A classic for many years the popular Ford Escort will be perhaps best remembered for it’s sportier models which have gained cult status and are extremely sought after by car enthusiasts.
Summary
The Mark I Ford Escort was first introduced in Ireland and the United Kingdom at the end of 1967, making its show debut at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1968. The replacement for the successful, long-running Anglia, the Escort was also presented in Europe as the first passenger car to be developed by the merged Ford of Europe (the Transit van having been the first product of this collaboration).
Escort production began at the Ford’s Halewood plant in England during the closing months of 1967.
Initially sold as two-door saloon (with circular front headlights and rubber flooring on the “De Luxe” model). The “Super” model upgraded you to rectangular headlights, carpets, a cigar lighter and a water temperature gauge.
At the end of March 1968 a two-door estate was introduced which Ford claimed that with the back seat folded down, provided a 40% increase in maximum load space over the old Anglia 105E estate. Interesting that this shape of estate remained through the MK2. it was the same year the four door model was launched.
Sports versions
Between 1968 and 1974 six sportier versions of the car were produced
1300 GT between 1968 -1970
Twin Cam 1968 – 1971
1300 Gt and Sport between 1970 – 1974
Mexico between 1970- 1974
RS 1600 between 1970 – 1974
RS2000 Between 1972 and 1974
The Mk II
These are perhaps the best remembered versions of those classic models which we’ll come to later.
The first MKII’s rolled off production lines in December of 1974 with the first models available to buy from January 1975. The traditional 2 door, 4 door and estate models were available whilst panelled vans catered for the commercial market. Strangely the estate retrained it’s Mk1 shape
Available in basic form Popular and Popular Plus, then you went into the mainstream market with L and GL models and at the top end there was the more luxurious Ghia models.
You could have an 1100, (Popular to L models only), 1300 and 1600 engine.
After a facelift for the August 1977 (S reg) market , the Escort now had a front grille, trunk lid and steering wheel hub cap being fitted with the oval Ford logo instead of the previous single-letter lettering.
A cosmetic update was added in 1978 with L models gaining the square headlights (previously exclusive to the GL and Ghia variants) and there was an upgrade in interior and exterior specification for some models.
Ltd Editions
In 1979 and 1980 there were three special editions launched:
Linnet
Harrier
Goldcrest
Sportier Models
As you’d expect from an escort there were the classic sportier models
Escort Sport with 1300 or 1600cc engine options, RS Mexico with a 1600cc engine, RS1800 Cosworth (1975-1977 only) and the classic RS 2000
Production ended on the MKII in 1980.
The Mk III
The Mk III Ford Escort would become a gamechanger for Ford.
Codenamed “Erika”, the third generation Escort was launched in September 1980. Development work had actually effectively begun even before the MkII’s launch in 1974 with the development of the CVH engine programme, with the final exterior styling and interior design being signed off in late 1977.
MKII was a complete new model with new engine, styling and front wheel drive. available in 3 or 5 door saloon and 3 door (5 from 1983)estate versions and later a 2 door van.
The car quickly caught on with UK sales overtaking another Ford best seller the Cortina in 1982.
The arrival of XR3i and other sporting models
The 1980’s was certainly the age of the hot hatch and the Volkswagen’s Golf GTI was top of the stack.
In order to compete, Ford developed their own hot hatch version of the Mark III.
The XR3. Initially this featured a tuned version of the 1.6 L CVH engine. However enthusiasts felt it lacked a five-speed gearbox and fuel injection.
A fuel injection engine was added in October 1982 with the arrival of the now cult model the XR3i. Eight months previous Ford had introduced the limited edition (8,659 examples), racetrack-influenced RS 1600i.
The final MkIII performance model the RS Turbo was launched in October 1984. Despite it’s launch the RS was not available to buy until early 1985. It’s delayed availability along with criticism over it’s chassis was said to have caused disappointment with buyers. However it didn’t seem to do anything to dampen demand. Ford had initially intended to build 5000 RS Turbo. models but across Europe 8604 were built, 5000 of which headed to the UK market.
The cars were sold exclusively through Ford’s Rallye Sports Dealerships.
The MkIV
In 1986 Ford introduced it’s fourth generation escort. Effectively a facelifted version of the MkIII it introduced a facelift for the exterior and interior trims. It also saw the replacement of the 1.3 litre engine to a new ‘lean-burn’ 1.4 model.
There are no new sportier models and in 1992 the model was phased out in favour of a fifth generation.
The Mk V
Arriving in dealers from 1990 the Mk V was a completely new shape Escort. Offering slightly more cabin and luggage space then it’s predecessors.
In 1992 they were equipped with Ford’s all new 16 valve Zetec engine.
Sportier Models
1991 The RS2000 re-appears this time equipped with a 16 valve version of the Sierra’s I4 2.0 L engine and also improved ride and handling.
1992 The XR3i re-joined the model line up with the new model being equipped with a choice of two versions of the 1.8 Zetec engine.
1992 Ford launched the Ford Escort Cosworth. This model was intended to replace the Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth (indeed production of the Sierra Cosworth finished soon after).
It used the turbocharged 2.0 L Cosworth16-valve engine and was capable of 150 mph. Benefitting from four-wheel drive the car was marked out by it’s distinctive “whale-tail” tailgate spoiler.
Initially 2,500 road-going examples were made and sold (required for roadworthy certification) .. However demand for the model was so strong that Ford would continue production.
Later models (June 1994 onwards) had a smaller turbo than the earlier models and the distinctive whale-tail spoiler was an option.
The Escort Cosworth ceased production in 1996, but it had already achieved classic status and still has a huge following.
The MKVI
Effectively a facelifted version of the MKV with improved interiors. The MKVI was introduced in 1995. It did benefit from improved handling and ride.
Sportier Models
The RS2000 phased out in 1996
The Si basically an LX model with slightly stiffer suspension, front and rear spoilers (which were also available as options on the LX), sports seats and white-faced dashboard instruments.
The GTi was the final standard escort to be introduced. It was the only GTi-badged Ford to ever be sold in Europe. It used the same existing1.8 L Zetec-E engine found in other cars in the range, but also included a body kit borrowed from the now cancelled RS2000 model, part-leather seats plus ABS as standard. The GTi was available in 3- and 5-door hatchback and estate bodystyles
Where Did They Go?
The Escort was phased out from 1998 in favour of the all new Focus. The range was cut to just two models “Flight” and “Finesse” The last Escort rolled off the production line in 2000 with the remaining stocks sold until 2001.
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