Ford Escort
From the original Mk1 to the squared-off Mk2, the Escort is one of Britain's most rewarding project cars — huge production numbers mean parts and specialist support remain excellent, whether you're after a standard saloon or a genuine RS performance variant. Browse genuine Escort projects below, filtered by generation, condition, and budget.
Ford Escort
The Ford Escort is one of the most important British cars of the 20th century, produced across six generations from 1968 to 2004, and a genuinely rewarding project car whatever era you're drawn to — huge production numbers throughout its run mean parts, specialist knowledge, and club support are still excellent decades on. Ford introduced the rear-wheel-drive Mk1 in the UK at the end of 1967, replacing the Anglia, with production starting at Halewood on Merseyside; by June 1974, Ford announced the two-millionth Escort built, a milestone no other Ford model outside the USA had reached at that point. The squarer Mk2 followed in January 1975, continuing the same rear-wheel-drive platform until 1980. The Mk3 arrived in September 1980 as a completely new design — front-wheel-drive, hatchback-bodied, and voted European Car of the Year in 1981 — followed by the facelifted Mk4 in 1986. The Mk5 (1990) and Mk6 (1995) continued the front-wheel-drive platform until the Escort name was retired in 1998 in favour of the Focus, with the last cars built at Halewood in July 2000. Across all six generations, the Escort was frequently Britain's best-selling car through the 1980s and 90s, with more than 4.1 million sold in the UK over 33 years. Escorts on the project market span the full range — Mk1/Mk2 barn finds and RS variants, Mk3/Mk4 hot hatches like the XR3i and RS Turbo, and later Mk5/Mk6 performance models including the RS2000 4x4 and Escort Cosworth. TheRestohub lists all of these — so you can filter by generation, variant, and budget.
What to Look for in an Escort Project
Rust is the primary concern on any Mk1 or Mk2 Escort, particularly the sills, floor pans, rear spring hangers, and — on the Mk1 — the MacPherson strut top mountings, inner wings, and scuttle. The transverse leaf spring hangers are a well-known weak point and worth checking with a screwdriver before anything else. Standard Kent and Pinto engines are simple, well understood, and any competent mechanic can work on them, making a basic Escort one of the most accessible classics to maintain. Performance variants need extra scrutiny: genuine RS1600, RS1800, Mexico, and Twin Cam cars are increasingly faked given the price premium they command, so always request a Heritage Certificate and cross-check the VIN and commission number before agreeing a price on any car presented as a genuine performance model. The RS1600's Cosworth-developed BDA engine and the Twin Cam's Lotus-derived unit are both more complex and expensive to source parts for than the standard Kent or Pinto engines, so factor that into any project involving these variants.
Escort Restoration Costs: What to Budget
Restoration costs vary hugely depending on variant and starting condition. A standard Mk1 or Mk2 saloon rolling shell needing a full rebuild can be relatively affordable given how widely available reproduction body panels and mechanical parts are — the sheer volume of Escorts built means parts supply remains strong even for basic models. Performance variants sit in a different bracket entirely: genuine Mk1 project cars start from around £10,000, with runners from roughly £15,000 and decent examples from £25,000, while top RS1600s can command up to and above £50,000 in concours condition. The RS Mexico and RS2000 sit in a more accessible middle ground, with average cars typically between £7,500 and £13,500. Vehicles of this age also qualify for free historic vehicle road tax, a genuine ongoing saving. For a detailed cost breakdown by project stage, see our full Cost to Restore a Project Car guide.
Restoration Costs
Escort Mk1 To The Mk6: Which Generation Should You Restore?
The Mk1 (1968–1974) is the most historically significant and sought-after, with a genuine rally pedigree — Ford's works team was practically unbeatable in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and the Mk1 remains one of the most successful rally cars of all time. The Mk2 (1975–1980), developed under the codename "Brenda," shares the Mk1's rear-wheel-drive platform but with sharper, squared-off styling, and carried the same range of RS, Mexico, and RS2000 performance variants through to the end of rear-wheel-drive Escort production. The Mk3 (1980–1986) was a complete break from its predecessors — front-wheel-drive, hatchback-bodied, and voted European Car of the Year in 1981 — and introduced the XR3, later gaining fuel injection as the XR3i and, in 1984, the turbocharged RS Turbo. The Mk4 (1986–1990) was a facelift of the Mk3 platform with a revised interior and a new 1.4-litre CVH engine, continuing the same hot-hatch variants. The Mk5 (1990–1995) brought an all-new bodyshell and, in 1992, the Escort RS Cosworth — a homologation special built on Sierra Sapphire Cosworth mechanicals with four-wheel drive and a distinctive "whale-tail" spoiler, now a genuine modern classic in its own right. The Mk6 (1995–2000), the final generation, received a heavy facelift and interior overhaul but was phased out as the Focus took over in 1998. If you want the most historically significant classic with the strongest motorsport pedigree, the Mk1 or Mk2 is the place to start; if you want an affordable 80s hot hatch project, the Mk3/Mk4 XR3i is a great entry point; if you want a genuine performance icon, the Mk5 Escort Cosworth is the one to chase, though it commands collector prices accordingly.
Selling Your Escort Project
If you've got an Escort project you're ready to move on from — whether it's a stalled restoration, a shell that's been waiting for the right owner, or a running car you no longer have time for — theRestohub is built specifically for cars like this. No listing fees, and buyers understand what a "project" actually means, whether that's a standard saloon or a genuine RS variant. See our full Selling Guide for tips on photographing and describing a project car honestly.
Selling Your Car