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Sold

1985 Ford Escort RS Turbo Series 1

Sold Price

£27,351

  • Mileage~63,000
  • TransmissionManual
  • Engine1.6L
  • LocationBath

SOLD

1985 Ford Escort RS Turbo Series 1

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Introduction

Jacob Boodrie
Professional Consigner

The famous RS badge is only fitted to the quickest and driver-focused models in the Ford line-up - the Escort RS Turbo is no exception.

The Ford Escort RS Turbo Series 1 is a performance model of the Escort Mk3. The car was turbocharged and very well equipped with alloy wheels, limited-slip differential and Recaro seats.

Only 5,000 cars were produced and they were all finished in white, apart from 1 - Lady Diana's, which was black and built especially for her.

This example is coming out of ~9 years ownership, with a fully rebuilt engine and only ~63,000 miles on the clock. Andy, the owner was keen to keep the car all original and is looking for a likeminded escort fan to take over his ownership.

This auction listing was written from information supplied by Jacob after meeting Andy the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

Andy gave this very special Escort RS Turbo a new lease of life.

After Andy sold his Sierra Cosworth he was looking for a car just as special to fill the space in his garage and came across this lovely Series 1 Escort RS Turbo.

Andy purchased the car in 2012, and since has had the engine rebuilt, a new gearbox fitted, new springs, performance exhaust, and constant maintenance to keep it in the condition you see today.

He was set on keeping the car as original as he could, mentioning that far too many of these have lost their special touch due to modifications.

Over Andy's ownership, he has only done around ~4,000 miles on the clock, around half of those on the new engine and he can often be found at any Escort/Classics shows.

Due to purchasing a new car, Andy is looking for a likeminded buyer to take on the responsibility of owning one of these rare gems. He will be more than happy to answer any of your questions in the comments below.

Andy
Vehicle Owner

Andy saved £4,860* when they
sold their Ford with us.

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Exterior

The diamond white paintwork, large rear spoiler and motorsport alloy wheels really make this Escort stand out.

Wheels and Tyres

The RS Turbo shared the alloy wheels from the limited production RS 1600i, they look the part and really give the car that extra presence.

Each wheel is in excellent condition with no marking or kerbing observed on our visit, the full-size spare in the boot has a few minor marks.

The tyres also are in great condition with plenty of tread for the new owner.

Bodywork

A race derived stance and body on this Escort RS Turbo. The extra trim in the shape of front splitter, wheel arches and spoiler make it look like a totally different car to the standard Mk3 Escort.

Having been dry stored and only covering ~63,000 miles, the bodywork is in great condition. Just a few areas we noticed some bubbling from corrosion, the bottom of both doors as pictured.

Please take a detailed look at this Escort RS Turbo in the images and videos to really appreciate the car.

Paint

Finished in Diamond White, a favourite choice from Ford. 4,999 models were produced in this colour, with only one specially produced in black for Lady Diana.

Across the car, the paint looks really great. No areas of dullness or discolouration were observed. On the extra trim the car comes with, you'll see some age/stress related crazing. Watch the video review to see the full detail.

Glass and Trim

All in excellent and original condition, a really nice example, the rubber trim all looks good and in line with its age and mileage.

We even noticed it's original main dealer sticker on the back window is still fully intact - showings its originality.

Interior

The Recaro seats with distinctive blue piping offer performance and comfort in this little turbo.

Seats and Carpets

The Recaro bucket seats grab and hold you into the car, you'll know that any corner you approach these seats will comfortably hold you in place.

Both seats look in great condition in line with its mileage and age - we love the blue pipping that make them stand out.

The car is also fitted with RS owners club carpets, that similarly are in great condition.

Dashboard

As you would expect, everything is fully original here. With just over ~63,000 miles on the clock, this dashboard is in line with its age and mileage.

Andy has kept the interior of this car in great condition. Please take a look at the detailed photos and videos for a closer look around this car.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

A minimal and driver-focused steering wheel can be found inside this Escort Turbo RS.

The gear stick and steering wheel are in excellent condition as you can see.

Please take look at the detailed photos and videos for a tour of the interior.

Mechanics

Raspy exhaust notes combined with a characterful whistle from its turbo makes this one of the best sounding classics from the '80s.

Engine and Gearbox

This is one of the fastest hot hatches of its day, the RS was purely developed with motorsport in mind.

The engine was fully reconditioned in 2012 at 58,362 miles. Andy will be more than happy to answer any of your questions about the engine in the comments below.

Please take a look at the cold-start video to see the car starting without any issues.

Suspension and Brakes

Uprated suspension and larger brakes were fitted to tame this turbo at speeds. Andy has always had the suspension and brakes attended to regularly and when required.

The car had lower springs when Andy first purchased. Andy, replaced with its originals to bring back the original sporty stance.

The Drive

A true experience, Andy rarely takes this car out, when he does it's normally to either to shows or the track - he mentions how well it drives and handles.

The Ford Escort RS Turbo was the first-ever front-wheel-drive car to get a limited-slip diff. The 1.6L engine was turbocharged offering you 132bhp. Not only does the car sound incredible and look great, driving this will blow you away - built purely with motorsport in mind.

Electrics and Other

Nice to see the original interior in this '80s classic. - The car retains its original tape player and other electrics that really keep this car genuine - this example is the talk of any car show.

History and Paperwork

A cracking example; rebuilt engine, sitting on the correct suspension, ~63,000 miles covered, lovely original interior.

Andy has been meticulous when it comes to maintaining this car's history. Everything is very well categorised and detailed with all the work carried out since 1985.

Probably the most important work was carried out in 2012 when the engine was reconditioned, a new cambelt, water pump, alternator belt, intercooler, radiator, and oil pump was fitted. In addition to this, in 2013 a new turbo was fitted.

We've carried out checks on; Seller ID, V5, HPi clear.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
05.05.2020 MOT 63,414
04.04.2019 MOT 63,310
06.04.2018 MOT 63,124
28.03.2017 MOT 62,978
20.11.2015 MOT 62,815
05.11.2014 MOT 62,559
17.12.2012 MOT 58,699
27.12.2011 MOT 58,311
27.01.2010 MOT 57,941
31.01.2009 MOT 56,543
21.04.1993 Service 43,794
08.10.1988 Service 38,271
27.02.1988 Service 32,111
14.01.1987 Service 26,532
08.05.1987 Service 19,402
15.11.1986 Service 12,064
10.06.1986 Service 8,300
22.11.1985 Service 5,864
Key Details
  • ModelEscort RS Turbo (Series 1)
  • TransmissionManual
  • Reg. Date07.03.1985
  • Mileage~63,000
  • HistoryExcellent
  • ColourDiamond White
  • Interior ColourGrey
  • Interior TrimCloth
  • Chassis #WF0BXXGCABFJ44165
  • Engine #FJ44165
  • RestoredNo
  • Engine RebuildYes
  • MOTYes. Exp - 04.05.2021
  • MOT ExemptNo
  • Road Tax ExemptNo
  • HPi ClearYes
  • Former Keepers9
  • LHD or RHDRHD
  • VisitedYes
  • Sale TypePrivate
  • Owned~9 years
  • Key FeatureOwnership







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57 Comments
ANTHONY KILLEEN
ANTHONY KILLEEN
3 years ago

Is it a very genuine mileage 67k??

Andrew deacon
Andrew deacon
  ANTHONY KILLEEN
3 years ago

hi antony
It is very genuine milage but its 63k not 67k
Regards andy

Adam Beck
Adam Beck
3 years ago

Is the car completely standard apart from the exhaust?

Andrew deacon
Andrew deacon
  Adam Beck
3 years ago

Yes Adam
Regards andy

Mattrs
Mattrs
3 years ago

Andy have you had any bodywork/paint done to the rs in your ownership??
And is there any really bad signs of DIY paint on it??
Cheers..matt..

Andrew deacon
Andrew deacon
  Mattrs
3 years ago

Hi matt
I had the front spoiler resprayed professionally due to stone chips
About 8 years ago
I was considering having the small areas attended too last year but with COVID-19 it never got done this car has never seen a welder in my time and has no signs in the past
With the work no done last year it shows you in its original condition
Hope this helps
Kind regards
Andy

Mattrs
Mattrs
  Andrew deacon
3 years ago

Thanks Andy..so theres no signs of poor welding by previous owners your saying?

Andrew deacon
Andrew deacon
  Mattrs
3 years ago

Hi matt
There signs of welding good or bad
Regards andy

Andrew deacon
Andrew deacon
  Mattrs
3 years ago

Sorry matt there are no signs of welding good or bad
Regards abdy

rich1978
rich1978
  Mattrs
3 years ago

Matt take a close look at the photos you can see there’s numerous poor rattle can spray jobs over the car you can see the drips around where patches of rust.

Mattrs
Mattrs
  rich1978
3 years ago

Yh rich think its obvious it needs a paint job..which not the end of the world but more worried about previous bad welding an any rot underneath..been looking for one of these for a while now an minters are 35k + as we all know so its priced right as it is i think..

Paul
Paul
3 years ago

Hi, this car has had the clocks changed hence the mileage discrepancy. Also this car has had a lot of welding done to it and covered up with paint which has not been done to a good standard at all. Also it’s had various areas on the body painted with a spray can again not a very good job. I know this as I went to view it years ago but walked away.

Please can I ask why this isn’t mentioned on the advert as it’s misleading?

Phil
Phil
  Paul
3 years ago

Is that true thanks you just saved me a few quid

Paul
Paul
  Phil
3 years ago

Yes that’s true and definitely not original, its definitely been sprayed over with a spray can to try and cover it up but haven’t done a good job of trying to cover it up and hide it

Andrew deacon
Andrew deacon
  Paul
3 years ago

Hi Paul
During my ownership of 10 years my car I hasn’t had any welding done and iam sure it hasn’t had any done by the previous owners
I have referred on the mot milage in my previous comments
This is the first and only time I have put my car up for sale in 10 years

Paul
Paul
  Andrew deacon
3 years ago

Hi, yes it was around 10 years ago I viewed it and it was in a very poor state. If I remember rightly the engine was knackered on it too

Mattrs
Mattrs
  Paul
3 years ago

Think your trying to put others off mate to nip in yourself lol…already stated its had a full engine rebuild so clocks being changed don’t really matter either!

Paul
Paul
  Mattrs
3 years ago

No not at all, just stating that the car has had poor welding done and covered up. Just don’t want someone to think they were getting an original untouched example as they’re not and the description is misleading

Mattrs
Mattrs
  Paul
3 years ago

I understand paul yh..Where was the poor welding mate on the floor??

Corndog43
Corndog43
3 years ago

Hi, could you explain the discrepancy in mileage when the clocks went back to zero at around 50k miles?

Andrew deacon
Andrew deacon
  Corndog43
3 years ago

Hi
I can’t explain the reason for the milage variation as at the time I didn’t own the car
It looks like the testing station may have entered the incorrect milage as the later mots milage was back on track with the annual average milage activity back in line with previous years and since
Hope this helps
Regards andy

cliveb007
cliveb007
3 years ago

Looks like the clocks were changed in 2002 as the the MOT states just 800 miles and the MOT in 2001 states 50k so the true mileage in 113k and not the misleading 63k.

Mattrs
Mattrs
3 years ago

Hi andy
Did you do the rebuild of the engine or did you have it done for you? An if so have you got receipts for the work done..
Regards Matt..

Andrew deacon
Andrew deacon
  Mattrs
3 years ago

Hi matt
It was rebuilt professionally I still have the receipt for the work £5239.66 plus new turbo and gear box
Hope this help
Regards andy

Mattrs
Mattrs
  Andrew deacon
3 years ago

Thanks Andy…

alanj
alanj
3 years ago

Hi, is it possible to view the car at all before the auction ends?
Many thanks, Alan

Kulraj Salh
Admin
  alanj
3 years ago

Hi Alan, yes indeed. Please give us a call on 01926 426 635 and we will help organise this with a time that suits Andy. Best, Kulraj – Trade Classics

Jon C
Jon C
  alanj
3 years ago

Alan, can I please ask did you view the car and what is your honest option of it .. many thanks

Alexvux
Alexvux
3 years ago

Y

Andrew deacon
Andrew deacon
  Alexvux
3 years ago

Hi Alex
You are going to have to make a bid
Regards andy

wesRS
wesRS
3 years ago

Hello andy,

im looking for a summer s1 want a smoker in my opinion this fits the bill i have 3 low mileage / owner s1s one being a 1 owner from new you could argue that i know because i now own it !!!!!!

did pay excess of 45plus k !!!!!

can auction end for 20k or does it have to run can collect its a got a good base although is rough around the edges id just take kit of windows out and repaint the whole damn car keeps it simple

cheeRS

Wes

Andrew deacon
Andrew deacon
  wesRS
3 years ago

Sorry wes
The auction has to run its full
term
Regards andy

Russell Waite
Russell Waite
3 years ago

Hi,
Looking at photographs, would you say in need of bodywork tidy up, but mechanicaly sound?

Andrew deacon
Andrew deacon
  Russell Waite
3 years ago

Hi Russell
I was quoted around £800 last year to tidy up the the body work this would make it immaculate I didn’t it get done due to COVID-19
Mechanicaly very very sound engine rebuild done 4000 miles recon gear box 3000 miles new turbo
New stainless Steel exhaust
You can see details on the advert
Hope this helps
Andy

Harrier
Harrier
  Andrew deacon
3 years ago

Hi Andy,
Yes that great, confirms what i was thinking.
Kind regards,
Russell

rich1978
rich1978
  Harrier
3 years ago

It needs a lot more than £800 spending on it to tidy it up. Look more closely at the pictures. Also the underside you can see welding that’s needed.

Philip Jeffries
Philip Jeffries
3 years ago

Andrew has the car had much paint work !! Has see a bit over spray on rubbers ?? !!!Also is all car been sprayed with under seal and is there much rust under there !!!also whats the battery tray like is there any rot regards

Philip Jeffries
Philip Jeffries
3 years ago

Is it a custom

Andrew deacon
Andrew deacon
  Philip Jeffries
3 years ago

Yes phillip

Darren
Darren
3 years ago

Hi Andy, a very nice original car, has it undergone any sort of restoration and what’s under the bonnet like in particular battery tray and fuse box area. Thanks, Darren

Andrew deacon
Andrew deacon
  Darren
3 years ago

Morning Darren
The car is very much original as far as I know nothing has been to it before my ownership the battery and fuse area are prefect
I had the front spoiler resprayed about 8 years ago and was planning to do the superficial areas of the paint work last year but with the covid I cancelled the work so the car as you see it is very much original
Hope this helps
Regards abdy

Darren
Darren
  Andrew deacon
3 years ago

Thank you Andrew, do you have any mots before the transition to online to verify the mileage and is it Hpi clear.

Many thanks
Darren

Darren
Darren
  Darren
3 years ago

Sorry I’ve just seen all the paperwork pictures.

rich
rich
3 years ago

Andy can you confirm please. There looks on several pictures areas of rust under the car. On several pictures the body work has been painted by a rattle can as you can see peel and drip marks is this most panels? I can see there’s several large areas of rust coming through on panels is there any other areas that can’t be seen by the pictures. The rubber mark highlighted by someone else all rubbers have perished and it looks like where the door has been painted its been closed on the door seal as you see paint on the seal and where the paints pulled the rubber off.

Andrew deacon
Andrew deacon
  rich
3 years ago

Hi rich
I make a point at every mot to check the underside last year there no significant rust
And don’t to expect that to be any different this year as you can see the bottom of the doors need some attention and there is various small defects that can be easily resolved at no great cost
hope this helps
Regards andy

Escortb
Escortb
3 years ago

Hi please can you tell me what history comes with the car,also do you have pictures of engine bay and underneath;thanks

Hoffy
Hoffy
3 years ago

Good Evening, Please can you tell me what happened with the mileage from 2001 through to 2006 as the 2001 MOT says circa 50K but then drops to 00821 on 2003 MOT. Following mot’s for a few years climb from this, then jumps back up to 56K on 2009 MOT?

Thanks

Jason.

Andrew deacon
Andrew deacon
  Hoffy
3 years ago

Hi Jason
I didn’t own the car during that period so can’t answer that
Regards andy

wayne lewis
wayne lewis
3 years ago

Sorry, also the passenger door rubber looks like it has paint on, and the door as a black mark around the panel. Can you advise please. Thanks

Andrew deacon
Andrew deacon
  wayne lewis
3 years ago

Hi Wayne

Hi Wayne
Any paint on rubber would have been put on there by the previous owner not clear about the black mark I will have to get back to you the weekend when I get the rs out of the garage
Regards andy

wayne lewis
wayne lewis
3 years ago

Afternoon, how many owners? Is there any cracks in the dash? Thanks wayne

Andrew deacon
Andrew deacon
  wayne lewis
3 years ago

Hi Wayne
The dash is in superb condition it has no cracks
Regards andy

Andrew deacon
Andrew deacon
  wayne lewis
3 years ago

It has had 9 owners
Regards andy

wayne lewis
wayne lewis
  Andrew deacon
3 years ago

Thanks Andrew, apologies I zoomed in on the log book and see the owners. Are you looking to sell or interested in something else? I have Audi s2, esprit s4 looking to sell swop/part x Thanks wayne

Adam Purrier - Trade Classics
  wayne lewis
3 years ago

Sorry Wayne. No p/x I’m afraid – will be sold at auction. Cheers Adam TC

Barry Cowley
Barry Cowley
3 years ago

Hi has the had any welding done if so what

Andrew deacon
Andrew deacon
  Barry Cowley
3 years ago

Hi Barry
No welding has been undertaken
This has never been necessary
Regards andy

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