1995 Ford Escort RS Cosworth

The Escort RS Cosworth was launched in 1992 as an 'homologation special' where its sole purpose was to incorporate parts that Ford planned to use in their rally cars to ensure success in International rallying. The first 2,500 cars, the ‘homologation special’ examples were built up to May 1994 and notoriously suffered from turbo-lag, but the next 4,500 were improved, largely thanks to their smaller Garrett T25 Turbo.

Power was increased by over 10% from the Sierra RS Cosworth, now making 227bhp, with performance unsurprisingly improved. In 1995, the RS Cosworth was treated to a mild facelift, receiving a new honeycomb grille, restyled bumpers, a more attractive fascia, and revised alloy wheels. Manufacture continued until early 1996 when emissions regulations forced it out of production. Like pretty much every RS Ford, it was a classic from the moment it arrived on the market.

This lovely example is a UK-supplied, right-hand drive car finished in Imperial Blue and has been in its long-term ownership since 1999. Boasting a full service history including every invoice and piece of paperwork relating to the car, the history file makes for confidence-inspiring reading! There are 11 service stamps in the record corroborating the mileage up to 2012 at 38,917 miles and it has been routinely MOT’d despite being in a temperature-controlled garage, stored under a protective car cover for a period of time. It had a full belt service in 2018, however our vendor left the country in 2019 leaving the RS safe in its humidified garage until very recently when it's had a fresh battery installed and is being prepared for sale.  The aforementioned history file contains stacks of old invoices, its MOT history, details of maintenance work undertaken dating back to when it was new and the original owners book pack with all associated booklets and manuals.

The overall condition of the car is fantastic and, unlike a significant number of other Cosworths, it's never deviated from standard power with the only mechanical changes being uprated silicone coolant pipes, a replacement blow-off valve, and AP Racing brakes with EBC Green Stuff brake pads to stop the car as quickly as it can take off. Externally it remains delightfully standard with the addition of a set of very smart six-spoke Rondell alloys fitted not long after it was new.

Our vendor is permanently moving abroad and has made the reluctant decision to sell his beloved RS. Anyone interested in owning an Escort RS Cosworth will be aware of their rapidly escalating values and we think that this striking, low-mileage, Imperial Blue example from long-term ownership appears to be very sensibly guided.