Mk2 Escort Cosworth
 

Has anyone had one, or something similar?

I'm in a position where I could do a deal with the Evo for one and I'm seriously considering it, trying to weigh up why it would be better over the Evo. I think ultimately it'll hold its value better, may even go up in time and it would be a hoot to drive and own. It won't be as fast especially in the corners but that's not the point, a real head turner which the Evo is as well but this will turn more heads that's for sure.

Will be a great car for the shows as well as it's ridiculously clean, it's a tough one.

What do you think? Yay or nay?

I'll get some pics up shortly.

I'd love one, however have you checked out insurance quotes?! I know they used to be ridiculous to insure....

Spec: original model, mechanical & cosmetic?
Condition: used, clean, show winner?

Get the correct combination of those and you're onto a winner.

Be careful and make sure it's not a poo example that's been rolled in glitter to get it sold off because to do one of these correctly takes a lot of time and money. Worth bearing in mind that these are very old cars which are likely to cost more money than the Evo to keep going. Ok this one is running a slightly newer engine, but even Cosworth parts are getting a lot more expensive now that the original cars are worth five times what they used to be... or more!

You're right that it'll be considerably less capable to drive, way more tail happy (fun to an point) and far more of a show stopper too... but if it's a good 'un and you maintain it properly then the value should only go one way.

Can't wait for pics!! :)

Some good points there, I had thought about which would cost more to run but I thought the Escort would be cheaper purely down to the lack of centre diff, ayc diff, ayc pump, electrical wizardry and all that jazz. Never took a minute to think about how scarce parts would be and the cost of them because of marked up prices.

It’s early days but it does appear to be a well built motor.

The engine bay one is of a different car but is the exact same except for the strut brace, it’s one that’s welded in.

MK 2 with any engine these days is a gold mine in that condition.
Cossy engine in it is a bonus

I crashed so many of em in my youth,,,!

All Classic Fords are money makers, if you get a decent deal, I'm sure it'll serve you well
and will look cracking out on the road

Power is 380bhp, not sure how much these cars weigh, circa 1 ton so plenty power to weight, will be lively and plenty fun.

Checking over old mots via the dvla website it failed an mot back in 2006 for excessive corrosion, I'm guessing thereafter it went through the process of having all the work carried out. Still registered as a 1600 by the looks of it, first registered in 1978.

It's last mot ran out in the middle of last year, maybe October......I can't remember now. I think it's been mostly used for shows and has been a trailer queen.

Looks lovely.

Looks a clean car.

I would have a good look over the shell to make sure no nasties looming. Have you driven it yet, that would be key to see what happens when that turbo kicks in ! Transmission ? What is the suspension set up, it looks standard but may have been been done like that as a sleeper.

Because of the popularity of Mk2's, especially in rallying, parts are readily available ( at a cost !),whether you are running a car with modern components or historic/period components.

If you need anymore info let me know, FYI I have a Historic Spec Group 4 RS1800

lol

Go on do the deal it looks the business

I'd be a little cautious personally... what does the chassis code say it is... as in you sure it's an RS... or is it just a boggo 1.6 /1.3 or even a 1.1 Ford popular... big difference in value.

I could of had a 1.1 a couple of years back but didn't go for it as it was just too much hassle out here to put any other engine in it.

You can still get a shell for less than £3k, 2.0L pinto for around the same which means depending on spec you can build one for between £10k up to about £15k and that'll be like new... so depends what you value your car at.

I would also add, it's a totally different concept to driving your "drive itself" EVO, even with very little power they can be a handful if you're not used to rear wheel drive... let alone running 380bhp.

If you read the posts it’s booked as a 1600. I, personally, wouldn’t think twice! If your not up for the deal can you put me in touch with the seller, I’m in Lanarkshire :)

It’s the 1600 sport.

As for being able to handle it I’m not concerned, I’ve came from 150+ bhp bikes which I rode aggressively on the road and track, I also rode them all year round and was decent in the wet, seeing as though it rains up here 400 days per year :wonder:

So is that like avo bodyshell , strengthened variously ?

Mates my sister had rs2000 mk1 , this was back in 1983 roughly

He’s down south.

I’m a little bit concerned by the lack of information and history, documentation, detailed records of the work that’s been done. Could be completely innocent but if it were me I’d have it well documented, with plenty pics. The work was done before his ownership so it may have been lost along the way but I’d have made a point of having it.

It could be the best decision I’ve ever made or the biggest mistake yet.

Is it a good deal for you financially swapping the evo and possibly cash either way or is he getting the good deal, well specced evo for a 1600 sport ?
if you don't think it's right then leave it and find another
a good drive in the car may convince you one way or another

TBH it's 6 and two 3's :wonder:

If the escort is worth the 20k cash that he thinks then I'd be getting a decent deal, it'll more than likely hold its value more than the Evo and possibly go up as time goes on. With that being said I don't think the Evo will drop in value that much, could go up.....but who knows.

Apparently someone has offered him 19k for it.

Just buy it :thumb:

Ask him what box and axle it has , it's good if it has at least a T5 2wd Cosworth box , and an atlas axle , should be very strong , if you drive it hard all the time the shafts can end up twisting and will snap with the torque.

If it has a 2.0lt Sierra box and an English axle , it wouldn't last long as they can't take the torque , ask them what suspension and brakes are on it , and if it's been 4 linked , it will help it putting the power down.

My Mrs sells lot's of Escort stuff if you get it www.godspeedmotorsport.co.uk , they are still very popular cars , you can even buy a brand new shell now , for £7k !

I did read the post, but as you can see if YOU read the post... what started out as an Escort Cosworth is now a 1.6 sport... completely different kettle of fish when it comes to value.

I wouldn't part with £19/20k for that car with what is basically unknown provenance... also like many things in the UK it's quite easy to write whatever you like in the docs and have it come back from the DVLA as pretty much anything you like... you only need to look at JDM Subarus to see that... the truth of what it really is will be in the chassis number and vin plate, when parting with that sort of money one needs be certain of what it is you are getting.

AND +1 on Godspeeds post.

WULL... with the greatest of respect, bikes are one thing, (and I have a 35yrs history with all manner of bikes) old school rear wheel drive with with no driver aids is another thing... as you will discover if you buy the car. :thumb:

I can appreciate that but like I’ve put I’m not worried in the slightest. In fact I’d see it as a challenge if it’s anything like you’ve stated, but my view is if I’m capable of ripping the arse out of a bike when it’s proper wet out then I’m fairly certain I can manage a 380/ton machine that will probably never see the rain.

Tbh though I’d probably drive it sensibly, I drive the Evo sensibly.

+2 for Godspeed post, great bit of info on the running gear, Oh & the Mrs shop :lol:

I completely missed Ian’s post, it’s got the T4 box and atlas rear diff with 6 linked with watts linkage.

Sorry mate I didn’t realise the MK2 escort originally had a cosworth variant?

Wull posted after his original post that it was a 1600 sport. So a 1600 sport with cosworth turbo engine

Hi,
If you needed any help with insurance at all for this type of vehicle then please feel free to drop me a line. We have a number of specialist schemes that cater for highly modified mk2 Escorts.
Thanks,
Dan.

I’m not sure it did, only info I can get is a Cosworth engine that was produced for the rally cars but nothing that was mass produced for the public, I might be wrong though.

My oringinal post and title thread was on the presumption that everyone would know it was a mk2 with a Cosworth conversion as I was unaware that they came with a Cosworth variant.

Not that it matters.

Neither was I, which is why I suggested he tread carefully... I know there was a Cosworth crossflow engine, and then there's the preferred choice back in the day which was a 2.0L pinto and I had a mate of a mate that had a V4 transit engine in one but this looks like an engine out of a Sierra Sapphire Cosworth, but as far as I'm aware Escort "Cosworths" were a MK4, everything before that was just RS and Mexico... again another reason for me saying to check the provenance... But people have put all sorts of engines in old Fords since I were a wee lad.

Not being rude about the car because it looks great, just not sure it's worth the thick end of £20k.

Just to add, it's something you need to REALLY love, because they're pretty shoit TBH when compared to modern cars and you're also going to REALLY have to know how to drive to be able to go anything like as quickly as you can go in an Impreza or Evo... with 380 horses on tap you're really going to need balls of steel and a lot of talent... it's not point and squirt... more hang on for dear life and hope to god it all works out. :lol1:

Yep I was never under the illusion that it was a Cosworth, as in legit from the factory, but the Cosworth transplants to be very sought after and a common mod.

I’ve been in contact with a mate who had a yellow mk2 4 door running a 2jz and he reckons it’s anywhere between 15-20k purely dependant on what you’re willing to pay. I tried bartering but he wasn’t having it, he settled on the Evo + 2k and no less.