Ford Escort Mk1 RS makes a comeback 57 years since launch

UK-based Boreham Motorworks will be bringing back the legendary 1967 Ford Escort Mk1 RS. Only 150 ICE cars will be made – no electric ones – and sold starting from £295,000 (U.S. $373,000).

Unlike many other similar projects, this one isn’t strictly a restomod, because it isn’t based on the original car. Instead, the company licenses the OEM blueprints from Ford to produce its own Escorts in the old fashion, but taking advantage of the latest technology. As a result, every car gets a carbon-fiber body kit and structural parts. Boreham says a fully assembled body weighs as little as 800 kilos (1,764 lbs).

The lighting is LED-based all around, with the headlights changed from round to rectangular and the cross-shaped light patterns referencing racecars of the era long gone. The wheels are modest-sized at 15 inches, and come shod in tires sized 205/50 at the front and 225/50 at the back. Four-piston brakes at the front axle and two-piston ones at the rear help with the deceleration.

This may not sound like much braking power, but the Escort RS continuation series doesn’t pack too much horsepower, either. The base spec features a 1.8-liter engine sending 185 PS (182 hp / 136 kW) to the wheels through a four-speed manual transmission.

You could pay extra and get a 2.1-liter turbo mill instead, which hooks up to a five-speed MT and churns out 300 PS (296 hp / 221 kW). In both cases, you get all-new suspension based on high-end aluminum and titanium components. No ABS, no ESP, no power steering – it’s not a restomod, after all.

A peek inside the cabin reveals bucket seats, a roll cage and a helmet shelf. The trim scheme involves leather, Alcantara and carbon fiber. An air conditioner is available as a paid option, but that’s about all as far as modern-day creature comforts are concerned. The instruments are strictly analog and there isn’t a single touchscreen on board – only physical buttons and switches.

Boreham promises to begin production in Q3 2025. Both left-hand-drive and RHD Escorts will be made to maximize coverage. All buyers get a warranty valid for 24 months or ~32,000 km (20,000 miles), whichever comes first.