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Your classic: Ford Escort RS 1600i

Features
 | 13 May 2026
Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Ford Escort RS 1600i

I have been interested in cars since a very young age – I recall helping my dad fix his old Mk1 Ford Escorts back in the day.

Dad was a driving instructor, so cars were a big part of growing up.

At the age of 16 I bought my first car: a white (and brown with rust) Mk1 Escort estate.

Since then, I’ve had many Fords, including a 1300E Escort, two Mk2 RS 2000s, a few rough Mk2s with Pintos in them, a Fiesta Supersport, Mk3 XR3i, three Escort RS Turbos, a Capri 2.8i, a Fiesta RS Turbo and a Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth.

Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Ford Escort RS 1600i

The Ford Escort RS 1600i’s cabin transports Grant McKelvie back to the 1980s, when his friend owned one

After a few years with a Lancia Delta HF Integrale, some Subarus and a Nissan Pulsar GTI-R, I’m back to Ford with this 1983 Escort RS 1600i. I also have a Toyota GR Yaris, which gets used daily.

I bought this Escort in 2018 from Ford specialist The Car Cave in Midlothian.

I have liked these cars since the mid-’80s, when a friend had one while I had my Mk3 XR3i. We all loved his car because it was the ultimate hot hatch back then, and was considered a very quick machine.

But fast-forward a few decades and it feels terribly slow compared with the Yaris.

Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Ford Escort RS 1600i

The Ford Escort RS 1600i’s twin-coil set-up has since been updated

My Escort is very original and has not been restored – it still has all its factory panels in original Caspian Blue.

It was running on twin coils when I bought it, but these have since been upgraded to a distributor and a single coil for reliability.

I still have all the original components, though, including the Koni dampers.

It doesn’t have a sunroof, electric windows or opening quarterlights, which makes it quite a rarity in the RS world.

The mileage is just 60,000, and it has a full service history.

Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Ford Escort RS 1600i

The Ford Escort RS 1600i’s history file includes photographs going back to when it was purchased from dealership Johnsons in the 1980s

I have spoken to most of the previous owners – I’ve even found photos of it when it was nearly new in the 1980s.

When I first got the car, the handling and brakes weren’t up to scratch, so I fitted Bilstein shock absorbers at the front and Gaz adjustables at the rear, along with 25mm-lower Spax springs and Toyo R888R tyres.

There are Wilwood four-pot calipers up front now, with bigger discs, and 12mm spacers so I can use the standard wheels with the larger brakes.

Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Ford Escort RS 1600i

This Ford Escort RS 1600i is highly original, but its owner isn’t afraid to use it

I like to get to as many car shows as I can because the Escort gets so much attention, and any time it is parked up I hear a lot of interesting stories from people who had one in period.

It was registered in June 1983 by Rhands & Sons in Lincolnshire, and we believe it was the firm’s demonstrator for a while.

It has been immortalised as a 1:43 Corgi model, using my registration, in a set of four called the Ultimate Ford Escort RS Collection.

Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Ford Escort RS 1600i

The Ford Escort RS 1600i looks resplendent with original bodywork and paint

Currently it’s tucked up in my heated garage while the interior is away for a retrim in the original cloth to bring it up to scratch again.

I’ve sourced a pair of new-old-stock headlights, too.

I only covered around 200 miles in it last year, so it doesn’t get used a huge amount – but it really takes me back every time I drive it.

Want to star in our ‘Your classic’ section of the magazine and online? Get in touch

Factfile

  • Owned by Grant McKelvie
  • First classic Ford Escort Mk1
  • Dream classic Ford RS 200

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