Ford Escort Review

Rallying

Mk2 Rally Car

As with its predecessor, the Mk II had a successful rallying career. All models of the Mk I were carried over to the Mk II, though the Mexico had its engine changed to a 1.6 ohc ’Pinto’ instead of the ohv for the UK market. Other markets continued with the 1.6L ’Kent’ in the mk 2 and called it the ’Sport’ model. Also a new and potent model was released - the RS1800; a 1.8L version of the RS1600. It was essential - special created for racing, and surviving road versions are very rare and collectible today. There has been a longstanding debate regarding how the RS1800 was homologated for international motorsport, as Ford are rumored to have built only fifty or so road cars out of the four hundred required for homologation. The works rally cars were characterized by the large wheel arch extensions, these were to facilitate the fitment of larger wheels and tires and thus improving the road-holding and general handling of the cars.

The 1.6 L (1598 cc/97 in³) engine was equipped on the 1975 Ghia and it generated 84 hp (63 kW) with 125 N·m (92 ft·lbf) torque and weighed 955 kg (2105 lb). For rally use, this can be compared to the 1974 Toyota Corolla which output 75 hp (56 kW) and weighed 948 kg (2090 lb).

The 2.0 L RS2000 version, which featured the Pinto engine from the Cortina, was available with a top speed of 110 mph (177 km/h). The 2.0 L engine was also easily retro-fitted into the Mk I, and this became a popular modification, along with the Ford Sierra’s 5-speed gearbox, for rallying and other sports, especially given the Pinto’s tunability.

The RS2000 was more distinctive, having a slanting plastic nose housing four round headlamps.

Ford Australia also built Mk II Escorts. The majority of Escorts (regular and performance models) came with 1.6 OHV Kent and Cortina’s 2.0L Pinto engine (in a lower tune than European units, due to Australia emission laws). The bodyshells were 2-door, 4-door and van, the wagon models being unavailable to the Australian market. The slant-nose RS2000 was sold as a regular production model 1979-1980, in 2-door and - unique to Australia - 4-door variants. The Escort, like the Cortina, was never popular on the Australian market, due to the competing Japanese imports. It was an underrated car throughout its production life.

In New Zealand, MKII Escorts were built from CKD kits at the Ford plant in Petone. Unlike Australia, Escorts and Cortinas always topped the monthly sales lists, and all body styles including the wagon were sold. Based on the British models (aside from using metric speedometers), the cars were sold in 1.1 (base), 1.3 (L, GL, 1300 Sport, estate and van variants) and 1.6 (Ghia, 1600 Sport) variants - the 1.3 being the most common.

The Escort was replaced in the Australian and New Zealand markets by the Ford Laser in 1980 which were locally built Mazda 323s with different panels.

Mk2 Ford Escort RS2000 on street rally

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