Comments on: 1970 Ford Escort RS1600: the first RS!

By: Lourdes

Lourdes — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 05:12:20 +0000

Hi,do you still have the car? email me at starsofdreams@gmail.com with pictures and your selling price. tq =)

By: 4agze

4agze — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 07:32:17 +0000

dude,email me your details
dazinisme@yahoo.com

By: ford escort owner.

ford escort owner. — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 05:54:00 +0000

i have one of my own….passed down by my parents from my grandparent.
still in good condition..all things works well.how much u affort to buy????

By: ford escort owner.

ford escort owner. — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 05:48:51 +0000

i have one of my own…still in good condition..how much the market value of it???is it worth???

By: ford_ton

ford_ton — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:54:50 +0000

My first affordable car. Bought one in '91 for 6K (MkII though). Somehow it came with modified head, revised gear ratios, 2 snortin Weber DCOE's, no airconditioning, no radio or cassette/8 track player, Minilite replica rims ( MAGWHEEL brand manufactured in Japan), revised brake setup using Toyota master cylinder/ brake booster, Volvo 4 pot front calipers and rotors, rear axle from unknown Toyota model c/w disc brakes; an almost complete setup minus a DOHC BDA engine tough.

Did enjoy the urgent power delivery and its point and squirt driveability. Did a lot of powersliding (that was what drifting used to be called) as the short wheelbase and relatively wide tracks means understeer comes very much later and gradual. Gives lots of Jap cars a run for their money. Did a run to Kluang in under 2 hours( highway is till Pagoh only) and full highway Duta to Ipoh in just 1 hour 15 mins. Drag raced with my friend's chipped pre VTEC Civic and won by a car length in about 600m.

Anyway KENT OHV engine tends to be brittle. Have to keep revs under 4500 RPM and the engine was rebuilt twice in 1993 and 1995. In 1996 the Kent was chucked away and in goes a 2000 PINTO. Managed a run to KULIM in a shade under 2 hours and Kulai to Bangi 1 hr 35 mins.

Sadly the car was stolen in 1997. It's a great loss to me and those time I had while driving the car. Those were the days I overhauled the engine myself to keep cost down and of course to fulfil the need to go out and try everything and lerning the skills. Nowdays just as the age creeps in I prefer to pay someone else to do the job. Laying under the car is no more a lifestyle to me as opposed in those youthful years.

Thank you FORD.

By: oddies

oddies — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 06:57:57 +0000

I bought my second car an Escort Mexico in 1974, servo-assisted braking, 1795cc engine, full harness seatbelts, competition clutch, Allard super charger so much under the bonnet the battery was in the boot. 0 – 60mph 4.86 sec, top speed was 148mph. What a car, had to sell it as wife couldn't drive it or was too frightened of the power. York,UK to Euston Station London 2hours 4 mins 201 miles. Remember in 1974 there a lot less cars on the road as there is now.

By: Will

Will — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 23:46:59 +0000

Looks just like my Escort Twin Cam, the RS1600 predecessor.

By: E@ Bhugeloo

E@ Bhugeloo — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:11:50 +0000

Am In Mauritius, my dad owned a unique type of Ford Escort for thirty years! he won many rallies in his times but due to hard times we had to sell it!

Only the Rally Photos remain ! and its really painful

Cant 4 get that Ford which was a STAR in Mtius!

By: Sharmz

Sharmz — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:39:20 +0000

I don’t think there’s any RS1600 Escort in Malaysia bar a racing unit which is not road legal. The only 1600cc Mk1 Escort in Malaysia I know of is a Mexico model which is a pushrod, not a DOHC. Most Mk1 Escorts here are either 1100s or 1300s.

This model is too expensive to run day-to-day unlike the lesser-spec Escorts. Just over a 1000 units built by Ford..Not many people can afford it back then..

RS Escorts only ever came out in 2-door (or 3-door hatchback in case of Mk3,4,5 models) form so your father’s 4-door Mk1 wasn’t an RS1600. I’m sure of that..

By the way, I have two 2-door Mk1 Escorts and buying another

By: aksMs

aksMs — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:45:00 +0000

Hmm…many here seems to go back down memory lane. Geez… what a car…

But hey, my dad used to own one too. It was the 1st ever car that he owned. But I don’t remember if it’s the RS1600 or not. All that he told me about the car was, he kicked the front tyre once because the bloody engine won’t start in the morning. He had to go off to work on foot. Hoho…

Yeah, I agree with Azrai. There are a lot of these in the northern region with good restored/upgrade jobs done to it. They even put in the Skyline RB20 in it!

By: sooaun

sooaun — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:39:22 +0000

it’s great to see a classic car on your blog!

keep up the good work, thanks for all your updates

By: dr_carz

dr_carz — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 01:07:52 +0000

I DREAM OF OWBING THIS CAR SINCE I WAS HIGH SCHOOL BUT NOT A GOOD UNIT FOUND. SO I JUST PUT OFF THE DREAM AND DREAM FOR A SUZUKI SWIFT AND I BOUGHT A SWIFT IN 2007 AND I DREAM AGAIN TOO BOUGHT A SWIFT SPORT……… THE DREAM GOES ON……….

IN 2008 I GOT MY DREAM! AHAHAHAHHAHAHAAHA GOOD TO DREAM AND TO HAVE WHAT U DREAM!

By: mystvearn

mystvearn — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:55:26 +0000

That is actually faster than some proton cars

By: s60t

s60t — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:17:11 +0000

wow,8.9 sec for the century sprint in a 1970 1.6 liter. Can beat our present day civic 1.8,altis 1.8,lancer GT ,and even a BMW 320.impressive.

By: jolly_idiot

jolly_idiot — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 07:47:46 +0000

Oh gosh. Wat an ancient!

By: mitlanevo

mitlanevo — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 07:46:23 +0000

Ford = tough

this is a good example, its rare to see such a nice old car….

regular maintainence and servicing, then a new paint job and new wheels will make this car happily on the road….

somehow, this car reminds me of my grandpa’s Datsun 120Y, with a special number plate…..

By: Roti Naan

Roti Naan — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:58:25 +0000

Even my father never driving or own this car, I still love this car…hihihihi

By: nad2r17

nad2r17 — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:25:17 +0000

Sory..My father Ford Escort RS1600 4 doors..

By: nad2r17

nad2r17 — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:23:58 +0000

My late father own this car..Exactly this model..1600 RS..I loves this car very much..the plat PQ 7425..My brother learn to drive with this car..He rampped..until today the gate still have the mark from tha bang..my house gate with this car..My neighbour’s daughter born in that car..many memoirs with that car..If I found that car I think I will bought it back..

By: azrai

azrai — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:46:35 +0000

We can still find good and beauty escort in suc a quantity at Kedah today. they did a really great refurbishment work.

By: ob8

ob8 — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:24:10 +0000

my late father use to own an escort (the 4 door wan) but sold it due to the hard times. the car was is superb condition and well maintained. seeing this reminds me of him. i’m very much a fan of this car. hope i can afford one in the future. FIRST EVER road going car with a 16 Valve engine. super cool. i want one