Ford Escort RS and RS Cosworth: Books - History

Ford Escort RS & Mexico (1970-1979) - Brooklands Portfolio

Brooklands Portfolio book about the Ford Escort RS and Mexico models from the years 1970-1979. Describes the Ford Escort Mark I and II Mexico, RS1600, RS1800 and RS2000.

• The 40 articles, taken from contemporary British and American car magazines, provide much information about history, model changes and technology.
• Also driving impressions, tests, comparison tests, technical specifications, etc.

▶  More information on the Brooklands Portfolio books

Factory-Original Ford RS Cosworths - The originality guide to the Ford Sierra, Sapphire & Escort RS Cosworths

The launch of the Sierra RS Cosworth in 1985 was a giant step forward for Ford. Initially developed for competition homologation, it was soon one of the most desirable fast cars that the public could buy. Its performance, at the time, was truly astonishing and remains highly impressive today.

It was also the first of a family of turbocharged sporting Ford Cosworth models, ranging through the Sierra RS Cosworth, Sierra RS500 Cosworth, the Sapphire RS Cosworth, the Rouse Sport RS Cosworth, the Escort RS Cosworth and the Escort RS Cosworth Monte Carlo.

All these cars are doubly desirable today, and owners and potential owners anxious to establish the cars' correct original factory specifications and equipment will find all the information they need here in this book, backed up by hundreds of specially commissioned colour photographs of outstanding examples.

All aspects are covered: body panels, external trim and badging, paint colours, interior trim, dashboard, instruments and switches, underbonnet components, engine and transmission, lamps, and all other features right down to the tool kit.

Of particular interest is the detailed information provided on components developed for and unique to the RS Cosworths as against the standard Ford models, and on the parts borrowed or adapted from a variety of Ford models to create the perfect recipe.

Written by classic Ford expert Dan Williamson, author of Factory-Original Sporting MkI Escorts and Factory-Original Sporting Mk2 Escorts, and featuring around 400 colour shots, this is essential reading for Cosworth owners, prospective owners and enthusiasts

Ford Escort RS1800 (Rally Giants)

The Ford Escort RS1800 (Escort MkII) is considered a Rally Giant because it was consistently the fastest, most successful and most versatile car in the second half of the 1970s.
Developed from the MkI, it was a conventional front engine/rear drive machine, which rallied with 2-litre engines of up to 270bhp. Rally successes were legendary - British (RAC), Safari, Acropolis, Finland (1000 Lakes), Sweden, Portugal, Canada, and many more.

The cars won 17 World Rallies between 1975 and 1981, as well as the World Makes Championship in 1979. They were always close to victory, and always competitive. Escort drivers like Bjorn Waldegard (1979) and Ari Vatanen (1981) won the World Drivers' Championships.

Over the years hundreds - and this is no exaggeration - of RS1800s were built for motorsport, and were the ideal car for almost any condition in the world because they were very powerful, but simple and rugged.

Models covered: Ford Escort RS1800 and Escort RS - 'works' and 'works'-blessed types, 1975-1981. This book covers 1975 to 1981 inclusive, all derivatives of the BD-engined 16-valve Escort MkII

Models not covered: Not lower-powered derivatives such as RS Mexico or RS2000.

Works Escorts in Detail - Ford's rear-wheel-drive competition Escorts, car by car

Between 1968 and 1981 the Ford Escort became the most successful family of rally cars in the world. The first specialised Escort, a Twin Cam, won its first major International Rally in April 1968, and its last in mid-1981. During that period Escorts won the World Rally Championship on three occasions, and their drivers won the Drivers' Championship twice.
The Ford-UK factory and its closest associates built no fewer than 113 works or ‘works-blessed' Mk I rally cars of all types between 1968 and 1974, and went on to build 55 Mk II cars between 1975 and 1981.

In this book the distinguished rally co-driver, team manager and dedicated historian Graham Robson provides individual coverage of every one of these cars, itemising their careers, their triumphs and their occasional misfortunes. Build details, competition histories, drivers, development, specification changes and colour schemes are provided for almost every single car, no matter how many or how few competitive outings it had.
Every individual car is illustrated in its principal liveries using contemporary photographs, and several of the more important cars, which survive to this day, have been specially photographed for this book to enable enthusiasts to study them in great detail.

Ford Escort RS Cosworth & World Rally Car (Rally Giants)

The Escort RS Cosworth, which started rallying in 1993, was one of the most ingenious designs of all time. What started as a shortened Sierra Cosworth 4x4 platform, topped off by a modified Escort cabin and outer skins, was soon developed into a versatile and sophisticated rally car, and eventually became Ford's most successful since the legendary Escorts of the 1970s.
Because it was smaller, lighter, and more nimble than any of the Sierras, the combination of Cosworth power, four-wheel-drive transmission, and an effective aerodynamic package made it a Rally Giant in all conditions.

With five World victories in its first season, and success all round the world in later years, it was seen in every continent, in all conditions. Drivers like Carlos Sainz, Tommi Makinen and Francois Delecour added their own stardust to a glittering reputation. To meet a change in regulations, the Escort World Rally Car took over in 1997, and also enjoyed years of success.

Until the all-new Focus WRC was launched in 1999, this generation of Escorts was the most effective rally car that Ford had ever produced. This book tells the whole story, and is part of the series "Rally Giants" many of which have recently been reprinted by Veloce, due to popular demand.