As automotive journalists at BakuWheels, few stories ignite the kind of passion that a true legend returning from the dead does — and the Ford Escort Mk1 RS revival by Boreham Motorsport is exactly that kind of story. This is not a factory reboot, not a heritage edition, and certainly not a marketing exercise. This is a ground-up, hand-built resurrection of one of motorsport's most beloved nameplates, priced at a breathtaking £354,000.
The Return of a Rally Legend
The Ford Escort has long held a sacred place in the hearts of rally fans and road car enthusiasts alike. The original Mk1 RS variants — homologated for competition in the late 1960s and early 1970s — became the backbone of Ford's motorsport identity, winning countless events across European rally stages. Now, Boreham Motorsport, the revived name closely tied to Ford's legendary Boreham facility in Essex, has breathed new life into this icon with a completely reimagined build that respects the original's spirit while pushing engineering to modern extremes.
A Lightweight, Purpose-Built Machine
What Boreham has created is nothing short of spectacular. The new Escort RS is constructed entirely from scratch — every panel, every component, every weld point engineered with obsessive attention to detail. The body is built to be featherlight, employing advanced lightweight materials that keep the overall weight dramatically lower than anything the original 1970s car could have achieved with the technology of the era.
The silhouette remains unmistakably Escort Mk1 — those crisp, angular lines, the compact two-door shell, and the purposeful stance that defined an entire generation of competition machines. Yet look closer, and every surface has been refined, every curve optimised for aerodynamic performance while preserving the classic aesthetic that makes this car instantly recognisable.
The Heart of the Beast: 10,000 RPM
Perhaps the most extraordinary element of this Boreham Escort RS revival is what sits beneath the bonnet. The car is powered by a naturally aspirated engine engineered to rev all the way to an astonishing 10,000 RPM. In an era dominated by turbocharged, electrified, and increasingly silenced powertrains, this is a deliberate, defiant roar against the mainstream — a pure, mechanical scream that connects driver to machine in a way no hybrid system ever could.
The high-revving naturally aspirated unit is not just a headline figure; it represents an entire philosophy of engineering. To achieve 10,000 RPM reliability requires precision-machined internals, lightweight reciprocating components, advanced valve timing, and a level of craftsmanship that justifies every penny of the £354,000 asking price. The induction note alone, reportedly rising to a shrieking crescendo as the needle sweeps toward the redline, is said to be an event in itself.
Boreham Motorsport: The Heritage and the Vision
The name Boreham carries enormous weight in Ford's motorsport history. The Boreham facility in Essex was Ford's dedicated motorsport headquarters from the 1970s through to the early 2000s, overseeing the development of legendary rally cars including various Ford Escort RS variants, the RS200, and the Focus WRC programme. The revival of the Boreham name attached to this project is therefore deeply symbolic — it signals not just a new car, but a reconnection with Ford's most competitive and emotionally charged motorsport chapter.
The team behind this new Escort RS has approached the project as true craftsmen rather than volume manufacturers. Each car is essentially a unique commission, hand-assembled by specialists who understand that what they are building is not merely a vehicle — it is a piece of living automotive history.
The Interior: Driver-Focused Minimalism
Step inside and you are greeted by an interior that prioritises the driver above all else. True to the spirit of the original RS competition cars, the cabin eschews unnecessary luxury in favour of focused, purposeful design. Lightweight bucket seats, a stripped-back dashboard presenting only the essential information the driver needs, and a driving position optimised for control all communicate that this car exists for one reason and one reason only: to drive.
The Price and Exclusivity
At £354,000, the Boreham Escort RS is unashamedly positioned in the rarified air of collector-grade, hand-built specials. This is not a car for the mass market — it was never designed to be. It is a machine for those who understand the provenance of the nameplate, who appreciate the engineering artistry required to build a 10,000 RPM naturally aspirated engine from scratch, and who want to own something that is simultaneously a tribute to motorsport history and a genuinely thrilling modern performance machine.
Production numbers are expected to remain extremely limited, ensuring that each Boreham Escort RS retains the exclusivity befitting its heritage and its price point. In the current collector car market, where provenance-rich, low-volume specials command extraordinary premiums, the Boreham Escort RS is strategically positioned as both a driver's car and a long-term investment.
BakuWheels Verdict
The Ford Escort Mk1 RS revival by Boreham Motorsport is the kind of project that reminds us why we fell in love with cars in the first place. It is analogue, visceral, and uncompromising — a 10,000 RPM battle cry from a team that refuses to let one of motorsport's greatest nameplates fade quietly into history. Yes, £354,000 is a substantial sum. But for what Boreham has created here — a lightweight, ground-up, naturally aspirated masterpiece wearing the silhouette of one of rally's greatest icons — it may well represent extraordinary value for those fortunate enough to secure one.
This is automotive passion distilled into metal, rubber, and petrol. And at BakuWheels, we salute every revolution of that 10,000 RPM engine.
