Each of the 150 brand-new Mk1 Escort RS models will feature a continuation serial number (Image: Boreham Motorworks)
50 years after production originally ceased, the Mk1 Ford Escort RS has returned thanks to Boreham Motorworks, with the British company poised to build 150 brand-new examples.
Built in partnership with Ford Motor Company, each of these 150 cars is a ground-up build with no donor vehicle required, and as such will feature continuation chassis numbers.
Dubbed a ‘Continumod’, the thinking behind these new Escort RS models was to build them with “blueprint-accurate, period-sympathetic” proportions, but with some modern upgrades to blend “the timeless spirit of classic cars with modern engineering, design, and advanced manufacturing”.
The vehicle’s all-steel body features additional bracing and widened arches, although the company targets a weight of just 800kg overall (Image: Boreham Motorworks)
In this sense, it’s similar but different to other ground-up new builds of classic vehicles such as the Bentley Continuation Series or the bespoke SS Jaguar 100 by Finch we looked at recently, along with the sort of restomods such as those made by Boreham’s sister company Evoluto which require an original car as a donor vehicle.
Available in both left- and right-hand drive configurations, two engine options are on offer. The more authentic of the two is the iconic Twin Cam engine which has been increased to 1845cc thanks to a longer stroke, giving it 136kW (185PS) and a peaky 9000rpm redline. It comes paired with a four-speed ‘Ford bullet’ manual gearbox with straight-cut gears.
The interior features a number of minor modern upgrades including a small CarPlay head unit (Image: Boreham Motorworks)
Customers can also opt for a rowdy motorsport-derived 2.1-litre engine that delivers 221kW (300PS) and revs to a nutty 10,000rpm. Backed by a dog-leg five-speed ‘box, this will make the most of the Escort’s upgraded four-piston calipers and vented disc brakes up front, along with its wider 15×7-inch front and 15×8-inch rear staggered wheels.
Do also keep in mind that the target weight specified for these vehicles is a mere 800kg, so the immense power-to-weight ratio means those power figures are somewhat deceptive at first glance.
The design has been re-engineered in CAD and is authentic to the proportions of the original (Image: Boreham Motorworks)
In terms of design, the exterior is true to the original in terms of shape, while Boreham has “stripp[ed] away any unnecessary ornamentation to leave only what is essential”. In addition to the bespoke wheels mentioned before, updated lighting designs also feature to incorporate modern technology.
Production is poised to commence in Q3 of 2025, with the order books already open for those with the cash to splash. It’ll cost a fair bit more than the original ever did, with each of the 150 examples priced from £295,000 (A$587,000 at the time of writing). Mind you, at least there’s a two-year/20,000-mile warranty thrown in with that.
