Ford’s pursuit of Speed - RS in the 60s, 70s & 80s
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- Опубліковано 28 кві 2022
- Letters on the back of a car can evoke a wealth of emotions. “D” usually means diesel, “L” and “GL” on your company car show where you are on the corporate pecking order. But for petrolheads there are other letters that spark interest. Letters like a small case “i” especially when used with “GT”. “V” shows there’s something large and powerful under the bonnet. But Ford of Europe have reserved the letters R and S for some of the most powerful road cars they’ve ever produced. Join me and Steve Saxty, who knows one or two things about Ford RS cars after writing two volumes on the history of European Fords, as we dive into the first three decades of Ford’s Rallye Sport Story.
Find Steve Saxty's books at www.stevesaxty.com
Music (from UA-cam Audio Library):
Rich in the 80s - DivKid
Darktown Strutters Ball - E's Jammy Jams
Red Hot Son - JR Tundra
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Sources:
Steve Saxty - Secret Fords Volume 1
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rallying
www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/ne...
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_P7
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Es...)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Capri
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_Re...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_Ka...
www.automobile-catalog.com/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Te...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_A
#bigcar - Авто та транспорт
"Hoi polloi" has two meanings, both "the masses" and "the elite". I had to look up the definition before I put it in the script. English is weird!
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hoi%20polloi
Oddly my mother uses that term on occasion as a form of sarcasm, aimed towards the "new money" wealthy people, and it was more commonly used in the 50s or early 60s in the USA at least.
I wasn't going to make a comment about you using "rich Hoi Polloi" but, since you did mention the usage yourself, I will throw in my two cents:
According to the critics of using Hoi Polloi as meaning the elite, this meaning was added to dictionaries due to it being used as such from regional areas of U.S. emerging in the 1950s. The older meaning as the masses, was established at least 100 years earlier.
Words do change. In the last 20-30 years, I have heard/seen words changing their meaning. Essentially, the truths and meanings change depending on the masses, no pun intended. As I suppose it should be. If not the masses, then who? The elite?
Where’s part 2 !!
It’s Greek, meaning “the masses”. The elite is wrong
You know you're getting old when...you watch this and remember every car as if they were (almost) new! Quite a dose of nostalgia there... What an excellent documentary on the RS lineage of cars. Well done to both of you!
yeah, i remember the mk1 sierra being released and the mk4 escort, im old and it sucks lol.
❤
@@stevefox3763 😁 👍🏻
Shhh don't ruin it for me lol
First time I felt that old was seeing a knackered first generation focus on a scrapheap. 10 year old me remembered that as a 1995 preview of fords future styling 😮
I had a Matchbox RS200 when I was a boy and it was my absolute favourite. Such a cool looking car.
Same here, and the reason the RS200 is my favourite of the Group B monsters
Me a Mk II Escort RS2000. I was a boy earlier I guess!
I had a Matchbox Sierra Cosworth as a youngster. Bright yellow with black lettering. Nice looking car.
I may still have it, too - probably in a cupboard or in an old box in the shed with a few other old Matchbox/Hot Wheels/etc. cars, I don't know...
This channel deserves more views, that’s for sure. Thank you for all your hard work that transforms into high quality content for us to enjoy.
Glad you like it. Yes, it takes a while to pull all of this together. Especially with interviews.
I remember some of the best touring car racing in the early 1970s when the big American V8s raced against RS Escorts. The Escorts screamed and the Camaros and Mustangs thundered. On the straights the Escorts didn't have a chance, but in the corners the Escorts would catch up, and they would often be side by side through the corners. Absolutely brilliant. Google for names like Frank Gardner Camaro, John Fitzpatrick Escort, Mike Crabtree Escort, Dave Brodie Escort, or Brian Muir Capri for some fantastic pictures.
Gotta love the MKII XR2, thanks for the upload.
Great video choice as always 👏🏻
The best just got better. Amazing detail of an iconic brand in the golden days of the marque. Just fantastic
We were a little deprived of RSs in Australia. We only had the RS2000-badged second-generation Escort and it used the same 2-litre engine that was available on some other models in the range, so it was just a big engine in a low-specification car. We did get the shovel nose and decals, though, and it was available in both 2- and 4-door bodies which I think was unique in the Ford empire. Later, the XR badges arrived on hot Falcons with the number reinterpreted to reference the number of cylinders, either 6 or 8.
Yeah but you have the barra engine which we would love in the 🇬🇧
@@retro80s80 Got a Barra, but it's a regular version and lugging a Territory. I feel it at the pump. :-)
Closest thing we had to any hot 4’s I suppose would’ve been the TX3 & TX5’s
There's a lad in Isle of Man that owns every single RS model. All are concourse condition and some only have delivery miles. He should get them on UA-cam as it's a very special collection.
Stripes makes the cars go faster 🥳
factsez
@@KenanTurkiye Also red color 🥳
@@verttikoo2052 more factsez !
Im going to watch this while wearing my RS jacket ❤ 👍🏻
03:40
The RS models are available in ten paint colors
Silver Fox with black speed stripes.
Red II with black speed stripes
(from norwegian)
Fiesta RS (Turbo for the continent), Uno Turbo i.e., Renault 5 GT Turbo, Peugeot 205 GTi, Citroën AX Sport, GT and GTi, Opel/Vauxhall Corsa/Nova GSI, VW Polo G40, Daihatsu Charade Gtti and already in 90's Peugeot 106 Rally and XSI, crazy times with the pocket rocket death traps. Could be a very interesting topic for Big Car channel. Greetings from Poland!
I recall a review of the Citroen AX Sport which could be summarised as "It was amazing until it fell apart" (and no they didn't crash it).
More American car enthusiasts should take interest in the history of fast Fords. There are some fantastic stories.
Hopefully this will influence viewers to seek them out.
Great collaboration on this one. Can't wait to view pt II.
My definitive RS car would be the Escort Mk2 RS2000. It's the droop snoot that does it for me.
For me it would be a Mk2 Mexico with the standard front! :)
We just got a Sierra Sapphire Rs Cosworth in the shop, a video on it's history couldn't have come at a better time!
Had the chance to buy an RS3100 in about 1985 for about $5000 (Aus)....I had a 3000GT at the time.
The RS 3100 was an homologation special, with a bored out Essex V6 with capacity above 3 litres so Ford could race the 3.4 litre Cosworth GAA against the BMW 3.5 CSL's.
Always such a great car documentary
I wish that in Brazil we had an RS Escort. Here we only had the XR3, first with a "Renault" Engine (CHT/CHT Fórmula) in the mid to late 80's. Later on, in 1989, an Audi-VW engine (AP 1.8s), more powerful but heavier, and later on, in 1997, they had the good Zetec engine, but, when the car had a more powerful engine, the Zetec, the car had lost it's "XR" style, it was more like a sporty luxury version rather than a true sport looking Escort.
Yes excellent post. Thank you.
..but you get so much more cool stuff for longer!
For example half of USA Instagram would give a finger or two for a brazil vw bus
These videos are great …cheers mate 😎
Another great Upload Andy,Thanks
Beautiful video as always. Thanks Andy.
My 20 year old bought a 2015 UK spec *Fiesta ST* awhile back. Even as a 60 year old guy that thing puts a smile on my face! I call it the *"Time Machine"* as it so fecking fast!
The coupe Granada looked amazing! I wish they had put that in to production.
I had a 1991 Ford Fiesta 1.6S. It only cost me 250 quid and I had it 5 years. Weighed about 900kg, and the 1.6 liter carb engine had about 100HP. It really shifted along. Ford were transferring Escorts to Zetec engines, and put the remaining 1600 engines into leftover Fiesta bodies with sunroofs. One of my favourite cars. Went like stink and got 40mpg on the motorway.
Another brilliant video and so many memories
Thanks for your hardwork as always
Still at the top of your game....nice one👍
Out of all the Fords and RS Fords, the Sierra (Sapphire) Cosworth is by far the best looking car ever built, closely followed by the Escort Cosworth.
I agree - both are gorgeous - except the other way around. I'd sell a kidney for an Escort Cosworth first and foremost, closely followed by my spleen for a Sapphire Cossie :)
@@dannyboyy31 not much between the two for me but the Sierra wins, I drool over its looks, its long, pretty and bigger than the escort.
Sorry but the Mk1 Ford Escort RS2000 is by far the top dog. Great performance car in its day
@@philhogarth9492 beauty is subjective, what you think is the best is not that of my own personal taste but that does not make you or I wrong. I do like the mk1 and 2 escorts but my favourite fords are the sapphire cosworth and escort cosworth followed by the ST220.
The ST220 is the only one within my financial reach but I think they are priced too high for a decent example, I drive a top spec non ST V6 Mondeo for that reason, I haven't bought the quick Mk4 because I hate turbos!
Another reason is finding one that has a sunroof is almost impossible, they exist but very few in number, my electric sunroof gets used daily, even in the winter and I hate how nothing has a sunroof anymore!
Sapphire cosworth 2wd is the best Drivers car as the 4x4 version was heavy and lost a great deal of power through the transmission. 3dr has the iconic looks but feels like a jelly on the road. This is only my opinion having driven and tuned them all over the years and still own one.
But all are great cars which unfortunately are becoming out of reach to most people.
That coupe mk2 Granada looks very BMW 6 series. Handsome car.
I had a MK2 RS2000 Custom in white with black Recaros. Bought it a year old in Barking as a Frog Island car. I loved it but always thought it needed a 5 speed gearbox. Then a truck ran up the back of it while I was waiting at traffic lights.
It wasn't written off and Perry's did a good job of straightening the chassis rails so it lost the bent banana look. But I wasn't happy after that and sold it.
I remember winding it up to an indicated 120 on the deserted A127 one Saturday afternoon when everybody else was at home or in the pub watching West Ham play in the cup final. Glory Days.
Excellent video, really looking forward to watching part 2.👍🏻
Great part 2 soon please
Wow. The first Escort RS had effectively a detuned F2 engine.
Yeah, that’s pretty bad-ass!
Even though it didn't have an RS badge, the Escort Twin Cam (Lotus Ford engined) was really the origin of the species - you can see the lineage all the way to the Mk 3 Focus RS
I consider myself a Ford fanboy, especially of the 70s and 80s, yet I’d never seen that 2 door Granada, or weird looking MK3 Escort before.
Lots of fantastic stuff in this one good sir.
Can’t wait for part 2 👍🏻
Those images were some of the ones discovered by Steve when he researched his book.
@Stuart Leckie It must have been 80 or 82, there was a second gen. 2 door hatchback Granada in dark metalic orange, a few streets away. I think it was 2.3i, maybe a Ghia.
My favorite looker was a newer 2.8i Ghia Granada in pale metalic green, with some pin striping. Looked perfect as it whofted by with its 4 head lamps and alloy wheels.
There was also an older dirtier 2.10 Granada, I think it had twin exhausts, it sounded powerful.
@@trespire I think it’s fantastic that a car that was just local to you from some 40 years ago has stuck with you like that !!
I raced RC cars back then, and I remember the coolest guys would show up to track with either RS2000s, Capri 2.8s, or Granada Ghia Xs. Some fabulous looking cars back then for sure. 😃
The Sierra only took on Holden on the track, literally was never sold new in Australia which was a shame.
Again....a great automotive documentary. Hats off! 🙏
Ahhh, the good old days when 109BHP was considered a lot, worthy of an RS badge, even. Nowadays my bog standard diesel Vauxhall has 137BHP.
Cars got a lot heavier
*The mystery is why Ford left us totally out of this picture here in the US domestic market!*
There was a market for smaller sporty cars here in the USA with the rise of European imports but we never received any
RS models here at all. Ford always seemed to ignore their home market when it came to sporty cars after the muscle car era in the 1960s!
Either they didn't want to compete against their American products or didn't know how to market something that wasn't a V8. However, you did get the Mercury Capri in the USA.
I don't know the figures but I suspect that the majority of Capris sold in Europe had the 1.6 litre Pinto engine like the ones both I and a friend had. My DINKi (Dual Income No Kids) boss did have a 2.8i V6 Capri which was his pride and joy, but even 2 litres was considered to be a big engine.
@@MrDuncl I believe what you said to begin with was the real reason. The fact is that German Ford products were superior to anything Dearborn was putting out after the mid-late 1960s, and they knew it would damage USDM car sales and make the US division look bad.
@@watershed44 I'm still not sure about that. Otherwise why have they discontinued the Focus ST in the USA. Watching UA-cam videos I get the impression that most Americans want to tune their cars / trucks to 800BHP then take them to a drag strip. I'm only aware of one Drag Strip in the whole of the U.K. When people in the Europe want to test their cars to the limit they go to a twisty road. European Ford cars like the Focus always get praised for their handling in reviews, even the base models. Over here the handling of a family hatchback is expected to be close to a Mazda MX5/Miata.
@@MrDuncl The big problem here in the USA was that Ford kept building the passenger cars like Focus, and Fiesta in Mexico, and the quality sucked compared to the same cars produced in Germany, and other countries in Europe. The basic engineering and designs were very good, but the parts vendors and build plants in Mexico for the Focus and Fiesta sold in the USA were all subpar. We also got the dry clutch DCT while you in Europe received the wet clutch DCT. The dry DCT was a disaster as reliability went, the manual cars were bulletproof transmissions as they were in Europe. I remember the old Fiesta MKI we also received here in the USA back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, which were all made in Germany, and they were simple, well designed and built and very reliable cars. Unfortunately I was too young to be able to own one. But I liked them and knew they were good cars according to the parents of my friends who owned them.
I had a 94 escort gt with the Mazda 1.8 in it. I always wondered why ford didn't go with the 1.8 turbo that Mazda had. Would of dominated the American small car market. There wouldn't of been a small car caviler, neon that would of touched it. Of course just the regular 1.8 was quick for what it was. I surprised a few v6 powered cars by leaving them in the dust. Still would of been cool to get the cosworth rs here in the states.
As an American, I've never been a fan of Fords. I've always liked GM cars better. But I have a feeling that if I grew up in the UK, I would most likely be a Ford guy. You got some great Fords over there. A lot of great cars from a lot of manufacturers. Meanwhile, here in the States, there aren't a lot of small fun cars. And the ones we had were either too expensive or not very well made. I love big American V8 cars. But I also like small cars that maximize space and power. It's more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow
Just got to this video and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was lucky enough to be working at Ford's Research and Engineering Centre (Dunton) when the RS200 was being developed and managed to blag a couple of rides. What a machine!
Have been a fast Ford man for many years with XRs, an RS Turbo Escort (not a proper RS in my eyes) and ST170. I'm still an RS driver but now it's Audi's.
Thanks for all the informative videos. Keep up the good work and look forward to part 2.
The RS1600i and RS Turbo S1 had nothing to do with each other. The RS1600i was developed in Germany (for proper racing homologation) and was based on the XR3 with fuel injection added plus lots of other bits, even had the same odd front suspension set up. The XR3(i) and later RS Turbo were developed in the UK by Fords SVE team and were showroom models with no racing interests in mind.
Great video 👍
13:09 - that picture makes my heart-sing !
Only one or two very special girls, and one or two special cars, have been able to do this
since those days, I've bought houses for considerably more - yet feel no emotional tie to them
. . . But, this Car , Oooooooooooooh !
"Love Eh? - C'est ça l'amour, non ?"
I Know this is about the RS but I am reminded how much the original fiesta was the best looking rabbit clone.
Nice work on this video!
More like a Polo clone!
Love your informative series of videos.
I had bought a Ford Capri , from London in 1978. It was a great vehicle. I sold it in 1980. But I still remember this very nice vehicle ,it gave good service with very minor maintenance.
Awesome that Steve's now on the case.
One of my all time favorite cars from an excellent presenter , high quality preparation and presentation as always, thanks !
Very interesting and informative video, thank you so much!
One note that may be of interest: The Escort Mk1 Mexico, at least the version used for the rally, was not a 16v. The London to Mexico rally not only was a very long rally, in the long South America leg they faced high altitudes and low fuel quality. To make the cars cope and be reliable for this event they returned to an 8 valves layout allowing for more space between the valves. They lowered the compression too and tried to compensate all this in increasing the capacity to 1850cc. So the London to Mexico Escort was quite different to other RS1600s, which also sparked the idea of a dedicated Mexico model.
The RS 200 looked like a Ford in the same way that a skateboard looks like a Cadillac, they both have 4 wheels.
Great video and some lovely cars there
"V shows that there is something large and powerfull underneath the bonet"
Behold, the 1.4 16V Polo.
Jokes aside, I know a bloke who thought that it meant the battery supplied 16 Volts and wondered why they would advertise it.
😀
I’ve been swaying to and fro about putting in my order for all of Steve Saxby’s books, this video has made me want to pay my money!
Hello mate!
Another quality material.👍🍻
Yeah, I can imagine that driving from London to Mexico has its challenges...
Fun Fact: there's places within the USA named ''London'' and ''Mexico''.
So if someone reeaaallyy wanted they can boast to their friends that they did.
@@KenanTurkiye Berlin, TX too!
@@Vicus_of_Utrecht True true! : )
Also known as "The Good Ol' Cosworth Story" sacrified to the sake of the modern hot hatches. Anyway, a log awaited episode from my side, especially for the Escort Mk.II and the Sierra RS Cosworth. Such a shame that the Sierra RWD configuration wasn't so effective in rally, but dear god... the touring versions... Group A, DTM and WTCC/BTCC were PURE NUTS!!! 💪😏
The Bodie & Doyle RS 2000 and Capris brings back fond memories. RS 1700T was a beast that sadly died too soon. Then onto the Cosworth RS500
Loved the Mk 2 RS2000 Escort and really wanted one, Australian ones not as cool as the Euro ones, had to settle for a flat face 2ltr Mk 2 2dr, close enough and one of my favourite cars I ever owned.
0:01 to 0:20
Let's admit it, we all enjoyed that intro !
....and you know why :)
TAUNUS P7B 20m RS also did very well in 1968 london-sydney rally raid
Wow 220hp from the 1.6 cortina engine by lotus adding 16v twin cam head. Those are impressive numbers even now. Probably unusable in day too day use.
Remember they used Gross and not Net HP. Probably 140-150 Net if measured today.
You briefly mentioned the RS1800- (at 9:00) but not the fact that it had the Cosworth developed 16Valve BDA engine- unlike the RS2000 which just had a SOHC 'Pinto' or the RS1600 which just had a 'Kent' crossflow.. That's why teams preferred it, not because of the radiator grille!
@Whatsapp±①⑥①⑨⑦③⑧④④⓪⑥ we all own 80s fast Ford's, which are rocketing in value rocketing, so ta very much for your offer.......but ppppppp piss orffff!!!
YAY!! South Africa!
Great video. Love fast fords.
Thank you and Mrs Car for this video ,got to love you n leave you got to watch rest of you're video .🍻's Big Car.
I watched all ya videos x👍
The 2.8 Capri in America was not fuel injected, it had a Motorcraft-Holley carburettor.
SWEET!!!! Love the Ford episodes :-D
Enjoyed that, thank you. Took me back!
Slightly surprised that the GT70 didn't even get a short mention, but great content anyway.
As with every video of yours I smashed the 👍 the second I opened it 🤣! And you never disappointed, always well researched, with great footage and presented in your usual friendly way. Thanks for all your efforts! Greetings from Switzerland.
Miss my S2
Great video.
I was a kid, before the internet and living abroad and we read about the Escort RS and Escort Mexico, that is how popular this Ford line was.
Such a fun, refreshing video. Our world is overloaded with boring, boxy SUVs.
9:36 That hatch Del Rey looks amazing (the left one)
I'm from 1977 i remember when i was 6 a dad's firiend had a beautiful Escort white XR3 ^^ Wow the engine noise ! that car for a child was very impressive ! a Capri/escort/sierra was my favourites ^^ omg the sierra cosworth mk1 ...
Hello from Belgium ;) you've a new subscriber ^^
Cosworth, RS500, RS200, XR, Mexico, all these fast beautiful Fords in one vid, I think I need a change of underwear
Calling it now within a year this will EASILY be your most viewed video to date! :)
Saiyuki
One month to go and, nope.
Thanks for the video. There were some Ford factory options / builds that were badged RS back in the day although a 'faux' RS in terms of the performance. I had such a car, a 1988/89 on an F plate Orion Ghia in black. I bought it about 18 months old from a company director who had asked the dealer to throw everything at it including a phone unit. I was told it was based on the 1.6i Ghia / S although it had all RS trim including a rubber boot spoiler (reminiscent of a Mk2 RS 2000), RS alloys wheels, trip computer and more. There was mention of upgraded brakes and springs and the car was firm in the bends and could stop better than the average family saloon. To me the car felt very much like a Mk4 XR3i , a vehicle I had put round Cadwell Park at speed a few times during the period, and it effectively had the same fuel injected 1.6 CVH engine. I think it's possible the Ford dealer had swapped in the brakes and springs from the XR Escort. It felt rare at the time, perky enough although not particularly special in terms of performance. I had it for a year, drove all around the North and up through the lake District, never saw another one.
Closest picture I can find is this one although I'm sure mine sat lower than this or maybe it was the 7 spoke RS alloys filling the arches more. I had the XR spotlights in front of the grill although an RS rear spoiler (rubber and flat to the boot lid). It was fully black like this, not grey plastic below the waist. Lastly the Ghia badges were not present and I had an RS logo on the tail. PIC: bit.ly/3kmTins
I'm not claiming that it was a real RS, I know there was no official release on the Mk l to Mk lll Orion models, just making the point that the Ford dealers had an option to over spec the Orion Ghia / S / E models on behalf of a customer - especially, I guess, when its a company purchase with a £1000 of telephone being installed in it :) - that was quite funny - big box of kit in the boot and a proper hand set in the centre console.
I had an Orion mk1 1600i Ghia, one of my favourite cars I've owned. The 1600 E though, that's a rare one that I've never heard anyone else mention in person, only ever seen one in a scrap yard with all the white leather interior.
I think the neighbours were I lived in 60s were impressed if you car had the deluxe badge on the back of your new car
I enjoyed watching it, being proud ex-owner of two Escort RS 2000s (had a mark V RS2000 and one of the last produced mark VII RS2000 F1 Edition) as well as two XR3i Escorts ;)
Desde Argentina ,for ever FORD
🇫🇮 means Rally 🥳
Steve Saxty on the wall has exactly the same Monet (of course a copy...) I have on my wall! Nice!
I remember the article in Road & Track magazine(an American publication) about the RS2800(as it was spiritually called). The article was called "Black Gold" and the European correspondent for the magazine reviewed this specially built Capri(by the Cologne factory). It wasn't a flared out version, it was basically an American black with gold stripes S model with European bumpers(it sported the 4 round headlamps of the U.S. cars) and some really trick Scheel sports seats. It had the Kugelfischer injection setup from the RS2600 bolted onto an upgraded version of the 2800 engine that wasn't sold in Europe at the time. It was fast, mid 7s to 100 km/h and topped out at over 210 km/h. I'm pretty sure this became the inspiration for the Capri 2.8i model of 1981.
I was kind of baffeled at 3:40. That is, believe it or not, written in Norwegian. It reads: RS modellene kan leveres i 10 lakkfarger. In English that means: The RS models can be delivered in 10 different paint colors. Great upload once again, Mister Big Car 🙂 Best regards from a car detailer in Norway.
YES! MY PRAYS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED
It's crazy to thinck that in the 70s in America they were trying to figure out how to make fuel efficient boats as a car. Then over in the UK. It was a totally different Ford.
As an American, my best opinion would be to try to find a “Mercury” Capri, buy the proper badges and hardware to clone a Ford Capri RS. Even as gear head, those Capris light my fire. Might even take a page out of the Piranha book and drop a 302 in it. Now with a plan, I just need the funds.😂
@Whatsapp±①⑥①⑨⑦③⑧④④⓪⑥ 😂
nice one
my first ford was a 60´s capri with a anemic 1.3L engine ,i bought it with 14 years old from a junkyard ,only drove it on dirt roads ,it had no clutch ,it breaks....?almost. but i made it fly this after breaking in alf a fiat 850 sport abarth (the chassi), but later i bought a rs2000 mkII for rally not a road car but took the front and install the one from the road car still with round lights not squares ,the RS1600 road car was from 88 or 87 only kept it for 2 or 3 years but had a fiesta 1.4S ,it was great (88),at the time i had a sierra ,a capri and the fiesta because all were sport models and all with the same colour scheme ,alf body all around in grey ,kind of rubber paint and metalized blue from the bottom alf to the top and aLL WITH SPORTY FINISHINGS AND THOSE extra, SLIM FRONt LIGHTS besides the regular front lights (sorry for the caps lock),ended up with the first rs2000 escort model in red from the 90´s and a rally cosworth or 4x4
Really look forward to your great work. Your research is second to none. Well done and thank you.
Great video. My fantasy garage includes more fords than any other make, but the ones I lust after from this video are the wide arch x pack mk2 capri, the silver mk1 fiesta, mk2 escort rs2000 & mexico, 1700T, sierra cosworth and (off the wall I know) the transcontinental tractor unit as well!! Italian "supercars" wouldn't get a chance!!! Oh if I won the lottery!!!!
Best thing about this video, there's another half to come.
Great video as always. I'd totally forgotten about the Fiesta RS Turbo. 16 year-old me desperately wanted one as my first car, but of course it was a pipe dream. What I ended up with instead was a MK3 1.1 Escort with a mighty 55bhp!
And insurance you could afford. In the 1980s I knew someone who had an RS2000 MK2 Escort. From a comment he made, his insurance cost him about 15% of his annual income.
Great video as usual! But still waiting on that Saab 900NG/9-3OG video :D
My ol' Series 2 RS Turbo was fettled to increase the Hp from the standard factory 130bhp (it was actually only 119bhp on the rolling road) to a fresh, energetic 156bhp (just through turbo remapping)
That car was then almost dangerous to drive and would torque-steer all over the place on power coming out of corners (tyres were rubbish at the time too) esp on wet roads
It was exciting but tricky to put the power down once the turbo was boosting, and would pull left and right unexpectedly
That era of FWD cars just used to spin their tyres into oblivion
I owned an Escort MKIII RS 1600i.It was brilliant.
Now every true car enthusiast wants an rs 200
Still amazed, that the Taunus 20m RS , actually was made with the 3L engine. Always thought , the 26m , was top of the line.