The late Eighties and early Nineties were a golden era for hot hatches. Riding on the crest of a wave was the Escort RS Turbo. The pin-up poster car for a generation, the darling of the cruise, and one of the most modified fast Fords of its era, the RS Turbo has now outgrown its loutish image as the scourge of the seafront and has become a bona fide classic, attracting the attention of enthusiasts and wealthy investors. Like so many fast Fords from the Eighties and Nineties, many RS Turbos are being returned to factory specification and stuck in the corner of barns, waiting to be ‘found’ before cashing in.
But does that mean the days of modifying the RS Turbo are over? Not a chance. The game may have moved on and the time for fitting Rattlesnake bodykits and Lambo doors has well and truly passed, but the RS Turbo is still ripe for some well-placed upgrades. And just as it always has, the old Mk4 Escort can be tweaked to deliver enough power and prowess to scare not just modern hot hatches but the latest performance cars too.
So, get off that internet valuation site, and get out in the garage to create something truly awesome.
INTERIOR
It all feels a bit 1980s inside the RS Turbo. While that has a classic retro charm, it can also start to feel a bit dated. A simple stereo upgrade with Bluetooth connectivity is an easy way to get connected and means you no longer need to listen to that cassette on a loop. Stick the factory
