Ford Escort RS 2000 4x4

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The Mk5 Escort RS2000 was launched in 1991 and was built as a worthy successor to the legendary MkI and MkII Escorts of the 1970s.

Sharing the same bodyshell as the standard car, the RS2000 got uprated brakes and suspension, a Recaro sports interior and a beefed up 5-speed gearbox adapted from the one used in the rear-wheel drive Fords.

Power came from a fuel-injected 2-litre DOHC 16-valve engine that produced 150bhp and could launch the car to 60mph in a sure-footed 8.3 seconds and top 133mph. The Mk6 version came out in 1995 with a stiffer body shell, improved suspension mounts plus various minor styling tweaks and it ran until 1996 when the RS2000 was discontinued after some 6,500 examples had been sold. It was the last Ford to carry the RS tag until the arrival of the Focus RS in 2005 and was offered with Ford's excellent 4x4 system as a separate model, selling in very modest numbers.

According to the DVLA, just six Ford Escort RS2000 4x4s were taxed for the road last year, making this example rare in the extreme. We are advised by the vendor that it runs well and has a smart interior, wearing its 129,000 miles very well. The alloy wheels and tyres are described as good and it has been fitted with a £275 Magnex performance exhaust. The history file holds 14 old MOTs and there are 10 service stamps in the book, the current MOT expiring in April 2015.

With so few examples left, this interesting and capable car looks particularly good value at the suggested guide price. Fast Fords have always had a loyal following and there is no reason to suspect that given time, the slightly unfashionable Mk6 Escort shouldn’t become the one to have, especially when offered in this interesting RS spec, 4x4 configuration.