If you say the word Escort to any car fan it instantly conjures up nostalgia of an exciting time in motoring that hasn’t been rivalled since. Produced over a staggering 30 plus year period the Escort would go through six generations selling over four million units. Frequently the best-selling car in the 1980s and ‘90s it is no wonder that these cars stir up so many emotions and memories for people. It is a given that everyone has their own Escort story. 

With a hugely successful time in rallying, it is no wonder that Ford would take some of this motorsport-derived knowledge and put it into a production car. Early Escort specials included the classic Mexico and RS1600. 

As the Escort entered its third and fourth generation The XR3i was one of the hottest versions you could buy. With a 5-speed manual gearbox and a 1.6l engine revving to 6,000rpm, it was a great car to hustle down the road. The convertible version came a little later and would use the same basic platform as the saloon but with the bonus of a folding fabric roof.  These days the XR3i is remembered fondly by its huge crowd of adoring fans.

The history of this XR3i is a little hazy all the way back to new, but we can say that it has lived an interesting life in the hands of people who have appreciated that this is a special car. With all the panels being straight it hasn’t been wrapped around a tree or in a ditch like so many of its counterparts. 

The factory-fitted and genuine RS body kit is in great condition, adding a nice level of sportiness to the already purposeful bodywork and with the addition of the working electric folding roof, it just looks stunning.

The current owner acquired this car as a non-runner and has since gone through everything to get this modern classic back on the road. Including a new clutch, four new tires, refurbishing all of the alloys, full service, a cambelt, new abs pumps, a new heated windscreen, and an original radio. It’s thanks to this attention to detail that this XR3i is now in excellent condition. 

There is quite a bit of paperwork that comes with this XR3i, with a mix of modern invoices and original ford literature the new owner can go through and look at the wonderful marketing material that used to come with cars.
The all-important V5c is present so the transfer of ownership should be easy enough on the day of collection and there is also the most recent MOT certificate which is passed with no advisories, always a good sign for a car you’re looking to buy. If you have a look at the MOT history you can see that the mileage has jumped up and down over the past, the reason for this however is unknown. 

There are also quite a few modern invoices that reference the recent work that has been carried out to the car and original parts that have been fitted back onto the car. Some of these little details that many would overlook include genuine Ford tailgate hinge covers and a battery with Ford-specific rectangular connectors instead of the normal round posts. Whilst we’re talking about the battery, we can say that the battery tray itself is free from major corrosion, a big selling point on one of these older Escorts.

The interior of this XR3i screams 90’s, with big knobs and dials, fabric Recaro seats, and interesting patterns on the fabric door card inserts it is like uncovering a time capsule.

If we start with the Recaro seats we can see that this car has been looked after throughout its life, with no rips or tears to the fabric there are only a few small signs of some dirt that has accumulated over the past 30 years, but a bit of elbow grease should get these seats back to their former glory. Just for the record these seats are both extremely comfortable and figure hugger so whether you’re on the motorway or an English b-road you should have no complaints about these seats.

The small details within the interior, such as the door cards, carpets, and big dials are also in great condition. The door cards themselves still look relatively new and not showing signs of their age, the carpets too are in great condition, the current owner puts the paper mats over the original carpets to preserve them when he moves the car around. The interior condition of the fabric roof is in really good condition showing no signs of water leaks.

One part of the interior that the current owner searched high and low for was an original Ford radio, the unit you see in place works well picking up radio stations. Although it may have a tape deck you can pick up cassette adapters that turn this slot into an aux port, so you shouldn’t have to replace the radio to listen to your music or podcasts. There have been some more modern speakers fitted in the rear side bolsters, but these aren’t too intrusive like so many other aftermarket offerings.

Overall the interior of this XR3i is in great condition and just waiting to be taken on its next adventure, the addition of the electric folding roof just adds another dynamic to the interior allowing you to enjoy any journey depending on the weather.

An iconic boxy design the exterior of the XR3i convertible is recognisable a mile off and with the additional genuine RS body kit, it looks purposeful from every angle. 
This example is present in excellent exterior condition with only a few minor marks that should not detract from the overall condition. The paint is in great condition and finished in this ice blue colour is stands out when set against the contrasting black fabric roof.

When the current owner acquired the car, it sat on four flat tires and damaged rims, since owning the car they have put the wheels back to factory condition with a thorough refurb of all four alloys and then surrounded them with four new and matching tires. It's these details that will set this XR3i apart from the rest of the crowd.

As we have mentioned before this car has had the RS body kit fitted to it. The story goes that the Ford dealership where this came from, like so many others, would retrofit the body kit to help get the cars out the door. Because it is a genuine Ford part, the fit and finish is brilliant, in keeping with the rest of the exterior condition. There are only a few little marks around the kit, but no major holes to report of.

With this being the convertible it comes with the fabric folding roof, there is a slight tear/rip to the cover at the rear of the nearside. It has been repaired by the current owner, so it stops any water ingress but apart from this tear the rest of the roof is in remarkable condition. The bonus of this car is that this roof is electronically operated with a button on the center console. With a little help on the day to get it started it folded away in a quick time when we consider its age it folds neatly on the rear deck and when the tonneau cover is popped into place it looks amazing.

Overall, the exterior of this XR3i is in amazing condition and just waiting for the next owner to take care of her. With regular care, the exterior will continue looking this good for the next 30 years of its life.

Fitted with a fizzy four-pot the XR3i will produce just over 100hp, enough power to enjoy any driving condition. The 5-speed manual gearbox adds to the driving dynamics of the car and gives it a better cruising capability on motorways.

Out on the roads today this car is a dream to drive, it pulls well in all gears and under braking there is no pulling to the left or right. It has obviously been cared for throughout its life.

When the current owner got this car it could’ve been classed as a non-runner owing to a few parts that weren’t quite working. They have since gone through the mechanical aspects to get her running again.

Some of the big works that have been completed include a new clutch, new camshaft, camshaft followers, the injectors have been refurbished, new fuel pump, full service, new cambelt, a recon ABS pump for the offside, and new belts for both ABS pumps. So, as you can see it has gone through a major recommissioning and this work should see her through for many more years to come.

The lucky person who gets to own this car next will be getting a mechanically sound car that is just ready to go.

This XR3i convertible really speaks for itself, with such great overall condition the new owner will be the envy of any Ford show. Whether you have a personal connection to an escort or you’re just getting into the world of modern classic Fords this car is perfect for you. With the convertible aspect, you will be able to enjoy every aspect of this car all year round.

The Ford community is huge and buying this XR3i gets you an invite into a warm and welcoming community of like-minded people who will marvel at the quality of your new XR3i. Many people may say that this is a great investment opportunity but sometimes it’s not all about the money, this XR3i will be at the center of many happy memories for the new owner, a companion rather than just a car it is a great choice for your collection.