A 1992 Ford Escort RS Cosworth that’s been cherished in a ‘renowned’ private collection for the last 30 years has just set a new world record, selling for an eye-watering £202,500.
The rare nineties boy racer, developed in Borehamwood, Essex, by Ford’s Special Vehicle Operations division, has clocked a mere 2,221 miles from new with only two previous keepers.
And the latter reportedly stored it in the living room of his home for years.
Following what auctioneers described as a ‘frenzied bidding war’ between two parties vying for the keys at the weekend, the price rapidly escalated and soon eclipsed the previous record for one of these rare motors by almost £40,000. That’s almost double what they cost new in 1992.
An ‘unrepeatable car’: This 1992 Ford Escort RS Cosworth Lux – one of 2,500 ‘homologation specials’ – has obliterated the previous world record price for one of these vehicles sold at auction
The former highest figure paid at auction for an Escort RS Cosworth was achieved last year.
That example had just 76 miles from new and snapped up for £163,125.
Iconic Auctioneers – which sold a wealth of Fast Ford motors from this era at its Iconic Sale at the NEC in Birmingham – says the £202,500 winning bid is testament to this ‘unrepeatable car’.
The rally-influenced Escort RS Cosworth was considered the king of the boy racers in its day and was famous for both its huge wing and immense power.
Two collectors reportedly went head-to-head at a Birmingham auction, which sent to the price sky rocketing before the hammer dropped at £202,500. The previous record was £163,125, achieved just last year
The rare nineties boy racer, developed in Borehamwood, Essex, by Ford’s Special Vehicle Operations division, has clocked a mere 2,221 miles from new with only two previous keepers. And the latter reportedly stored it in the living room of their home for years
The odometer’s reading of just 2,221 miles at the time of sale is supported by the car’s first two MOT certificates from 1995 and 1996 showing 2,217 and 2,218 miles respectively. It means it has barely turned a wheel in 30 years
Now, the Escort Cosworth is a fully-fledged modern classic and collector’s item – and the two previous owners’ decision to forgo driving this one and wrap it in cotton wool instead has been celebrated with an astonishing price paid by the winner of the auction lot.
Auctioneers says this car is ‘unlikely to be matched in terms of its originality and ‘as new’ condition for some time to come’.
Gary Dunne, sales manager at Iconic Auctioneers – who consigned the car – told This is Money: ‘Rarely do you get a car such as this Escort RS Cosworth Lux with such low mileage and such low ownership. This makes it highly desirable.
‘Combine that with the rise in popularity of collecting these retro ’90s Fords and we were not at all surprised to see the fierce bidding for this car.
‘All you need is two people that really want it and that’s what makes it a new live auction world record.’
What makes this early Escort RS Cosworth special?
While it might have looked like any normal Escort of the generation – albeit one with a body kit and huge ‘Whale Tail’ rear wing – the Cosworth was an entirely different beast – especially registration ‘K11 RSE’ finished in factory ‘Diamond White’.
There were just 7,145 examples of the Escort Cossie built between 1992 and 1996 – most of which were heavily used, modified and driven hard… often to total destruction.
However, the first batch of road cars – including K11 RSE – are the ones collectors really want to get their hands on today.
That’s because they are the ‘homologation specials’; the 2,500 street-legal vehicles required to conform to Group A rally regulations.
These 2,500 Escorts are fondly known as the ‘big-turbo cars’, pointing to their Garret hybrid turbocharger and air/water intercooler.
All homologation cars included the water injection system under the rear passenger seat; however, this was non-functioning and was in place solely to demonstrate water injection capability for the Group A regulations for 1993.
They each officially put out 224 horsepower, all of which is sent to all four wheels to deliver incredible handling on all road surfaces and a top speed of 150mph.
These 2,500 Escorts are fondly known as the ‘big-turbo cars’, pointing to their Garret hybrid turbocharger and air/water intercooler
The car was meticulously prepared ahead of the sale. It barely looks used inside and out
This particular example is a stunning, UK-supplied, right-hand drive car finished in highly desirable Lux – or Luxury – specification. This was the range-topping trim, which included full leather interior, Recaro bucket racing seats and an electric sunroof
Instead of being based on the family-friendly model it shared its name with at the time, the Escort Cosworth was underpinned by a shortened version of the Sierra RS Cosworth.
This particular example is a stunning, UK-supplied, right-hand drive car finished in highly desirable Lux – or Luxury – specification.
This was the range-topping trim, which included full leather interior, Recaro bucket racing seats, an electric sunroof, electric heated mirrors, heated windscreen, heated washer jets, leather steering wheel, electric windows and carpeted door bins.
The Lux was slightly pricier than the standard spec, retailing at around £1,000 more than the £21,380 standard car when new just over three decades ago.
‘It has been a cherished part of the significant collection from which it is offered and having been acquired almost 30 years ago,’ Dunne added.
‘The car has been cosseted by both its first keeper, from whom it was purchased with just over 2,000 miles indicated, and our late vendor who, it would appear, has added minimal mileage in the intervening years.’
And calling its usage ‘minimal’ is very appropriate.
The 1980s boy racer was produced in limited numbers. Just 7,145 examples of the Escort Cossie were built between 1992 and 1996 – most of which were heavily used, modified and driven hard… often to total destruction
While it might have looked like any normal Escort of the generation – albeit one with a body kit and huge ‘Whale Tail’ rear wing – the Cosworth was an entirely different beast – especially registration ‘K11 RSE’ finished in factory ‘Diamond White’
The seller opted to take advantage of the current sky-high values for Fast Fords of this generation, especially given the car had seen very little use in three decades
The odometer’s reading of just 2,221 miles at the time of sale is supported by the car’s first two MOT certificates from 1995 and 1996 showing 2,217 and 2,218 miles respectively.
It means it has barely turned a wheel in 30 years.
In fact, Iconic Auctioneers said it had been part of the family living room in the vendor’s home in its most recent years.
The seller opted to take advantage of today’s sky-high values for Fast Fords of this generation, especially given the car had seen very little use in three decades.
Providing just how quickly a bidding battle can send a particular car’s price soaring in the auction room, a similar (though non-homologation special) 1995 Escort RS Cosworth Lux – finished in rare ‘Ford Aubergine’ paint – sold for just £70,875. That’s despite also having relatively low mileage of just 28,873 miles from new.
This later example of the Escort RS Cosworth – finished in ‘Ford Aubergine’ paint – sold for £70,875. While that’s more than three times its original value, it is a shade of what the earlier ‘homologation’ car went for
A flurry of high-value Fast Ford sales in Birmingham
Rob Hubbard, managing director at Iconic Auctioneers, said the company is building a distinction for selling record-busting collector cars with the blue-oval badge on the bonnet – something it continued this weekend with a number of Fast Fords changing hands for remarkable figures.
‘Since selling the late Lady Diana Ford Escort in 2022 and subsequent record breaking Fords we have developed somewhat of a reputation for being the auction house to sell unique Fords.’
This weekend saw it find new keepers for a pair of ultra-rare RS200 rally cars from the late-eighties period, with a 1987 car with just 8,877 miles making £236,250, while a ‘collector quality’ original competition example with only 1,798 miles sold for £247,500.
‘Including the two RS200’s we sold this weekend, we have sold a total of 10 RS200’s more than any other auction house, so we really are the ‘go to’ auction house if you have a special Ford you are looking to sell,’ Hubbard said.
It was a busy weekend for Iconic Auctioneers at Fast Fords at the Iconic Sale at the NEC in Birmingham at the weekend. This 1987 RS200 rally-bred road car – with just 8,877 miles clocked – made £236,250
A second RS200 – this one a ‘collector quality’ original competition example with only 1,798 miles – also sold for £247,500
The auction house also tallied another world record; the £84,375 paid for a 2,882-mile 1990 Ford Sierra Sapphire Cosworth Rouse Sport 304-R.
And a second Sapphire Cosworth – an earlier 1989 example and one of just three finished in ‘Ford Radiant Red’ paint – sold for £69,000 with only 31,754 miles on the clock.
The auction house also tallied another world record; the £84,375 paid for this 1990 Ford Sierra Sapphire Cosworth Rouse Sport 304-R with under 3,000 miles
A second Sapphire Cosworth – an earlier 1989 example and one of just three finished in ‘Ford Radiant Red’ paint – also sold for £69,000
A pair of high-value Sierra RS Cosworths also made six-figure sums.
The first is a 1987 RS500 Cosworth road car that is number 12 of the 500 produced. It was also an ex-Ford promotional vehicle and one ran by the Benetton F1 team before passing through a handful of enthusiast owners.
With 47,000 miles and a massive history file, it sold for £109,125.
A pair of high-value Sierra RS Cosworths also made six-figure sums. The first is this 1987 RS500 Cosworth road car (number 12 of the 500), which sold for £109,125
This ex-British Touring Car Championship Sierra RS500 Cosworth also sold for a massive £309,395 – but it was still nothing on the record figure paid for one of these motors last year
The second is one of the most iconic Touring Cars from the Sierra’s heyday – the Labatt’s sponsored British Touring Car entry from 1990 driven by Tim Harvey. It sold for £309,395.
While both were remarkable prices paid, they paled in comparison to the record amount paid for one of these cars, which occurred last year when a 5,000-mile example sold for a barely-believable £596,250.
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