Built and produced between 1968 and 1975, the Ford MK1 Escort RS has gained status and adoration as victor in multiple rally championships around the world, most notably to pole position by Frank Gardner at the 1968 British Saloon Car Championship, and again in 1970, when Hannu Mikkola and Gunnar Palm drove it to victory in the London to Mexico World Cup Rally.
Certainly, when you see the MK1 Escort RS for the first time, even before you take to the wheel of this vintage motor winner, with its gleaming headlamps protruding from the broad front grille, you understand it’s a car built for speed and performance. But rest assured it’s definitely not style over substance at work here.
It was an incredibly powerful car for its time, running on a 1.6 litre engine under its bonnet, that bumps out 125 bhp. Acceleration in the MK1 Escort RS sees it cruise from 0 - 60 mph in 9 seconds, and an achievable top speed of 120 mph to make you feel like you can follow in the footsteps of the legends who raced it first past the grid.