Full, stripped-down four year restoration costing in excess of £25,000 and completed in 2020
Less than 4,000 miles since restoration completed
VIN records indicate that this is a genuine Series 1 RS Turbo
MOT to August 2023 with no advisories
Cosmetically standard but with mechanical upgrades
Modified mechanicals with bigger turbo, uprated ECU and big bore exhaust running at 250bhp
Body dipped, stripped and professionally repainted during restoration
Original features and fittings retained where possible during restoration
The Appeal
With the 1980s hot hatch wars reaching fever pitch Ford upped the stakes and launched the RS Turbo in 1985. Just 5,000 were planned to enable Group A homologation but demand was such that, in typical Ford style, 8,604 were built. Most of those were sold in the UK.
This car’s VIN and chassis plates indicate that it is a genuine 1985 RS Turbo Series 1. It was built in Cologne in January 1985, making it one of the earliest examples. An intensive four-year full restoration was completed 4,000 miles ago in 2020. We are told by the Seller that in excess of £25,000 was spent during the work.
Cosmetically entirely standard, right down to the 15inch RS alloys, this car hides a secret: it is running at 250bhp thanks to a bigger turbo and other mechanical improvements. RS Turbos are highly sought after fast Fords and this one benefits from huge investment and a clever combination of standard looks with significantly uprated performance. front.jpg1.52 MB
The History And Paperwork
First registered 3rd May 1985
VIN confirms this as a January 1985 Cologne car built at Saarlouis
ABET chassis code confirms this as a genuine RS Turbo
Thick history file of invoices and receipts for parts for restoration work
Off the road from 2011 and subject to four year restoration to 2022
Returned to road in 2022 and covered 4,000 miles since
Original grey cloth Recaro seats in good condition
Electric windows
Original cassette storage system and speaker fader toggle
Original Ford rubber overmats
Headlining in good condition and appears original
Dashboard in good condition with no obvious cracks or damage
This RS Turbo may have been mechanically upgraded but the interior has been kept nicely original. By modern standards it is a simple, unfussy place to be, from the stylish grey cloth Recaro seats to the clearly set out dashboard. By contemporary standards it was luxurious, with electric windows, although the bungs for the wind up windows of lowlier models are still visible.
In keeping with the Seller’s ethos of re-using parts wherever possible, the interior appears to be mostly original. The grey fabric Recaro seats are in very good condition with only light creases on the bolsters. The driver’s seat base fabric is slightly loose and there are two small marks on the left hand upright bolster. The rear seats are in very good condition and are fitted with seatbelts. There are light marks on the side trims of the rear passenger area.
The door cards are in very good condition, just a scuff on the passenger side map pocket – and the same inside the pocket itself – and a small tear at the base of this door’s trim detracting.
The plastic RS factory steering wheel is in good condition but with a sheen of wear commensurate with the mileage.
The headlining is very good and appears original, as are the carpets throughout and in the boot. There are Ford rubber overmats that are also unmarked.
The original factory cassette storage system is undamaged and there is an aftermarket stereo fitted. int.jpg985.12 KB
The Exterior
Factory correct Diamond White bodywork in excellent, restored condition
Quality Toyo tyres
15inch factory RS alloy wheels in excellent unmarked condition
Excellent door shuts and boot floor
Underside appears very good with no visible deterioration
Factory standard cosmetics including correct RS badging and decals
Many RS Turbos were highly modified in period, with bigger wheels and spoilers. The appeal of this RS Turbo seems to be that it is entirely factory standard – without popping the bonnet nobody would know what modifications it is running.
The Seller says that the car was dipped and stripped during its four year restoration to remove corrosion and rectify any damage. This work was completed in 2020. He states that over £25,000 was spent on parts and the respray. This investment is evident in the quality of the work, which is visible in the excellent door shuts and the paint inside the boot and on the return edges of the boot. The attention to detail extends to the RS decals and badging.
The visible marks on the car are all very minor and cannot be seen without close inspection. The front spoiler trim on the offside corner does not fit quite correctly and appears to be cracked at the base, although cannot be seen unless low down. There is also a small chip on the offside front spoiler and a scuff on the base of the nearside front wheel arch extension.
The pretty RS alloys, at 15inches a world away from modern hot hatch running gear, are in excellent condition and appear to have been restored. They are fitted with quality Toyo tyres with plenty of tread.
The underside of the car was restored and repainted during this work and appears from the photographs to be in excellent condition. back.jpg1.71 MB
The Mechanics
1.6litre CVH 4cylinder engine developing 250bhp
Larger uprated turbo and exhaust system
High performance package including uprated and mapped ECU
Uprated hoses throughout
5spd manual gearbox
132bhp from a 1.6litre engine was heady stuff in 1985 and pushed the RS Turbo to the front of the hot hatch crowd. But in the intervening years owners have sought to find more power and upgrades and improvements are a common aspect of the RS Turbo ownership scene.
This car fits nearly into that world. The Seller tells us that it is running at 250bhp thanks to a bigger turbo, big bore exhaust and upgraded and mapped ECU. It also has an ignition booster system which means that there is no distributor cap. The hoses, as the photographs show, have been uprated to cope with this extra power. There are invoices for the work and the photographs indicate that it has been done to a good standard.
Since the RS Turbo is essentially a development of the standard three door Escort it is possible to use a standard car to clone the appearance of a RS. A check of the VIN for this car appears to confirm that it is a genuine RS Turbo, the chassis plates confirming that it is a Cologne car built at SaarLouis in January 1985. The letters ABET shown in the photographs also confirm that it is a RS Turbo model and the V5 says the same.
The MOT records indicate that the car was off the road from 2011 to 2022 during which time it was restored over four years. The MOT runs to August 2023 with no advisories. eng.jpg899.35 KB
Summary
With its bright Diamond White bodywork, chunky body kit and turbocharged motor, the Escort RS Turbo screams 1980s hot hatch. It is part of a long line of fast Fords and highly sought after as a result.
This 1985 RS Turbo is fresh from a full structural and mechanical restoration and cleverly combines original, standard cosmetics with a hefty increase in power. It is a chance to buy one of these iconic cars where all the work has been done recently, making it perfect to show and very definitely go.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only. Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.
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