1983 Ford Escort XR3 TF - Reserve lowered

Background:

The third generation of Ford’s ultra-successful Escort was introduced in September 1980. The new car didn’t just diverge enormously in styling from the MkI and MkII that had preceded it, this entirely new design (started before the MkII was even launched in 1974) broke new ground for Ford’s mid-size family product - it was front-wheel drive.

Featuring a new dynamic language and a range of brand new and more efficient CVH engines to replace the outgoing push-rod fours, by 1982 the Escort had overtaken the venerable Cortina as Britain’s best-selling car.

With the advent of VW’s Golf GTi - plus Ford’s sporting and sales successes with the previous Escorts - a performance version was always going to be a necessity and when it hit the market the XR3 was an instant success with journalists and Ford drivers alike. Fuel-injection and a 5-speed gearbox arrived in October 1982 with the XR3i, which was followed by the RS1600i, RS Turbo and then the competition-orientated RS1700T – a rear-drive 'MkII in an XR3 shell' special, intended to compete in 'Group B' rallying, though this was soon dropped in favour of developing a full-fat four-wheel drive GpB prototype – the RS200.

The car:

This highly unusual Escort looks like an XR3 at first glance and indeed that’s how it started out in life. But, to salute the success of the RS1700Ts run by the local Span Ford team in South African rallying, a limited edition run of 500 special XR3s was produced by Ford South Africa, the XR3 TF (Team Ford).

The model uses the 1600 CVH engine mated to a 5-speed gearbox and each example was finished in Diamond White, with Ford XR3 stripes in triple blue, along with matching Diamond White alloys and black wheel nuts. There was a white front grille, an XR3 spoiler, body side mouldings plus driving lamps with Span Ford covers, a sunroof and blue-striped cloth sports seats.

Few of the original 500 examples are thought to have survived in South Africa and this example is believed to be unique in the UK, having been sourced by a Ford dealer and imported in 2022.

In addition to the original features, the car has since benefitted from a four-branch manifold and stainless steel exhaust from Keltec in Leeds. It has been featured in Classic Ford magazine and remains in very impressive condition all round.

This isn’t just a time-warp experience, teleporting you right back to 1983. It’s not just a sparkling example of an extremely well-preserved performance Ford. It’s not even just a very fortunate survivor of a limited edition model - it’s likely one very few of its kind still remaining on the planet. It’s pure1980s.

Summary:

The look, the feel, the smell… If you always lusted after an XR3 or remember driving them, this ticks all the boxes. When will you ever find another, if you let this one go?

Location: Warwickshire
Seller: Private
Photos: Professional