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This beautifully crafted CORGI Vanguards 1:43 scale diecast model captures the iconic Ford Cortina Mk5 1.3 in stunning Prairie Yellow, perfect for collectors of classic British motoring. Ready to display straight from the box, this model features authentic detailing and premium quality finishing throughout. No assembly required, simply unbox and add this piece of automotive history to your collection. Key Features Ready to display with no assembly required Authentic Prairie Yellow paint scheme Premium diecast metal construction Highly detailed exterior and interior features Faithfully recreates the classic Mk5 Cortina History Ford's Mk5 Cortina arrived with several trim levels, including the popular GL, and offered the S Pack as a performance-focused option for those seeking a sportier driving experience. The S Pack could only be ordered on cars with 2-litre engines or above, bringing driving lamps, overriders, a tachometer, sports gear knob, and wider 185/70 HR x 13 tyres, along with revised stiffer suspension featuring gas-filled front dampers. Unlike the Mk4, the Mk5 never had a separate S model, which makes surviving GLS or Ghia S variants particularly rare today. This particular GLS spent many years with a police officer in Wales before finding itself stored outdoors in Peterborough. Hertfordshire garage owner Dave Lamb, whose first car had been a Cortina, was intrigued by its complete and unmolested condition despite the rust. After three viewings, nostalgia won, Dave purchased it in December 2023. The signs of careful ownership were there: five premium tyres, an unblemished interior, and what appeared to be a genuine 90,000 miles. Once he got it running, his instincts proved correct: the engine ran sweetly and it drove beautifully. Dave is now restoring this survivor to its original specification, preserving another piece of British motoring heritage.

This meticulously crafted CORGI Vanguards 1:43 scale diecast model captures the classic Ford Escort Mk1 1300 GT in its authentic Marine Blue finish, perfect for collectors of British motoring heritage. Ready to display straight from the box, this premium diecast model showcases exceptional attention to detail and period-correct specification. Every element has been faithfully reproduced to celebrate this rare unmodified survivor from the 1970s. Key Features Ready to display with no assembly required Authentic Marine Blue paint finish Premium 1:43 scale diecast construction Accurate 1970s period specification and detailing Faithfully represents a genuine restored example History Originally purchased on August 1st, 1973, from Mayne's Garage in Redruth, Cornwall, this particular Escort GT has an extraordinary story of preservation and passion. A retired army major bought two 1300GTs that day, this blue example for himself and a red one for his wife, both immediately Ziebart rust-protected to guard against the elements. After covering 72,000 miles, the car was eventually stored away, passing through the hands of dedicated Ford enthusiasts over the decades. In 2018, the Escort found its way to Maria and Kevin McDermid as a 50th birthday gift. What appeared to be a solid survivor revealed a more challenging restoration beneath the surface, with nearly every panel perforated by time. Determined to preserve this rare unmodified example, they embarked on a complete restoration to original specification. Ford specialists Bishop's Bespoke Builds reconstructed the bodyshell, while GTR Motorsports applied the authentic Marine Blue paintwork. The couple then meticulously reassembled the car, sourcing rare trim parts from around the world. Completed in August 2021 and featured in Classic Ford magazine by June 2022, this Escort now stands as a testament to dedicated restoration and period authenticity. It regularly attends retro Ford events, often as the only unmodified example present, a true survivor celebrating the essence of 1970s British motoring.

The 1300E modelled is one of the later Series 2 cars, built entirely at Halewood on Merseyside, and is considered one of the most original and best preserved examples in the UK. It was initially sold on June 19th 1974 by Ford dealer G. W. Johns, Chiswick, West London, to Mrs D.L. Hawkins of East Ewell, Surrey, who specified one extra, aMotorola AM radio costing £45. Her family retained the car until June 1984, at which time it had covered only 21,603 miles and was still wearing its original tyres! Second owner Robert Watt, from Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, used it sparingly and looked after it for 27 years before selling it in 2011. When third owner, Keith Bennett, purchased it the odometer was still showing only 36,241 miles and the car was still in very good condition. However, as one of the co-founders of the Escort 1300E Owners' Club, he had it resprayed in the original colour to make it perfect for exhibiting at shows, and it became well known among Escort aficionados. Current owner, Dorset-based Barry Connolly, an Escort enthusiast and collector, bought it in June 2017 from a dealer, Appreciating Classics of Norfolk, and is delighted with the car, which complements the 4-door Sahara Beige Mk1 Escort XL he also owns. The car has still covered less than 43,000 miles, remains in excellent condition and is totally original except, thankfully, for some new tyres. Engine:1298cc 4IL OHV Power:72bhp@6000rpm Torque:68lb.ft@4000rpm 0-60mph: 13.1seconds Max Speed: 94mph 2-door 1300Es produced: 6,768 Ford Motors Company Trademarks and Trade Dress used under license to Hornby Hobbies. Manufactured by Hornby Hobbies Ltd.

Most Escort Mk1 RS2000s were produced at Ford’s Advanced Vehicle Operations plant in the UK but some were built at Saarlouis, Germany, for the European market. The example modelled is one such car and was ordered from Ford dealers Hans Kohlhoff, Mannheim, Ludwigshafen, Germany by Hans-Werner Winkler in early 1974. He specified various Group 1 motor sport tuning additions, including a rear-mounted roll cage, and used the car for road rallies. During an event in the early eighties the gearbox failed and locked solid so the propshaft was removed to allow the car to roll freely and it was towed to a local farmer’s barn where, amazingly, it would remain until 2015. The original owner offered it for sale in July 2015 and, on seeing this remarkably original and corrosion free car advertised on the internet, Nottinghamshire-based Ford Escort specialists Montescort snapped it up and collected it from Germany within days. Midlands-based Escort enthusiast Phil Dunbar bought the car and commissioned Montescort to carry out a detailed restoration. Although the car was fitted with new front wings and resprayed in its original colour scheme, the strip-down and subsequent rebuild confirmed how well it had survived in storage. This immaculate, finished car was exhibited at the NEC classic car show in November 2019 and shortly afterwards Phil part exchanged it for an older fast Ford with William Gibson of Ford specialist EFD Restos.

Ford Escort Mk2 1.3 Ghia Jade Green Ford purchased Italian coachbuilders Carrozzeria Ghia SpA in 1970. Initially Ghia worked on future Ford designs and concept cars but in the early seventies the Ghia name was transformed into the company’s most luxurious trim level on both European and American Fords. The Escort Mk2 Ghia featured more sumptuous cloth upholstery, wooden trim on the dashboard, distinctive square headlights, bright side mouldings, a Ghia crest on the lower part of the front wings and a vinyl roof. The majority of Ghias built were 4-doors, so 2-door examples are now rare because many of the small number produced have been converted for motor sport use

Another iconic Ford Escort for your Vanguards collection, but this Mk2 1300 Sport model is in a stunning shade of Jupiter Red. Based on a car that is currently undergoing restoration, our die-cast model shows how it will look when complete. If your collection is missing this type of car, you need to add this 1:43 scale version now. This die-cast model is a limited edition of 1,200. History The 1300 Sport modelled here was built at Ford’s plant at Halewood, Merseyside, before being registered on 12th October 1977 by Skelly Ford, Liverpool. They used it as a demonstration car, as it was finished in the attractive but unusual colour combination of Jupiter Red with silver 1300 Sport graphics over black and grey Cadiz fabric interior trim. It was purchased shortly after by local man Keith Echlin for his wife Mary, who called it ‘Betsy’ and enjoyed driving it. When she offered it for sale in a local newspaper in June 1989, it was still in good condition, having covered only 42,000 miles, and was purchased by local 18-year-old Ford enthusiast Charlie Powell. Charlie used the car for almost a year before his Mum damaged the front wing slightly in a supermarket car park, and it ended up in his parents’ garage awaiting work for a new MOT. That never quite happened, however, as other Ford projects and general life took over. On 8th September 2022, Charlie and his son Joe, who was then 15 and has inherited his dad’s passion for Fords, exhumed it to assess its condition. The pair then displayed it, unrestored, in the Barn Finds exhibition at the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show at the Birmingham NEC in March 2024. The father and son team have now started restoring this rare survivor to its original condition and specification.

Although it shared its Kent Crossflow engine with the AVO-built Escort Mk1 Mexico, the 1600 Sport was part of the main Escort Mk2 range and not a member of the more expensive and specialised RS family. It used a lightly uprated and lowered version of the standard Escort Mk2’s suspension rather than the more competition focussed systems offered on the RS models but did feature a GT specification engine with a twin-choke Weber carburettor and high-lift camshaft plus a slick-changing close-ratio gearbox. Each of Britain’s 570 Ford dealerships was issued with an orange 1600 Sport to be displayed prominently on the launch day of the Mk2 Escort range, March 4th, 1975. The Escort Sport modelled was ordered in this unusual colour scheme by Ford dealership Tricentrol Cars, Chelmsford, to serve as the company’s demonstrator. First registered on August 1st, 1979, it clocked up 8,000 miles before being offered for sale in April 1980 priced at £2999. Essex-based Keith Wilkinson noticed it when driving past, part-exchanged his Austin 1300GT for the Escort, and subsequently drove it all over Europe to compete in athletics meetings. It was impacted from behind by a London taxi in 1996 and written off because repair was considered economically unviable. Keith, however, purchased the salvage, had it repaired to factory specification and has since used it as a classic car. This one-owner vehicle has covered 130,000 miles but remains in excellent condition.

The Escort Sport was launched on March 4th 1975 along with the rest of the Mk2 range and was available as a 2 or 4-door saloon, both of which could be specified with an automatic gearbox. It sat above the GL but below the Ghia in the pricing hierarchy and featured: a twin-choke Weber carburettor, high-lift camshaft, distinctive graphics, spotlights, sports wheels and a close-ratio gearbox. Although it rode 12mm lower than standard, it used a modified version of the standard suspension rather than the more specialised components used on the RS models. Power came from the 1.6-litre Kent Crossflow engine that had previously been seen in many Fords, including the Escort Mk1 Mexico. The current owner of the car modelled, Steven Maclean from Aberdeenshire, bought it in 2016 after it had been totally restored by friend, neighbour, and fellow RS Club member Gary Bell in 2009.During this nut and bolt rebuild Gary modified the car extensively but retained the original 'narrow-arch' factory look, its distinctive 1600 Sport graphics, original paint colour and interior. The modifications included fitting a Vauxhall C20XE engine (a very popular transplant in the Escort world), which is fuelled by throttle bodies, a close-ratio Ford type-9 gearbox, Bilstein suspension, uprated brakes and completely new black trim and carpets. The result is a car which looks standard but packs nearly 200bhp and, because the bodyshell is quite light, has fantastic performance. Engine: 1598cc 4IL OHV; Power: 83bhp@5,500rpm; Torque: 92lb.ft@4800rpm; 0-60mph: 11.1 seconds; Maximum speed: 101mph; Weight: 868kgs. Ford Motors Company Trademarks and Trade Dress used under license to Hornby Hobbies. Manufactured by Hornby Hobbies Ltd.

Ford continued to use the Mexico model name on a 1600 version of their highperformance Escort when the Mk2 range was launched, but used a 'Pinto' engine similar to that of the RS2000 rather than the "Kent" unit in the Mk1 Mexico. The genuine factory Mexico modelled was first registered in November 1976 and has had over twenty owners but has been with the Rotherham-based Murphy family since 2003, when it was bought by Mark Murphy for £1000. Although in reasonable condition mechanically it had rusted extensively and required a great deal of welding but was restored with help from older brother John, and father John senior, then returned to the road in 2005. Ford Motor Company Trademarks and Trade Dress used under license to Hornby Hobbies. Manufactured by Hornby Hobbies Ltd.

The Cosworth BDA-powered RS1800 was a homologation special, produced so Escort Mk2s could enter international motorsport. It’s rare because Ford homologated it as an evolution of the similarly powered Mk1-based RS1600. Consequently, only 109 were built, all to order – 106 in white. All were converted to RS1800 specification in a small two-ramp workshop on Ford’s Aveley development site, Essex. The first 20 were based on Halewood-built Sport bodyshells and are easily recognisable by their blue stripes, although at least three also had body-coloured rear spoilers. Later RS1800s were based on Saarlouis-built Mexicos. Ford retained the first two for PR work, but the car modelled is believed to be the first RS1800 sold to a customer. It was registered in Northampton in July 1975, then exported to Malta in 1978 and allocated a new UK registration on return. The current owner, Perthshire-based Gary Wilson, acquired it in 2009 and traced its history with the help of then RSOC RS1800 Registrar, the late Dave Robinson. Dave proved it was the 'missing' first RS1800, which enabled it to be returned to its original registration. Gary spent ten years on a very detailed, complete restoration with expert Neil Arnold at Auto Restoration, Stockton-on-Tees. The finished article debuted at the RSOC’s Knockhill event in September 2021 and is considered the most perfect RS1800 extant. It has since won many trophies, including Concours Car of the Show at the RSOC National Day, 28th August 2022. We’ve only made 1,400 of these limited-edition die-cast Ford Escort Mk2 1:43 scale models. Secure your Vanguards model today!

This exceptional CORGI Vanguards 1:43 scale diecast model captures the iconic Ford Escort Mk2 RS2000 in stunning Carnival Red, making it the perfect addition for any dedicated British classic car collector. Ready to display straight from the box, this premium diecast model faithfully recreates one of the oldest surviving UK-market examples, originally manufactured in Saarlouis, Germany, in December 1975. Every authentic detail has been meticulously rendered to bring this legendary rally-bred icon to life in miniature form. Key Features Ready to display - no assembly required Premium 1:43 scale diecast construction Authentic Carnival Red finish Historically accurate markings and details Detailed reproduction of original Beta Cloth interior History This remarkable RS2000 has a fascinating provenance that spans nearly five decades. First registered on 13th January 1976, it was purchased by Mike Collins, then serving with RAF personnel at RAF Dishforth in North Yorkshire, from Polar Service Garage, a Ford RS dealership in Barnsley. After passing through ten owners, the car found its forever home with renowned North Wales-based Ford enthusiast Aled Hopwood in June 1996. When Aled acquired the RS2000, it had covered 73,000 miles and was in excellent condition. He put the car to spirited use, taking it on several European tours, North Wales Snowdonia Tours, and Lakes Tours. The car's significance was recognised when it was featured extensively in Dan Williamson's authoritative book 'Factory-Original Sporting Mk2 Escorts', with detailed photography by Simon Clay showcased throughout the RS2000 chapter. It also graced the pages of Classic Ford Magazine. In 2021, Aled undertook a meticulous nut-and-bolt restoration to return the car to as-new condition. The underside was restored to its original dove grey paint specification before the entire car received a professional respray, carefully retaining all original panels and the distinctive Beta Cloth interior. The beautifully restored RS2000 made its debut at the 2021 NEC Classic Motor Show, where Aled proudly displayed the fruits of his dedication to preserving this rare piece of Ford RS heritage.

The Mk2 Escort RS2000 built on the success of the Mk1 and followed the same basic recipe, a powerful 2-litre OHC engine in the small lightweight Escort body with RS suspension. The unique nose cone differentiated it visually from all other Escorts and reduced its drag factor from 0.444 to 0.386, while design details, such as the standard Scheel ‘roll-top’ seats and four-spoke RS alloy wheels, helped to make it the most desirable sports saloon of its era. The example modelled was initially purchased from H & J Quicks Ltd, Old Trafford, Manchester by local man Lawrence Ewbank on January 17th, 1978. It cost £3,791.89, including VAT, plus £28.10 for a radio. Mr Ewbank was obviously fond of the car because, in 1991, he spent over £10,000 having it extensively restored by RS Autos, Stockport, and kept it until 2002, by which time it had covered 72,683 miles. The third owner asked D&D Autos, Egham, Surrey, to do some work on the car and this culminated in D&D advertising it for sale in autumn 2014. It was purchased by the fourth and current owner, Nottinghamshire-based fast-Ford enthusiast Mohammad Butt, who was impressed by the basic soundness of the car despite its lack of service records. Two years later, after doing some painstaking research, he was delighted to obtain the car’s detailed service history folder from the third owner’s family and has now commenced the car’s restoration.

This exceptional CORGI Vanguards 1:43 scale diecast model captures the legendary Ford Escort Mk2 RS2000 in rare Tuscan Beige, a striking collectible ready to display straight from the box. Featuring meticulous attention to detail and premium construction, this model recreates one of the most celebrated restored examples in the RS2000 scene. Perfect for Ford enthusiasts and classic car collectors alike, this piece showcases CORGI's commitment to automotive authenticity and craftsmanship. Key Features Ready to display with no assembly required Authentic 1:43 scale diecast construction Rare Tuscan Beige finish with chocolate interior detailing Premium metal construction with painted finish Historically accurate Ford RS2000 markings and details History Ford promoted the 1975 Mk2 incarnation of the Escort RS2000 as their 'Executive Express', elevating the nameplate to new heights. Strong demand kept production running until 1980, with 23,000 examples manufactured during its five-year lifespan. While the RS2000 was available in various striking colours that complemented its sporting character, very few were finished in Tuscan Beige, an unpopular shade offered for just one year from August 1978. This particular example, affectionately nicknamed 'Werthers' due to its distinctive toffee hue, features an even rarer chocolate interior. Originally purchased from racer Vince Woodman's RS dealership, VMW Motors in South Gloucestershire on May 26th, 1979, the car covered 1,818 miles in its first month. By 2004, it had spent 24 years with its second owner, Alan Reynolds, accumulating just 54,000 miles. Buckinghamshire enthusiast Ian Parker acquired the rust-free example in 2004 after an extensive year-long search. His ambitious goal was to create the world's finest restored RS2000 to Ford's 'Group 1' dealer accessory specification. Over two years of painstaking work, he exceeded his aim through phenomenal determination and meticulous attention to detail. The finished car became an icon of the RS2000 scene and a multiple concours winner, widely regarded as the finest restored example in existence. Current owner Aled Hopwood from North Wales purchased this remarkable machine on August 1st, 2022 and continues to showcase its exceptional restoration at events.

As more motorways were built in the 1960s Police traffic patrol cars diverged into two distinct types; large 6-cylinder cars were used to patrol motorways while rapid, powerful but compact cars, often vehicles initially developed for rallying, were used in urban areas. The Escort modelled was supplied by local Ford RS dealers Blakes, one of a second batch of 15, and entered service with Merseyside Police in January 1981 based at Smithdown Lane Police Station. Merseyside had a serious problem with vehicle crime in this era and needed urban patrol cars that could be used in pursuits but also perform more mundane duties successfully. Their fleet of over 25 RS2000s fitted the bill perfectly. Merseyside Police initially used Mk1 Escort Mexicos in this role before replacing them with Mk2 Escort RS2000s and may have been influenced in this choice by local politics as Ford had a plant at Halewood and were a major employer. The example modelled was used for road rallying after being sold by the police in 1983 but since 2015 has been owned by former Humberside Police Traffic Patrol Officer, Graham Carter. He spotted the car for sale on the internet, recognised its number plate and realised its historical significance. It was in reasonably good condition and, unusually, still featured its original steel wheels. Graham spent a year restoring it to its original police specification fitting the correct brown interior and recreating the original livery.

The RS2000 modelled was first registered on May 10th, 1979, in Leicestershire. It was exported to the Isle of Man on April 16th, 1981, and spent 33 years there, although for some of that period it had a hard life as it was modified for road rallying. In November 2014 it was sold to an enthusiast in Ireland who had a collection of fast Fords. He placed it in a classic car auction in Herefordshire in May 2021, and the current owner, Herefordshire-based TV presenter Richard Hammond, won the bidding. Richard’s intention was that it would become a show car for his then fledgeling classic car restoration business, The Smallest Cog. Unsurprisingly given its years as a rally car, Neil Greenhouse and the ‘Cog’ team found it to be in much worse shape than anticipated, especially at the front end, which required a huge amount of Neil’s famously excellent fabrication work. During this process Richard made the curious decision to fit a new tan interior instead of the black the build-plate showed it had been produced with. The finished car was shown at Hampton Court Concours to general acclaim, although the tan interior was considered unwise. When Corgi got in touch, Richard decided the car needed to match the model’s factory specifications. With the help of Ford expert Mark Pinnigar, it has now been restored to its original build specification, including the black interior!

The Escort modelled is one of only two known survivors of the six RS2000s built by Ford’s engineers at Aveley to promote the Series X options available from official Ford Rallye Sport dealers. Photographs of it wearing its original German Cologne-registered number plate, K-HJ 184, appeared in brochures and as posters at the time because it is believed it was the only example to feature the full graphics package. It lived up to its looks, however, with an impressive mechanical specification that included a Group 1 twin-carburettor 145bhp engine, 7.5x13 RS alloy wheels wearing Pirelli CN36 tyres, Bilstein anti-dive suspension, close-ratio Rocket box, limited-slip differential, ventilated disc brakes and a 69-litre, long-range fuel tank. It was used for promotional work in Europe before being sold to a museum in Belgium where it remained until 1991. Although the car has always been left-hand-drive, it was then registered in the UK and offered for sale by well-known historic car dealers Oakfields. It was purchased from them by a London-based Saudi Arabian Prince who kept it as part of a collection of interesting cars but used it sparingly. He sold the car after around twenty years of ownership and, during 2012/2013, the new owner entered this remarkably original survivor in the 'Expert' concours class at Ford RS Owners' Club events. It was the National Day winner in both years and took the overall Gold Cup in 2013.

The Mk2 Escort RS2000 was introduced in January 1976, a year after the main Mk2 range had been launched. Over 23,000 were produced before production ceased at Saarlouis, Germany in 1980. This was a large enough quantity for it to be profitable in its own right, but it also sprinkled some motorsport stardust on the humbler Escorts with which it shared showroom space by successfully competing in Group1 motorsport events for mildly modified cars. Ari Vatanen and Peter Bryant’s win on the 1976 Texaco Tour of Britain is one high-profile example. The Mk2 RS2000 modelled was first sold by Ford RS dealers Hendy Lennox, Southampton, and first registered on September 20th, 1976. The current owner, Kent-based enthusiast Mickey Stewart, purchased it from fellow enthusiast Alan Sherwood in June 2014. It was complete but had been dismantled into a rolling shell for a restoration that had then stalled. Mickey worked with Escort specialists Neil Bonds and Kelly Baverstock at Panelcraft Concours Restoration, Kent, who stripped the car, renewed almost all the panels and completed a Concours quality restoration before respraying it in the original colour. The engine was rebuilt to Ford’s Group 1 specification, including twin Weber 44 IDF carburettors, although most of the rest of the vehicle was built to standard specification. The resulting car received great acclaim in the fast Ford world and took the prestigious RSOC Concours Gold Cup in 2017.

Ford launched the Mk3 Escort range in 1980 and with it a new performance car, the XR3, designed as a more comfortable fast Ford that would also capture the spirit and market of the previous RS cars. The example modelled was built in Saarlouis, Germany, and UK registered on January 19th 1981 by Ford dealer Days of Lowestoft for Mr P.L. Birman of Great Yarmouth. The second owner, Mr A.R. White, bought it from the same dealer in April 1983 and it then went to the Lowestoft-based Durrant family who acquired it in December 1988 and kept it until April 2009 when current owner, Carlisle-based Martin Stothart, bought it and a trailer for £1000. Engine: 1596cc 4IL SOHC CVH; Power: 96bhp@6000rpm; Torque: 91.8 lb.ft@4000rpm; 0-60mph: 9.7 secs; Maximum speed: 113mph Weight: 925kg. Ford Motor Company Trademarks and Trade Dress used under license to Hornby Hobbies. Manufactured by Hornby Hobbies Ltd.

The XR3i model was based at Darlington Police Station from 1983 under the call sign M10D, or more usually 'Mike 10'. It was used by 'Traffic' and was one of two XR3is employed by the Constabulary in this role during that period with the other, A277 BJR, being based at Peterlee; both were later replaced by Astra GTEs. The XR3i was an ideal urban traffic car because it was relatively small and nimble but genuinely fast enough to carry out all the tasks demanded by this role. It was thus a formidable weapon in the fight against car crime although, ironically, XR3is were one of the most commonly stolen cars of that era... The XR3i was used in this role by Merseyside, Durham, Dorset, and Cambridgeshire but other forces adopted hot hatches for similar duties. With impressive grip and vice-free front-wheel-drive handling honed by F1 Champion Jackie Stewart, a 0-60 time of 8.6 seconds and a maximum speed of 116mph, it could keep up with far more exotic cars in any real-world situation. However, it coud still carry the equipment that the job by then demanded and have two passes in the back if needed. The UK police started using small performance saloons in the early 1960s, with the Mini Cooper pioneering this role, although other rally and race-bred saloons quickly followed with the Lotus Cortina, Escort Mexico and Escort RS2000 being popular. Engine: 1597cc 4IL SOHC; Power: 105bhp@6000rpm; Torque: 101lb.ft@4800rpm; 0-60mph: 8.6 seconds; Maximum speed: 116mph; Weight: 2040lbs. Ford Motors Company Trademarks and Trade Dress used under license to Hornby Hobbies. Manufactured by Hornby Hobbies Ltd.

The Mk3 Escort range was launched in the UK on September 3rd, 1980, and the bold new XR3 appeared within weeks. It was designed as Ford’s entry into the keenly fought hot hatch market and was promoted as having been partially developed by three-time F1 World Champion Jackie Stewart. An appealing mix of performance, style and practicality, it offered supreme value for money and was an immediate sales hit. A revised model, the XR3i, appeared in October 1982 and was developed by Ford’s Special Vehicle Engineering department in Essex. It featured Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection in place of the original’s Weber carburettor, stiffer springs and gas-filled Girling dampers which improved the ride and handling. The XR3i modelled was ordered from Ford main dealers RT Rates, Grays, Essex, by local man William Fitzgeorge who specified two extras, a sunroof and tinted windows. It was registered on August 10th, 1983, then serviced regularly by Rates and stored in a dry garage. The first owner kept it for 29 years until it was involved in a small incident in 2012 which damaged the nearside front wing. The lightly damaged car was purchased in November 2012 by Essex-based fast Ford enthusiast Peter Steele who had the damage professionally repaired and returned the car to roadworthy condition in spring 2013. Since then, the car has become well known in the Ford XR Owners Club and been used for classic car events.

The Escort RS Turbo (RST) modelled has now been fully restored by the current owner, Wrexham-based Ted Beckett. He purchased the car in August 2019 but has actually known of it for many years. In 1997 Ted took his close friend Lee Cartwright to view the car which was then for sale in Nantwich. Lee bought it and it quickly became a local hero car in Whitchurch because of its performance, it having been modified by Well Lane Turbos in 1993 and fitted with a larger Escort Cosworth turbocharger, charge cooler, over-bored engine and re-map; achieving 255bhp. It disappeared off the fast Ford scene when Lee, regrettably, had to sell it in 2008. In August 2019 Ted was called by a friend saying he’d been approached by someone in Telford selling an RST. Ted was actually planning to buy a Golf GTI that day but it had fallen through, so he had a trailer and cash. He phoned the vendor, realised immediately it was Lee’s old car and said, ‘I’m on my way’. Unfortunately, nine years in a leaking garage had seen it deteriorate badly and Ted fully admits he’d have walked away had it been any other car. Amazingly, after nine years slumber it started as soon as a battery was connected. Later that day Lee had an emotional reunion with his old car and was pleased to see it return to Wrexham to be restored.