Ford MK1 and MK2 Escort.....Classic Cars??

[bmcoopers]

I just thought id ask people what they thought of the mk2 and mk1 escort and ask peoples perceptions of them. I currently have mk2 escort and my dad has a mk1 grp4 rs1600. But what im going to ask is do you class them as classic? I do feel they are but then again these cars are over 30 years old and yet still wipe the floor with new versions,ok with a bit of uprating needed. whats your thoughts?

[MATT427]

they were hugely successful rallying which puts them in the history books, and there still wanted, and used today so yeah i'd class them as classics

[patmahe]

I would certainly regard them as classics, never driven one but I'd imagine they are a hoot. Use extensively here in Ireland for rallying still.

[Muzzer]

Cast iron classics.

I'd give my right ball for a mint MK1 Escort Mexico...

[patmahe]

Muzzer said:

Cast iron classics.

I'd give my right ball for a mint MK1 Escort Mexico...

Thats funny I'd give your right ball too

[aeropilot]

bmcoopers said:

I just thought id ask people what they thought of the mk2 and mk1 escort and ask peoples perceptions of them. I currently have mk2 escort and my dad has a mk1 grp4 rs1600. But what im going to ask is do you class them as classic?

Definately classic status, but I'm biased as I've had 3 x RS2000's, 1 x Mexico and a Twin Cam. Oh how I wish I had kept the Twink

And strictly speaking, for a RS1600 it should be Group 2 not Group 4.

[DBSV8]

Muzzer said:

Cast iron classics.

I'd give my right ball for a mint MK1 Escort Mexico...

here you go


oh ...............you can keep both balls !!

[Jessop]

Very close friend of the family who lives down the road has a concours mk1 mexico.. actually won a trophy (#1 original concours) at an RS meet the other month..

Might ask him if he fancies a ride out sometime soon in the mex..


Im sorry, i shall stop now..
(it is rather gorgeous though!!)

[52classic]

Even a MK1 1100L is a classic in my book, let alone a Mexico or an RS. Definately iconic. MK2 perhaps less so but I would say still on the right side of the line.

[Mark A S]

Yes, very much so, Fabtastic cars.

[a8hex]

52classic said:

Even a MK1 1100L is a classic in my book, let alone a Mexico or an RS. Definately iconic. MK2 perhaps less so but I would say still on the right side of the line.

So long as you don't want to classify the Mk3 Escort as a classic.

There is a school of thought (which I don't subscribe too) which feels that a car has to be exotic to one day qualify as a classic. Well there were certainly exotic Escorts and I don't think that there is any sane way to argue that if a RS is classic that an 1100 isn't.

[bmcoopers]

well that got more comments than i thought it would,so thanks

[//j17]

Classics, yes - if rather over-priced at the moment.

[Travis Mcgee]

52classic said:

So long as you don't want to classify the Mk3 Escort as a classic.

well.......The RS Turbo, probably could be considered. But, this brings us full circle to the " what constitutes a classic?" question again. Personally, i think you have more chance of proving there is/isnt a God than answering this one.

[300bhp/ton]

Travis Mcgee said:

52classic said:

So long as you don't want to classify the Mk3 Escort as a classic.

well.......The RS Turbo, probably could be considered. But, this brings us full circle to the " what constitutes a classic?" question again. Personally, i think you have more chance of proving there is/isnt a God than answering this one.

I think a MkIII would be more of a modern classic. Its not really old enough yet. That said, how often do you see a MKIII on the road these days?

XR3 would be my pick over the way over hyped RS IMO.

[aeropilot]

Travis Mcgee said:

52classic said:

So long as you don't want to classify the Mk3 Escort as a classic.

well.......The RS Turbo, probably could be considered.

Not a fan of the Mk3 and later cars at all, but, I would say that, yes, in the case of the original RST, as well as the often forgotten RS1600i before it, that they probably deserve 'classic' status.
After all there can't be too many original unmolested examples of either of these left now, and they are, after all, 25 years old now, and the original AVO Escorts were considered 'classic' by the time they were only 10 years old.

[52classic]

No, I can't think of the MK3 as a classic just at the moment but those days are not too far off. Likewise the early Sierra.

Spotted a mint MK3 on the road recently and I was surprised how dated but very stylish it looked. A near base model in grey with the steel pepperpots. I would be proud to display something loke that in a local show anythime.

Compare the clean lines of the MK3 with the tail end of the Escort line!

[RedexR]

I'd have to say yes , they are classics but not AS classic as the sixties Fords (and those before)that people generally remember with more affection , their suitability for rallying has guaranteed their place in historic motorsport and the price of ANY 2 door Escort has gone through the roof in recent years , I think the number of them that seem to get modified with different engines/transmissions is a reflection that the people that own them don't seem to put a great value on their originality and are more concerned with owning something that is fast and part of a street cult for want of a better expression.

Edited by RedexR on Thursday 27th August 18:52

[Travis Mcgee]

52classic said:

Likewise the early Sierra.

Its funny you should mention that, i remember looking at one way back in 1983, and thinking, "how the hell will that ever be classed as a classic?" but i suppose these days, the first of the XR4i's the XR4x4 etc , not to mention the Cosworths, will probably will become a classics

[80quattro]

Definite classic: