1989 Ford Escort RS Turbo (S2) |

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1989 Ford Escort RS Turbo (S2)

This vehicle has now been sold - click ‘Register Similar’ below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

Sold Price

£18,950

Mileage~69,479
TransmissionManual
Engine1.6L
LocationHinckley

SOLD

1989 Ford Escort RS Turbo (S2)

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy

Consigner and Editor

The RS Turbo is a cornerstone in Escort mythology.

Ford built up a legendary icon with their Escort, partly due to its motorsports success, its reputation for durability, affordability and ease of parts has lodged the mid-sized family car into the hearts of a nation. With a heritage that stretched back to the late 1960s, by the time the FWD generation arrived in the early 80s, the model had established itself as a best seller.

Developing the car through their Special Vehicle Engineering team, the RS Turbo was created for the limited production run Group A motor racing homologation, effectively using the Turbocharged 3-door hot-hatch as a prime piece of showroom marketing. Based on the MK3 RS Turbo, the facelifted MK4 shared the same 1.6-litre fuel-injected CVH engine but was now fitted with a Garret T3 Turbo, along with improved gearing and engine management, LSD, and fitted with stiffer springs, ABS and larger brakes.

This beautifully presented 1989 example comes to market from ~7 years ownership. In "Diamond White" with cloth Recaro seats, it has a binder full of provenance, including its original dealer order form, owner's wallet and booklets. Brought back to almost its original spec, aside from a handful of suitable engine enhancements, it has a year's MOT and comes with two keys.

This listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Liam 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

My fathers mission was to bring the car back up to its original specification.

Liam's father bought the car in 2018 and set about bringing this solid and original car back to visual stock, completing the work in 2023. Liam inherited the car last year, following his father's untimely death.

Motivated by Land Rovers and Harley Davison’s, Liam feels it best to pass the car over to an enthusiast, which will allow him to use the funds on the projects he has. He will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.

Liam

Vehicle Owner

Liam saved £3,240* when they
sold their Ford with us.

SELLING MADE EASY

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We'll market it to our 62K buyers & online.
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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

Crisp and sharp, this 1980's icon still cuts a dashing figure.

Wheels and Tyres

The 15" six-spoke RS alloys are in presentable shape, having seen a refurb in recent years.

The tyres are mixed quality brands, with a pair of Yokohama’s on the rears. They’re all over 10 years old but retain decent tread.

Bodywork

The exterior looks in excellent order, complemented by a cohesive panel flow and decent shut lines. All doors open and close easily, although the boot struts need renewal. There is a minor dent on the bonnet, but otherwise, the panels are free of damage.

The underside of the car looks positive, with no damage observed on the front crossmember, rear chassis rails or floor pan. The rear suspension mounts are flagged up as an MOT advisory, but stated they’re not severe. The boot floor, wheel wells and engine bay are solid.

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

Paint

The "Diamond White" paint has a consistent hue and a positive lustre. There are a handful of minor surface marks on the bonnet and the offside corner of the roof. We spotted some door edge touch-ups, minor road chips on the bonnet edge and light wear on the boot sill - all consistent with the age of the car, but the overall verdict is very positive.

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 high-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 and its seals are in good shape, free of chips and significant marks, although the windscreen shows de-lamination at the bottom. The passenger side glass lower rubber trim shows a little damage too.

The lights and lenses are smartly presented, there are no issues with the body trim.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

The well-looked after interior is complemented by its originality.

Seats and Carpets

The Recaro fabric seats are generally decent, although the driver's seat fabric has the typical baggy look to the outer bolsters, and has a little damage on its back. There are a few minor marks on the passenger seat - but all are fixable we think.

The carpets are tidy and damp-free, with no significant wear. The boot appears to have been lightly used.

Dashboard

The dashboard is in good condition, and the facia, plastics and controls are all free of wear. The binnacle is in good shape with legible dials.

The door cards, headlining and trim all look good. We noted that the dashboard mount screws are rusty and would benefit from replacements to enhance the interior's overall positive presentation.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel and gear lever are nicely presented, original items and above the expectations of a car of this age.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

The RS Turbo offers an entertaining power delivery with tremendous urge.

Engine and Gearbox

The cold start process didn’t pose any issues, the engine firing up immediately with no unwanted rattles, as the dashboard warning lights all remained off. The engine, once warmed up, idled smoothly and free of any excess exhaust smoke.

The 1.6-litre CVH Turbo engine presentation is positive, with decent hoses and ancillaries. The car has seen several historic upgrades, including a polished oil separator, an aftermarket polished inlet manifold with braided hoses and a full stainless steel exhaust. There were no fluid leaks noted on the day.

The five-speed gearbox operates without any problems, and Liam was satisfied with its operation and clutch feel.

Suspension and Brakes

The car was sold to Liam’s father with lowered suspension, which was removed and replaced with stock items. The car rides well, typically firm but free of wobbles or thuds.

The ABS braking slows the car without negative feedback, wobbles or squeals.

The Drive

The Escort RS Turbo offered an insight into Ford’s competition aspirations, suiting the compact dimension of the Escort with punchy power. The 10-minute drive, on both 30 mph and dual carriageway roads, placed the RS Turbo in a positive light.

As the engine warmed up, Liam briefly illustrated the smooth power delivery with surprisingly minimal turbo lag. No misfires or bangs were heard from the engine at any point. Around the bends, the car remained composed, with no knocks from the suspension, the steering remaining wobble-free.

Electrics and Other

All electrical components are in working order as far as Liam is aware. The car is fitted with the optional factory-fitted fuel computer module and is fitted with a standard issue tape/FM stereo system.

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History and Paperwork

Coming to market from ~7 year ownership, this car is sold with its original dealer order form, a binder full of invoices and 12 months MOT.

Originally registered by Ford main dealer Dee’s of Croydon in April 1989, it comes with a binder of invoices and maintenance bills since 1998. Further invoices show several engine modifications, including the fitting of several aftermarket engine parts and a rolling road tune.

It has passed into the hands of several enthusiasts over the years and ended up with Liam's father in 2018. During this period, it was brought back to its original spec, including the stereo system, wheels and suspension. Kept in the family business workshop, the car has not seen much use in recent years.

It comes with several bills of sale from three previous owners and its original order forms. It also has its original service book and wallet, with stamps up to 45K. The timing belt was replaced less than 1000 miles ago. In addition, there are MOT certificates to 1995 and it comes with two keys and has 12 months MOT.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, 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 of 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 bids, 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
17-02-2025	MOT	69,474
04-07-2023	MOT	69,377
01-08-2018	MOT	69,282
23-12-2015	Replaced Timing belt
23-09-2015	MOT	68,714
03-09-2014	MOT	68,627
16-07-2013	MOT	68,576
07-01-2012	MOT	68,556
20-05-2003	MOT	68,454
02-06-2001	MOT	63,690
24-03-2001	Service (Undocumented)
19-04-2000	MOT	54,575
30-05-1999	Service (Undocumented)	48,280
13-04-1999	MOT	47,791
28-02-1999	Independent Service	45,110
08-10-1998	Independent Service	41,928
	Cambelt (undocumented)	40,800
04-04-1998	MOT	36,930
14-03-1998	36,000 miles Ford Service	36,010
01-04-1997	MOT	30,334
30-03-1996	MOT	24,090
26-04-1995	MOT	20,160
18-03-1993	12,000 miles Ford Service	12,321
14-01-1991	6,000 miles Ford Service	6,117
11-07-1989	1,500 miles Ford Service	1,762