GT engine. However, this lower rank Escort wasn’t liked and dropped in 1978 after 2290 sales, in favour of a basic steel-wheeled RS2000 – in total over 10,000 versions were made.

1979 Run out sporting Escorts now included the special edition Harrier which was based upon the 1.6 Sport, officially said to have been marketed to commemorate Ford’s success in the RAC Rally. However, we have it on very good authority that it was instead marketed on the back of a special Escort devised by Ford’s PR dept that was to be used by ‘Terry MCann (Dennis Waterman) in a new TV series called Minder…

Also sneaking in to mop up Mk2s were Escort 1.6 GLs which may have looked like an ordinary family saloon but were 1600 Sports in disguise!

DRIVING AND PRESS COMMENTS

Fast Fords are fab to drive and none did it better than a well sorted rear-wheel drive Escort. Typically Ford, even the most highly tuned versions, such as the RS1600 and RS1800 could be used just like a 1300L if need be and almost as simple to maintain.

Real fun starts with the Mk1 Mexico with RS2000 the best all rounder, more so the excellent Mk2; it’s strange that the RS Mexico was so cooly received as it wasn’t a poor performer although the 95bhp 1600cc Pinto engine was never as lusty or free revving as the larger unit.

Common to all are slick gearboxes, predictable handling (if not roadholding) and an enormous feelgood factor. The droop-snooted RS2000 was so well sorted from the outset that it rather put the more specialist flat-faced RS1800’s nose out of joint, probably because with that 16-valve engine detuned to 115bhp it kicked out roughly the same as a good 2-litre and much easier to maintain Pinto.

Autocar called the GT with its “Superb gearchange… a very satisfactory little performer, it has a cheerful character full of eagerness” and the cheaper 1300 Sport, at less than £1000 “remarkable value… a good basis for a rally car” although thought the steering ‘sticky’ and – like all Escorts – prone to sidewind deflection.

Motor regarded the RS2000 “a delight to drive quickly along winding roads”, praising its “sparkling” performance and economy although was critical of its spongy brakes due to smaller rear drum brakes, as required on German cars then (to enable snow chain fitment, apparently).

Autocar felt that the Mk2 1600 Sport was a “stepping stone” sporty Escort to the RS models being “very economical and fun to drive”. Cars and Car Conversions broadly agreed calling the Sport “a very nice package” but considered the RS1800, now feeling strangled by just a single carb and certainly not worth the £1000 asked over the lively Sport. “It’s difficult to see exactly who will buy an RS1800… perhaps the RS2000 – when it appears – will be the ideal compromise,” it said. And so it was with plaudits gushing from all quarters including Motor: “This big-engined version of Ford’s best-selling family saloon is an excellent example of the sporting model.”

IMPROVEMENTS

To cover every model and aspect would fill this magazine so we’ll just highlight the basics. Real power only starts with the 1600GT engine; you can’t enlarge a 1.3 but the larger unit can be taken out to almost 1900cc. There’s shed loads of tuning gear for the old ‘Kent’ ohv engine although if you want in excess of 100bhp then the Pinto engine is a better starting point. A cheap and effective alternative is to use a Mondeo Zetec engine which can be picked up for pennies. In 2-litre 136bhp guise, it kicked out more than an RS1600 ever did and nut and bolt fitting kits are available. The engine even mates up to a standard gearbox.

Few bothered fitting a Capri V6 engine, and this includes expert specialists such as Superspeed and Uren once the Cortina Mk3 Pinto engine came on stream because without serious chassis and geometry mods to make the Escort handle acceptably they are pigs; if anything the lighter Rover V8 makes a better proposition.

The beauty of all Escorts is that they accept modern ultra low profile big wheels and tyres without spoiling the looks.

One ‘mod’ that’s become almost a given is fitting a Sierra five-speed gearbox. It slips in nicely and that added overdrive cog makes a world of difference – the problem is finding one as most are now gone…

Three Of A Kind

FORD CAPRI

The Capri outlived all rear-wheel drive Escorts and in general are usefully cheaper to buy, especially the strangely unloved Mk2 (1974-78) and most folks go for the Mk1 (69-74) and the Mk3 (78-87). Arguably not as sporty or as swift as equivalent Escort but superb in V6 form; cultured 2.8i Injection even boasted five-speed transmissions and limited slip diffs. Parts supply is as equally good as an Escort.

FORD ESCORT MK3

The XR3 took over from the RS line and – thankfully – was as good as a Golf GTi, especially when it gained fuel injection and a revised suspension. The RS badge returned in the motorsport-bred RS1600i and spread to the cracking RS Escort Turbos, culminating in the RS Cosworth (which also included a 4x4 RS2000 spin-off). All are cheaper than earlier RSs and equally good fun – the time to buy a good one is now.

VAUXHALL VIVA/MAGNUM

Always in the shadow of the Escort, but soaring prices of the fast Fords has awakened interest in Vauxhall's rival which scores not only with significantly lower values but also a superior chassis. Best in lusty 2.3-litre form (which also includes saloons, fastbacks and estates) and none more so than the rare, rapid Firenza HP. Parts supply isn't anything like as Ford prolific but club support is good.