Enthusiastically Wanted
At AutoWeek, we often indulge in the glory of 80s hot hatchbacks. And we’re not the only ones who dream about souped-up compact mid-range cars from those years, because the prices for these kinds of classics are skyrocketing. For Volkswagen Golf GTI and Peugeot 205 GTI, amounts of more than €25,000 are not an exception. That’s why we don’t think this 1989 Ford Escort RS Turbo with extremely low mileage is really that expensive: €19,950. Compare that to the ridiculously high amount they’re asking for this Golf GTI!
Yes, almost 50k for a tame eight-valve with only 107 hp! A Golf II GTI in such condition is apparently hot, even if it’s such a mild one, because it’s not even a 16V or a G60. If only it were a Rallye… But enough about Golfs, let’s talk about this beautiful 1989 Ford Escort RS Turbo. In the late 80s, a four-valve per cylinder head was the way to make a hot hatch peak. Among all those 16Vs, this Escort RS Turbo bravely held its own. Only with the next generation Escort did a 2.0 16V make its debut at Ford, in the RS 2000 16V; the Escort Mk III and IV had a 1.6 turbo engine with 132 hp as a power boost.
Ford Escort RS Turbo, the model designation is missing on this example.
This Mk IV is stunning red and comes from Spain. The first RS Turbo based on the more angular Mk III Escort was always white, except for the black example that was once delivered to Lady Di. That one once went for almost 8.5 tons to another owner, and the Mk III RS is super exclusive with a total of just over 8,000 built examples. This somewhat rounder RS Turbo 2 was made in larger numbers.
This Escort RS Turbo has only covered 32,000 kilometers on Spanish roads. We also see a mileometer in this left-hand drive example. Could it be an example from the British enclave of Gibraltar? They drive on the right there, just like in Spain, with left-hand drive cars, but did the first owner still manage to add an English touch?
A 1.6 turbo, so it’s a joy to push it.
The Escort RS Turbo, with 132 hp, was powerful enough for its time. An Escort XR3i with an unblown 1.6 engine managed 105 hp, making it a counterpart to the entry-level Golf GTI of those days; the GTI 16V with a catalytic converter delivered 129 hp, and without, 139 hp. It goes from 0 to 100 in 8.7 seconds, and the RS Turbo delivers the typical turbo sensations of yesteryear, with a good blast. The spotlights on it are period correct, and they belong on the RS Turbo. According to the seller, the car is ‘hard’ (solid), and there are many photos of the chassis and the rest of the underside. It’s quite remarkable that the RS Turbo was delivered with fairly normal seats; deep bucket seats were not standard in hot hatchbacks in the 80s; for those, you had to have Recaro seats fitted.