1989 Ford Escort RS Turbo |

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1989 Ford Escort RS Turbo

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Sold Price

£18,224

Mileage~92,152 on clock
TransmissionManual
Engine1.6L
LocationCrawley, West Sussex

SOLD

1989 Ford Escort RS Turbo

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Dom Ginn

Professional Consigner

A true hot hatch icon, blending turbocharged power, sharp handling, and rally-inspired design - built for performance and still highly sought after today.

The Ford Escort RS Turbo was the pinnacle of Ford’s hot hatch lineup in the late ‘80s, blending rally-inspired performance with everyday usability. As part of the legendary Escort RS lineage, the RS Turbo built on Ford’s motorsport heritage, offering enthusiasts a thrilling driving experience.

First introduced in 1984 with the Series 1, the Escort RS Turbo quickly gained a reputation for its punchy performance and agile handling. By 1986, the Series 2 arrived, featuring a more refined design and improved drivability, making it more accessible while retaining its raw turbocharged character. Under the bonnet, the 1989 model packed a 1.6-litre CVH turbocharged engine, delivering ~132 BHP to the front wheels through a limited-slip differential - ensuring sharp acceleration and excellent traction.

With its flared arches, distinctive alloy wheels, and aggressive styling, the RS Turbo was an icon of its time. Today, it remains a sought-after modern classic, celebrated for its engaging driving dynamics and its place in Ford’s rich performance history.

This example comes to market from ~10 years ownership, it has been well looked after and maintained over its history and has benefitted from a recent major service in February 2025, a cam belt and water pump replacement and refurbished wheels in March 2023. The RS Turbo carries long ownership and garage stored, just one former owner and fewer than ~4,000 miles covered in the last ~8 years. Truly a car that belies its age, looking sharp, well kept and ready for a new owner to fully enjoy.

This listing was written from information supplied by Dom after meeting Stuart 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

Whether I'm driving through country roads or simply admiring its aggressive styling, this one will always be a firm favourite.

The current owner, Stuart, has always been a fan of '80s Fords and this was a model he'd had his eyes on for a while, he said, "I was always a fan of Ford growing up, especially the rally style, hot hatch examples. There's nothing out there quite like it for me, and I love the performance look on the RS Turbo with this one. For me, it's everything in a car".

Stuart has been keen to keep the car as original as he can, he said, "I prefer the factory look of a car, just as the manufacturer intended it to be admired. I've kept this one no different, with only an upgrade to the exhaust system completed".

The Escort comes to market with Stuart telling us, "For me, it's time to move on. I've had the car for over 10 years now and as much as I love it, I'm not getting as much use from it as I'd like. I want to get my hands on something more modern like a Focus RS".

Stuart will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.

Stuart

Vehicle Owner

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

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

‘80s hot hatch aggression with flared arches, a deep front bumper and signature rear spoiler - an unmistakable Ford performance icon.

Wheels and Tyres

Fitted with the 15" seven-spoke RS alloys from factory, these are in great condition. The wheels have been refurbished in March 2023 and present very nicely after the works carried out. The Ford emblems also show really well across all four corners of the car.

The wheels are wrapped with Toyo Proxes tyres with a spec of 195/50 to the front and rear with date codes from 2022. All tyres show in great visual condition. For a more detailed view of the RS's exterior and a closer inspection of the wheels and tyres, please refer to the photos and videos.

Bodywork

The car stands straight, shut lines look excellent and we could see no visible distortion to the panels. Both doors, boot, and bonnet open and close well. We noted no dings or major areas of concern when looking over the car. There were a couple of marks on the rear wing and rear quarter panel on the passenger side as you'll see in the images. Stuart told us there is a very small bit of rust on the inside of the sunroof in the corner, you need to open it fully to notice it.

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 original red paint finish shows a good level of coverage and even colour match throughout. The bonnet has been resprayed through the current ownership.

There are a handful of very minor stone chips, mostly on the front of the car and the front bumper. There was a small sign of paint bubbling on the driver side A-pillar and a small scuff to the wing mirror, but overall, nothing overly concerning.

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

Overall the glass and trim on the RS Turbo showed in great condition with no major cause for concern that we noted looking over the car. The side windows and rear window both showed well with no significant scratching, marks or chips.

The seals look good around the outside and in line with the condition of the rest of the car. A closer inspection shows the glass sections are number plate etched.

If we were being really picky, the wiper arms, badge emblems and decals were a little faded, but nothing that was a real problem.

We've taken you around the car in greater detail in our exterior review video, please take the time to look over the video and see how the glass and trim look from different perspectives.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

The RS' interior is all about driver focus, simple yet purposeful, it perfectly reflects the car’s performance-driven character.

Seats and Carpets

The 80s Recaro cloth seats hold you in place comfortably, and these present in great condition for their age and recorded mileage. We noted no signs of rips or tears to the seats themselves, only a few minor marks and slight wear on the drivers seat.

Carpet sections look great in the main cabin area, equally in the boot, this area showed no concerns. Throughout the car we noted no problems and the flooring underneath the car mats looked great as well. Looking over the interior showed the Ford has been well looked after. Interior door handles on the edges showed a few signs of wear which is to be expected. We only noted a few marks to the interior headlining but no concerning issues.

We've captured high-resolution photos and a full interior video tour through the car. This covers off the angles inside the car for you to review and appreciate the condition of what's on offer here in our interior review section.

Dashboard

The dash section is free from any splits and cracks and showed well on our visit. Finished with a black-plastic finish, this is in great condition, including the centre console. Clocks and dials showed with ~92,152 miles at the time of our visit.

We noted no warning lights on the display when the car was started up and on the road. The dash area overall, showed with a good level of presentation and all dials are functional with no obvious scratching to the facings. We only noted a small sign of age to the dial backing on the speedometer. Please take a look at the gallery images for a closer look at the interior sections.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The original, 4 spoke, RS branded, steering wheel was fitted as a factory optional extra and sits at the hands of the driver when entering the cabin area. Overall the steering wheel looked good but did show with signs of use in line with its age.

The 5-speed manual gear stick looks great with minimal wear to this area and in line with the well kept nature of the rest of the interior. We've captured high-resolution photos for you to review and appreciate the condition of the interior in our gallery section.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Featuring a ~132 BHP, 1.6L turbo engine, 5-speed gearbox, paired with a limited-slip differential for a thrilling and responsive drive.

Engine and Gearbox

Starting up from cold, we noted no concerns. The car idled smoothly and its engine was easily capable of taking the driver up to speed in no time at all.

We took the car out around some local roads with the current owner to get a better feel for what this vehicle is all about. On the drive, we ran through the motions and got an overview from Stuart's perspective on how the car performs.

Take a look at the mechanical video to see the car starting up and for a closer look underneath the Escort, and the engine bay. We go into further detail about the Ford and take it out on some local roads to get a better sense of what this car is all about.

Suspension and Brakes

On the drive out, Stuart took us around some local roads, we heard no unwanted knocks, bangs or noise from the stiffened suspension which provided an enjoyable journey, handled really nicely and felt solid on the road. We cover off the underside of the RS Turbo in our Mechanical gallery section.

Fitted with ABS, the larger brakes felt to have no pull or vibrations that stood out to us when on the journey and brought the car to a stop without a problem and with the kind of stopping power you'd expect. Overall the car performed as to be expected with no observed issues. Please take a look over the mechanical videos and photographs to see close-up images from under the car.

The Drive

The drive in the Escort RS offers an exhilarating experience that combines turbocharged power with agile handling. Behind the wheel, the 1.6-litre turbo engine delivers instant thrust, while the precise steering and front-wheel-drive setup make for a responsive, engaging ride.

With its firm suspension and sporty chassis, the RS Turbo feels firmly planted on the road, making every corner a thrill. It’s a hot hatch that not only delivers performance but also an authentic connection to the road, cementing its status as a driver’s car.

Electrics and Other

During our time with the car we noticed no electrical faults. All dashboard lights turned off when out on the road as expected, and all dials and gauges were functioning without issue.

The Escort is fitted with an original Ford radio cassette stereo, a lovely touch of nostalgia in the cabin. Being kept largely original, the only upgrade to the Ford is the Scorpion exhaust.

Stuart let us know that he's had no issues with the electrical elements on the car, and that everything should be working correctly to the best of his knowledge.

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History and Paperwork

With under ~4,000 miles in the last 8 years, recent major servicing, 1 former keeper and presented in excellent condition, if you're in the market for an RS Turbo, this is a remarkable example.

The Escort has benefitted from a great deal of care and attention over its years and carries an extensive amount of history as part of the final sale and as pictured in the paperwork gallery section. Stuart has serviced the car himself during his ownership, he has receipts for parts used as well as the radiator, starter motor and front brakes which were all changed last year, including a fan switch. For a full overview about the Ford's history, take a look through the gallery section.

Most recently, the RS has had major servicing completed with new oil and filter, distributor cap, rotor arm, spark plugs, fuel filter, new wiper blades and a new KN panel filter. The cam belt and water pump was also changed at ~90,000 miles.

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, 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
19.02.2025	Service & Cambelt	92,109
08.05.2024	MOT	91,663
02.03.2023	MOT	90,949
20.02.2021	MOT	90,423
29.05.2019	MOT	89,791
07.04.2017	MOT	88,745
24.03.2016	MOT	87,277
21.02.2015	MOT	84,665
10.07.2013	MOT	82,464
10.07.2012	Service	77,096
10.07.2012	MOT	77,089
11.07.2011	MOT	70,409
12.05.2006	MOT	69,685
15.04.2005	MOT	67,998
03.03.2004	MOT	66,371
05.02.2003	MOT	64,395
14.02.2002	MOT	62,445
16.02.2001	MOT	57,900
04.02.2000	MOT	51,401
08.02.1999	MOT	47,325
03.02.1998	MOT	41,897
05.02.1997	MOT	36,029
30.01.1996	MOT	31,226
06.01.1995	MOT	27,044
02.02.1994	MOT	22,698
18.01.1993	MOT	18,543
19.10.1992	Service	17,202
15.01.1992	MOT	13,713
15.01/1992	Service	13,703
29.08.1991	Service	12,229
21.01.1991	Service	9,829
14.08.1990	Service	7,804
18.01.1990	Service	5,039
18.08.1989	Service	3,200
11.04.1989	Service	1,537