Registration: E731 ACD
Chassis: WF0BXXGCABKM46353
Odometer: 58,000
Transmission: Manual
MOT: May 2027
- Uprated cooling components
- Burton Power-built 2.0-litre bottom end
- Highly usable and enthusiast-focused example
Few performance Fords capture the spirit of the 1980s quite like the Escort RS Turbo. Aggressive yet compact, rapid yet useable, the Series 2 RS Turbo became one of the defining hot hatchbacks of its generation and remains firmly established as one of the most sought-after modern classics in the Ford enthusiast world today.
Introduced in 1986 as the successor to the original Series 1, the Series 2 combined the explosive turbocharged performance buyers expected with improved refinement, better road manners and a more contemporary aerodynamic appearance. Powered by Ford’s fuel-injected 1.6-litre turbocharged CVH engine driving through a limited-slip differential, the RS Turbo delivered genuinely exciting performance and quickly became one of the most recognisable performance cars of the decade.
Offered here is a 1987 example finished in the ever-desirable Radiant Red with the correct and hugely evocative grey Recaro interior trimmed with Red detailing. The car presents particularly well overall, retaining the purposeful stance and unmistakable visual appeal that has made the RS Turbo such a cult classic among enthusiasts.
Importantly, this example benefits from notable mechanical upgrades, most significantly a Burton Power-built 2.0-litre bottom end conversion, giving the car considerably stronger performance and improved durability over the standard setup. The engine bay also appears to feature an uprated cooling arrangement including an alternative radiator, complementing the upgraded specification well.
According to the vendor, the car runs and drives strongly, with ignition leads having recently been tightened following its MOT preparation. A video showing the car running correctly after this work has reportedly been supplied.
The odometer currently displays approximately 3,600 miles, although the previous instrument cluster showing around 58,000 miles accompanies the vehicle. As such, the displayed mileage should not be relied upon as genuine total mileage.
Externally, the car presents in very good condition overall. The paintwork retains an excellent shine and strong visual impact, while panel fit and overall presentation remain highly impressive for a car of this era. Minor age-related imperfections are present, including some light weathering to an interior door handle, a handful of small marks, most notably to the offside mirror, together with a small fingertip-sized lacquer blemish to the roof. None detract significantly from what remains an exceptionally eye-catching example.
Inside, the cabin remains wonderfully period correct, featuring the distinctive factory-style Recaro seats, classic RS instrumentation and the unmistakable driver-focused simplicity that made these cars so popular when new. A turbo boost gauge has also been fitted, adding further to the car’s purposeful feel.
Equipment includes:
- Power steering
- Tilt/slide sunroof
- Alloy wheels
- Recaro interior trim
- Turbo boost gauge
Increasingly difficult to find in genuinely presentable condition, the Escort RS Turbo continues to enjoy enormous popularity among collectors and enthusiasts alike. With its uprated Burton Power engine build, strong visual presentation and unmistakable 1980s character, this example offers an exciting opportunity to acquire one of Ford’s true modern performance icons.
A fast Ford legend that still delivers the raw, analogue excitement that made the RS Turbo such an icon of its era.
