xratedfords.co.uk June 1992 saw the return to the Ford/Cosworth partnership that had produced such stunning performance road cars in the past. Produced for homologation into Group A international rallying, the Ford Escort RS Cosworth 4x4 also breathed life into a Ford showroom lineup that was in danger of becoming stale. It looked aggressive with its massive rear wing and ground-scraping front lip spoiler (both of which became available as a no-cost option dubbed the "Aero Pack"), bumpers, front chin spoiler, side skirts, bonnet vents and blistered wheel arches covering 16" five-spoke alloys. Actually, the Escort RS Cosworth wasn't an Escort at all as it did not share any parts with a standard Ford Escort and the body, built by German coach-builders Karmann, sat on a shortened Sapphire Cosworth 4x4 floorpan! There were three trim levels that an Escort RS Cosworth could be ordered in - "Motorsport", which was a basic version without a sunroof for conversion to a track or rally car, "Standard" which had velour Recaro seats and white instrument dials but was pretty basic in other respects, and "Lux" which was decked out in full leather Recaro trim and had air conditioning, an electric sunroof and electric windows. From 1993 a drivers airbag was fitted as standard and a passenger one was available at extra cost. In 1994 a smaller Garrett T25 turbocharger replaced the T03 unit, which reduced turbo lag and made the car more driveable at the expense of top-end performance. In 1996 the Escort RS Cosworth was dead, having been killed off by European emissions and noise legislation for it would have been too costly for Ford to adapt the car to the tougher limits for such a niche market. In 1994 a limited edition of the Escort RS Cosworth was introduced to celebrate Fords success on the Monte Carlo Rally. This version, which stretched to 200 cars, was called the "Monte" and it differed from the standard Lux specification with alloy wheels and quad headlamps in the style of the rallying Escort. Available in a choice of three colours - Jewel Violet, Mallard Green or Petrol Blue, the body was unchanged besides the addition of small Monte decals on the front wings and inside there was a small plaque on the dashboard specifying the build number and authenticity. Power was provided to all four wheels by the same 2.0 litre DOHC 16 valve engine with Garrett T03 turbocharger as the Sapphire Cosworth 4x4 but mounted longitudinally because of the Sierra floorpan instead of transversely as in all other Mk V Escorts. Maximum power was originally 227 bhp, dropping to 220 bhp with the introduction of a smaller Garrett T25 turbo to aid low and mid-range driveability. The 0-60 mph dash was completed in 5.7 seconds for both models, with a maximum speed of 140 mph with the rear wing, or 144 mph without. All prices courtesy of Parkers Guide, available on-line and in all good newsagents. The Escort RS Cosworth 4x4 in "Motorsport" trim cost £21,379 when new in 1992, today an above-average example from that year would be worth £8915. The Escort RS Cosworth 4x4 in "Standard" trim cost £21,973 when new in 1992, today an above-average example from that year would be worth £9450. The Escort RS Cosworth 4x4 in "Lux" trim cost £23,494 when new in 1992, today an above-average example from that year would be worth £9610. The Escort RS Cosworth 4x4 "Monte" cost £25,270 when new in 1994, today an above-average example from that year would be worth £14,870. Just 2500 of the original T03 turbo models were sold and the T25 versions didn't seem as popular but like the Sierra RS Cosworth it has achieved cult status on the streets of Britain. Most owners opted for the free optional "Aero Pack" but most cars have had their front lip spoilers removed to aid ground clearance, either by choice or by contact with the proliferation of speed humps that have sprung up in town centres everywhere... Still quite new, Escort RS Cosworths are relatively expensive and hold their value as demand is high because of their cult status among enthusiasts, their rarity and general acceptance as a future classic car. As with all Cosworths, it's a magnet to thieves so security alarms, immobilisers and tracking devices are essential in addition to the standard Vecta alarm and immobiliser fitted at the factory. Due to the type of car it is, insurance premiums are very steep with a Group 20 rating, the highest group classed by the Association of British Insurers. The car must be run on Super Unleaded (98 octane) petrol which may be difficult to find depending on where you live in the United Kingdom. A history check by HPI will reveal whether the car has ever been reported as stolen, been an insurance write-off, has finance owing or had its registration number changed. The best cars are usually owned by enthusiasts such as members of the RS Owners Club, you could contact them to see if there are any members cars for sale. You may also want to check magazines such as AutoTrader, which is available on-line and in all good newsagents.