1990 Ford Escort RS Turbo

Finished in Radiant Red with a Zolda grey cloth interior, ‘H774 URB’ benefits from a nigh-on £5,000 investment in May of this year following eight years in storage.

The work is detailed later in the advert but the work was done “with a light touch”; it’s been in the vendor's care for the past 13 years and he understands the importance of originality better than most.

The seller describes it as “a genuine and totally standard example. Very low mileage, very well looked after, always garaged, never abused or messed around with. One of the best in the country.”

Previously used purely as a show car by the current owner, it’s won many trophies including a Gold Cup and a concours competition. It was meant to be his ‘forever car’ but family life has to take precedence now, so his beloved RS Turbo is (very reluctantly) for sale.

The seller describes the paintwork as “amazing”.

We thought that might be hyperbole but, having crawled over it, he’s pretty much spot-on. Incredibly, the panels are all original and only the bumpers and side skirts have been resprayed leaving the rest factory original.

As you can see, they all align nicely and the colour, which is Radiant Red (code XSC2251), suits its 1990s lines to perfection. The rear wing is in great shape too, as is the front spoiler and twin spotlights; no-one’s ever going to mistake this for a 1.3L, are they?

The light lenses are also bright and unblemished, every single badge is as it should be, the glazing is excellent and etched with the Escort’s registration number, and the bonnet louvres are nice and straight. Nothing here rings any alarm bells whatsoever.

Of course, the 6J x 15” alloy wheels aren’t only correct and unblemished, they’re also fitted with matching Toyo Proxes tyres.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

The Zolda grey cloth interior (code LW) is in the same amazing condition as everything else. Unmarked and undamaged, it’s a testament not only to Ford but to the curation it’s received over the years.

The Recaro seats are still firm and supportive. Offering the sort of lateral restraint you’d expect to find in a car with a sporting pedigree like this, they adjust and fold and latch as they should.

The rear seat and door cards are trimmed in a matching fabric and their condition is every bit as good as the front seats.

It’s the same story with the headlining, carpets, dashboard, instruments and controls. All are impeccably presented. Even the sliding cover for the manual glass sunroof is in place, intact, and working.

The boot is excellent with a very good parcel shelf and a matching spare alloy wheel. It’s all in an excellent condition with only the lightest of marks on the painted back of the rear seats and rubbing marks both sides of the hatchback shut.

An aftermarket immobiliser is fitted along with a Kenwood headunit. The latter doesn’t work but the original stereo is supplied should you want to change it.

Speaking of work to do, the seat material has loosened just a touch, so you may want to see if your trimmer could tighten them up just a little. It’s not at all bad and will only be an issue if you’re planning on showing the car.

Ditto the door pulls, which are a little scuffed and scratched. Very much in the Nice To Do category rather than anything more serious, they only stand out because everything else is so good.

The £4,777 work that Upton Garage of Shepton Mallet completed in May 2023 involved:

• A full service
• Having the underside treated and clear-sealed
• Fitting new OEM dampers and springs
• Fitting new OEM brake caliper plus new discs and pads and wheel bearings
• Having the swing arms, anti-roll bars, driveshafts, brake drums, and the suspension and brake-related parts sandblasted and resprayed
• Respraying the oil sump and fuel tank

This work was carried out to ‘future proof’ the car and to give peace of mind to the car’s new owner.

The exhaust isn’t the original – it’s even better. The previous owner had it made from stainless-steel to the same design as the original, so it not only looks right but should last for many years yet.

As you can see, it fires right up and idles and revs perfectly. Mind you, that’s hardly a surprise as the most recent MoT, which was carried out in May of this year, was issued without any advisories. Obviously.

The car has not been used since.

Cosmetically, there is some light surface rust on the odd component under the bonnet and underneath the car, so you could spend the winter sorting that out.

NB: A box of assorted new and genuine Ford parts is available. These include engine bay caps, a radiator reservoir bottle and a load of other miscellaneous engine bay clips and bits plus a set of new ancillary hoses. These are available by separate negotiation.

After a five-year absence, the Escort’s latest MoT certificate was gained without any advisories. It’s also valid until May 2024

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear and the Escort comes with two keys, a V5 in the seller’s name, and that recent invoice.

This is an unrepeatable opportunity to get your hands on an unrestored, totally original Ford Escort RS Turbo that need nothing other than some very minor fettling over the winter to get it ready for next year’s show season.

Offered in an incredible condition, we estimate it’ll fetch somewhere between £25,000 and £30,000, which is a hefty sum for sure but then the very best cars always command a premium and this is right up there with the very best.

We’ve never seen one like it and we suspect you haven’t too, so if you’re in the market for a museum-quality, investment-grade example of the ultimate 1990s Ford hot hatchback you know what to do.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.