Suffice it to say, the Ford Escort Mk1 RS is undoubtedly one of the most legendary racing and rally cars ever built. It’s really easy to see that even today, there’s still so much love for it, with the plethora of restomods and perfectly kept classic examples zipping around. It’s way more impressive when you consider that there are also companies here in the UK that are building brand-new, from-the-ground-up Mk1 Escorts, with proper licensing from Ford, too! One such endeavour comes courtesy of the folks at Boreham Motorworks, with their new Ford Escort Mk1 RS ‘Continumod’, blending the DNA of the original, with some modern engineering bits.
Moreover, because it’s basically a new car built from scratch, you won’t need to sacrifice one old Escort RS as a donor car. Granted, it’s not cheap to make a bespoke restomod like this, as each one comes with an eye-watering starting price of £295,000! Still, at least they throw in a 2-year, 20,000-mile warranty with it, so that takes off a bit of the sting. We may not even have to wait that long before we see a Boreham Motorworks Continumod Escort RS on the road, as production is slated to begin in Q3 2025, with a public debut sometime in summer 2025. You might want to get your wallet ready now, though, as only 150 units will ever be made.
Bringing An Old Rally Legend Back To Life
Inside and out, while the Continumod is a modern-day restomod, it’s nice to see that the folks over at Boreham Motorworks haven’t bastardised it. In more ways than one, I quite like that this is a very respectful and loving homage to the original! Once you pop open the bonnet, you will find two different engine options. As standard, you get a twin-cam, 1,845cc engine that’ll easily put out 185PS. This is probably the ideal powertrain for those of you who want to keep that heritage vibe and feel. Plus, for extra immersion, this engine is matched to a historically accurate 4-speed synchromesh straight-cut gearbox, which will take some getting used to.
Optionally, you could also spec your new-old Ford Escort Mk1 RS Continumod with a racing-derived engine. Specifically, you’re looking at a 2.1-litre high-revving engine, with its 10,000 RPM redline, and cranking out a very impressive 300PS. To get all that power, it’s fitted with forged steel conrods, a billet crankshaft, an electronic throttle control system, and advanced fuel injection. For better performance and a raspier sound, it’ll also be paired with a bespoke titanium racing exhaust. Another upgrade that you’ll get is with that transmission, now a 5-speed unit, and it’s also a dog-leg manual, which should be pretty fun to drive with.
An Analogue Experience In A Digital World
I’d reckon you could properly chuck the Escort Mk1 RS Continumod around too, given that it has a superbly lightweight 800kg kerb weight. On that note, while they are a relatively small outfit, Boreham Motorworks is able to achieve OEM-level quality thanks to their extensive use of CAD when designing the Continumod. Furthermore, each Continumod example will be built using modern jigs and fixtures, in addition to using a reinforced steel body. By default, it will have some structural improvements, made better by adopting some carbon fibre components on panels such as the bonnet. Oh, and you’ll also find titanium and aluminium bits, too.
Besides the reduced weight and enhanced rigidity, you’ll be able to enjoy the Escort Mk1 RS, brought back to life, with improved suspension. In particular, you get MacPherson front struts, alongside a bespoke, fully floating aluminium and titanium rear axle. Another good change-up is the inclusion of a limited-slip ATB differential and coil-over dampers, as well as a way bigger set of brakes. To be precise, it’s 260mm vented discs in the front and 264mm solid discs in the rear. Even the interior gets a noticeable update, mixing the Escort Mk1 RS’s classic looks with some modern amenities, such as Alcantara, in addition to proper A/C and a working heater.