A Legendary Ford Is Officially Hitting the Road Again After More than 50 Years

If good things really do come to those who wait, Boreham Motorworks’ latest announcement is sure to be a reward of patience.

Following the debut of its Escort Mk1 RS revival back in 2024, the outfit has now finally revealed the first production-spec prototype.

Boreham Motorworks

Beyond representing a new chapter in Boreham’s own project, it makes for an interesting development in the story of this legendary Ford. It means that, for the first time in over 50 years, the closest thing to a new Escort Mk1 RS will soon be hitting the road.

Ford’s Escort rally legend lives on

That’s because this particular car is of some truly unique stock. Though it’s the spitting image of the Blue Oval’s rally icon, and it exists with an official FoMoCo blessing, it’s not a Singer-like restomod or even a continuation.

Boreham Motorworks

Instead, it splits the difference as something Boreham calls a ‘continumod.’ The concept represents a ground-up reimagination of the Escort Mk1 RS, re-engineered to today’s standards.

Accordingly, beneath that retro body (which includes a carbon hood and trunk), you’ll find a completely bespoke chassis. Boreham has shifted the front wheels to match the wheelbase of the 1960s Alan Mann Racing cars and kept the factory MacPherson struts.

Other components like coil springs, dampers and subframe are all custom. Moreover, Boreham designed its own fully floating rear axle setup that cuts unsprung mass by 50 percent.

Boreham Motorworks

Even still, impactful as the platform promises to be from a handling perspective, the engine is the true crown jewel of the RS continumod. In addition to a standard twin-cam 1.8-liter option, Boreham has also crafted a specimen known as the Ten-K.

It’s an apt name, because the naturally aspirated 2.1-liter four-banger is rated to an ear-splitting 10,000-rpm redline. As if that wasn’t enough, Boreham also says that power is even higher than predicted, some 330 horsepower instead of 300.

The sum of painstaking refinement

Thankfully, then, the refinements don’t stop there, as Boreham is targeting a svelte curb weight of less than 2,000 pounds. Around the rest of the Escort Mk1 RS reimagination, you’ll find plenty of other thoughtful 21st-century considerations.

Boreham Motorworks

For instance, stopping power comes courtesy of a pair of 300mm vented rotors mated to four-piston calipers up front and some 260mm rotors and two-piston calipers at the rear.

What’s more, Boreham has completely overhauled the electrical architecture. Beyond redesigning wiring harnesses, this meant incorporating intelligent Power Distribution Modules to support the new LED lighting, switchgear and instrumentation.

Rounded out by some bespoke seat and steering wheel designs, a host of different interior finish choices (in this case, more carbon fiber) and some eye-catching options like twin Breitling rally chronographs, the result is something truly special.

Boreham Motorworks

Simultaneously old-school and classic yet also cutting-edge and performance-optimized, Boreham’s Ford Escort Mk1 RS stands apart unto its own.

Availability and pricing

As you’d likely expect of such a painstaking effort, the Boreham Motorworks Ford Escort Mk1 RS is an exclusive affair. Pricing starts from $400,000, while production will be limited to 150 examples globally.

Boreham Motorworks

Boreham Motorworks Ford Escort Mk1 RS

• Starts at $400,000

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