1988 Ford Escort RS Turbo |

Sold

1988 Ford Escort RS Turbo

Sold Price

£15,900

Mileage~94,922 on clock
TransmissionManual
Engine1.6-litre
LocationSwindon, Wiltshire

SOLD

1988 Ford Escort RS Turbo

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy

Automotive Editor, Photographer and Consigner

A wild performer with a touch of civility

Ford was a latecomer to the turbo revolution of the 1980s, but by taking this calculated risk, Ford were able to escape the development problems that other manufacturers encountered. An evolution of the original MK3, Ford's progressive year-on-year improvements meant that their flagship Escort model, the RS Turbo, simply got better during its 4-year production run. The electronically regulated Turbocharger installation was noted as one of the most civilised of the era, but that’s not to suggest that the performance was in any way muted. The wild acceleration and flexible engine mated up with a chassis known for its slightly uncouth handling with a positive level of grip provided the RS Turbo with plenty of admirers, yet its sensible packaging, Ford mechanics and practicality made it something of a controllable firecracker.

This phase two version of the Escort RS Turbo, which was first registered in 1988 is almost entirely as you would have expected it when new. After a period of storage, it was recommissioned over an 18-month period and with a host of carefully selected parts. With evidence of recent servicing, undersealing and over £2,500 worth of spending on the engine and running gear over the last three years, it has clearly been in the hands of sympathetic RS enthusiasts in recent years. Sold with an MOT to March 2023, this is not only a usable example but ripe to make perfect.

This auction listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Simon 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

I've taken it to a few classic car shows, and the RS seems to attract more attention than the posher cars!

Simon is a genuine car fan, with a particular passion for 80's Fords. Bought to replace his Sierra Cosworth, he was particularly happy to find this Escort RS Turbo in Mercury Grey. He's not afraid of using the car for occasional weekend jaunts, as well as attending classic car shows.

Confident with the RS Turbo's mechanics and evidence of maintenance, Simon was particularly happy with this car as, with the exception of the stainless steel exhaust, it was close to factory spec. He plans to use the funds from the sale of this car for other projects.

Simon

Vehicle Owner

Simon saved £2,700* when they
sold their Ford with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

This RS retains much of its originality thanks to its loyal owners.

Wheels and Tyres

The alloys are in excellent shape, with very little evidence of wear.

The Nanking tyres are all under 4 years old and therefore unlikely to have travelled more than a few hundred miles - they are in good visual condition.

Bodywork

The structural aspect of the car looks solid. The panel fit is flush throughout, with no notable blemishes in terms of metal damage, other than a tiny dent noted on the nearside B-pillar. All doors open and close with ease, and all have visually even panel gaps. The bumpers are well placed with no issues noted on the floor pan, inner wings, chassis rails or suspension mounts.

The underside has recently been treated with a protective sealant. There are a few signs of age noted under the bonnet lid and on the wheel arches, but the overall presentation is of a high standard. The sunroof aperture is in good shape too.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our hi-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view at what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The exterior of the car has a pleasing gloss throughout. There is evidence that the car has seen new paint at some point, with the front bumper displaying a slightly mottled finish. The top of the front valance shows minor signs of peeling paint, minor issues noted on the arches and there's a minor scratch near the fuel filler cap.

The colour match is even, with no flat spots or scuffs that we could see.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these hi-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The glass is clean, with some minor signs of age noted on the nearside rear glass but all are free from cracks or chips. The trim is all correct for a second phase MK4 RS Turbo, including the Carello fog lights.

Some of the body kit trim shows minor signs of paint peel but are all in good shape.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

The cabin looks exactly like it would have in 1988, down to the FM stereo cassette player!

Seats and Carpets

The Recaro seats are intact with no rips, although the driver's bolster shows a little wear and a little bagginess of the driver-side fabric.

The carpet has been well preserved with no outstanding issues and all, including the boot, was bone dry.

Dashboard

The dashboard is in very good condition, with no notable defects noted on the facia. All of the dials and controls work, including the electric windows, although the passenger side is said to be a little slow.

The FM Stereo/Tape player is an original dealer fitment without an anti-theft code.

The headlining is in excellent shape, the door cards are decent with some small signs of age.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The presentation of both the steering wheel and gear lever betray the car's years, and both look clean and free of wear.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Much of its recent expenditure has been on the mechanical aspects of the car, and it really shows in the way it drives

Engine and Gearbox

Simon, the owner, pointed out that the car had not been used in several weeks, but thanks to its garage storage, this RS had no issues in starting.

The engine was free of knocking or unwanted noises, with no issues noted on the dashboard warning lights or the exhaust. He was particularly keen to point out that the car is leak-free and took precautions with the turbo warm-up and cool-down during the run.

There were no issues with oil or boost pressure and the engine temperature gauge remained firmly in the middle while the engine was running.

The engine presentation is worth noting, thanks to successive owners seeking original parts for the engine, including the ignition leads, battery wiring and other components, with plenty of Motorcraft parts noted in the engine bay. The engine has seen significant spending on maintenance items rather than repairs, which can be seen in the history section.

Suspension and Brakes

The car rides confidently along the roads, the firmer suspension ably holding the car along the road with a good ride and no issues in terms of suspension knocks.

The anti-lock brakes were proven to work well, with no fade or squeals, and the steering was free of vibrations at every moment of the 20-minute drive.

The Drive

The owner has been sympathetic during his ownership of the RS Turbo and has not taken any unnecessary risks when it comes to driving the car, with a gradual driving style and no wild antics!

The car idles well, with no undulations. The turbo demonstrated a steadily progressive and quiet delivery of power, with no noticeable lag.

The stainless steel exhaust system was surprisingly unobtrusive despite its slightly outlandish appearance. The car corners really nicely, with no evidence of unwanted noises from the wheels, and the gearbox appeared to be slick with no reported issues with the clutch.

The squeaking that can be heard in the on-the-road video is from the front seats rather than the car itself.

Electrics and Other

The interior light, a common weak point on Escorts with sunroofs is fully operational. Simon pointed out an intermittent dashboard light, likely to be a handbrake wire issue rather than a mechanical malady.

Both the rear and front screen heating elements are said to work.

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History and Paperwork

Kept in dry storage for a number of years, it has seen extensive mechanical recommissioning over the last 3 years.

The car appeared to have had a sympathetic life, with invoices totalling £2,500 in recent years. It was placed in storage for a period of time and recommissioned by its previous owner over an 18-month period in 2019, in which £1,845 worth of work was carried out by EFK Developments. This includes a new cambelt, work to the bearings, CV joints, wheel cylinders, renewed brake hoses, stainless steel exhaust and shock absorbers. In addition to this, the engine has seen a new rebuilt distributor, RS Turbo fan, starter motor, cylinder head, clutch, Airtec intercooler, head gasket and fuel pump, along with new seals and gaskets. The current owner has taken the sensible precaution of carefully applying underseal to the car too as well as carrying out an engine service. There are also invoices for a water pump and timing belt in 2020. The car comes with all of its original handbooks, as well as an original sales brochure and two keys. The MOT is valid up to March 2023.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
12-03-2022	MOT	93,752
13-03-2021	MOT	93,752
18-01-2003	MOT	93,462
16-11-2000	MOT	93,450
15-10-1999	MOT	91,419
13-08-1998	MOT	83,454
05-08-1997	Service	77,300