When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Good morning all, my name is Andy from Lincolnshire and this is my first post on Passion Ford!
I am fortunate enough to have in my possession a 1989 Escort RS Turbo. The car has only travelled 21k miles since new and the car hasn't been on the road since 1991! Needless to say, whilst it's not nut and bolt concours, it's a bit of a museum piece.
The car is going to get a sympathetic re-commissioning and will be re-sold on but I would really appreciate help on the specification of the car. It's a January 1989 build, but if I'm correct has some facelift model features, such as the front bumper, rear spoiler and seats. Can anyone help with the cross-over point for face lift models or was it a question of the Ford parts bin getting raided as and when suited?
The car has some period mods too such as the exhaust and the de-locking although the original locks did come with the car.
Current plans will be to fit the missing radio, ashtray and replace front and side indicators with amber units. Then a service including cam belt, perhaps replace the K&N and give the car a full detail.
An MOT will be performed but kept off the system - so the new owner can have some peace of mind but so as not to break the current virgin history of the car (it's never had an MOT!) Other than that, it's a question of what 'should' be put back to standard (when what's standard is known) but I have to say that the car doesn't feel at all wrong the way it is.
Anyway, sorry for all the waffle - thanks in advance and here's a few more photos for your viewing pleasure! lol
Looks to have 90 spec bumper, spoiler and interior.
Crossover pipe is old spec.
Gap between nearside wing and bonnet looks? wrong
Other than that can't say much, looks lovely.
Shame about the delocked doors though, all very well till it packs up and you can't get in
Lovely looking car. If I was selling that car with those low miles, I would try to fit all the original parts if available. Shame that the doors was delocked. I would also fit the front spot lights.
Yes correct, the bonnet was popped, so not closed properly!
Thanks for all the feedback so far, I wasn't really sure on the seat trim but had seen a few 89s with the same as this one.
Really undecided if to put everything back to standard. I do have the bumper and spoiler sourced if I want them - possibly the spots too. Would need to find a standard exhaust (Scorpion system currently fitted) and a standard airbox.
Then it would be 'just' the delocking to sort, to see if it can be put back smartly.
I took it for a spin up the yard today - it doesn't half feel nice!!
Rear tail gate transfer is of 90 spec, also trip computer not fitted on an F 89....
The cross over pipe is correct, there were early 90 spec and later 90 spec.
The very late 91' H and J plate had the crossover pipe with wider brackets, same as Fiesta RS Turbo, they also had a much wider screenwash cap (oval not round)
tbh in my opinion it doesn't look like a 21,000 miler, engine bay is shabby, it's been de-locked, different bumpers, spoiler so it's had a lot of paint.
Clear front indicators, side repeaters, K&N filter, stainless exhaust all mods
Car looks like 80,000 miles at least, sorry to be negative
Ref the mileage, I don't see you as negative, it's an opinion! If you saw the car in the flesh and underneath you'd see it's not an 80k mile car and nowhere close to being. It's not been used for many years and as such has a nice film of grime over the engine bay.
There's no question it would have had paint - the doors would have been painted when it was de-locked. The spoiler and bumper would have been painted too.
It would be nice to have a stamped service book up until it came off the road in 1991, but sadly there's not. Who knows why ? Maybe it was lost, maybe it was a company car - we'll never no. The lack of history is a shame - but equally having never been MOTd it wont have a history in that way.
Any potential buyer will have to take it on face value of what it is - and the condition it is in.
Thanks again for the feedback - I think if the locks can be reinstated nicely then there's good argument to put everything back to standard.
Welcome along mate, good to see you over on the dark side at last
I don't know how you found that car but I'll be over next week hopefully for a look. Not many times you get a genuine low mileage car that hasn't seen the light of day for 24 odd years. (And isn't rusted through as many are)
Rear tail gate transfer is of 90 spec, also trip computer not fitted on an F 89....
The cross over pipe is correct, there were early 90 spec and later 90 spec.
The very late 91' H and J plate had the crossover pipe with wider brackets, same as Fiesta RS Turbo, they also had a much wider screenwash cap (oval not round)
tbh in my opinion it doesn't look like a 21,000 miler, engine bay is shabby, it's been de-locked, different bumpers, spoiler so it's had a lot of paint.
Clear front indicators, side repeaters, K&N filter, stainless exhaust all mods
Car looks like 80,000 miles at least, sorry to be negative
Could it not just have had a new decal..how many j do you no that's out there ..not many...ma g plate has the newer washer bottle also...many f and g plate were mixed and matched seems they used wot ever they found in the parts bin lol
Could it not just have had a new decal..how many j do you no that's out there ..not many...ma g plate has the newer washer bottle also...many f and g plate were mixed and matched seems they used wot ever they found in the parts bin lol
Yes someone has changed it as its all 90 spec it's an 89 F so I'd say most off the build stamps will be 88' so trim is wrong also.
If its unmolested it'll have plenty build stamps and most prople will check obvious things first like wheels.
My current car is registered 91 J but there's parts on stamped 90 and 89.
It's just me, but at 21,000 miles would have to still be something special and with no history you have to take the car on face value and in my eyes it's not a £10k car.
I apologise if I sound negative I'm only being honest
how has the car done 21k and never had an mot? not sure how you can mot the car yet 'keep it off the system'?
Originally Posted by YC2014
..a 1989 Escort RS Turbo. The car has only travelled 21k miles since new and the car hasn't been on the road since 1991!
It was taken off the road before it needed an MOT, hence the low mileage that was all done before it needed an MOT. It's not been on the road since then. Simples.
Looks good, But that seat fitted on the drivers side isn't correct. someone has removed the drivers Recaro and fitted a passenger one in its place.
The header tank has the early red cap fitted, should be a yellow one as per Fords 'easy to find' scheme the dipstick, washer cap, oil filler cap, Header tank cap. Finally the Dizzy heatshield is missing too.
Agree with that, But if he's wanting to refit the 80s spoiler he has to weld the bootlid and skim some filler over the weld.... That'll be to much hassle just for a spoiler.
I was wondering when you would get on here Andy! How are you keeping?
Regarding your car I have owned an "89" Spec XR3i (if there is such a thing!) and my dad owned a crossover car as well. From what I can tell from the pair of those cars:
The rear decal is correct
Front bumper and rear spoiler are wrong but as you say you can source these parts.
Bar the above details both of XRs in our family matched that car.
Now matter how you look at the car it is very clean. As for the seats, maybe large person owned it? I am not the largest of people and I will struggle to get into my RST. It is a small wonder than the bolsters etc. are shot on most of them.
If the proof is there of it all being a cosher 21k car then I would be tempted to take it back to standard .
I need to come up to see you one of these days and also get mine back out on the road!
Yes someone has changed it as its all 90 spec it's an 89 F so I'd say most off the build stamps will be 88' so trim is wrong also.
If its unmolested it'll have plenty build stamps and most prople will check obvious things first like wheels.
My current car is registered 91 J but there's parts on stamped 90 and 89.
It's just me, but at 21,000 miles would have to still be something special and with no history you have to take the car on face value and in my eyes it's not a £10k car.
I apologise if I sound negative I'm only being honest
Fair dos..not many j plates out there..wot colour m8
It was taken off the road before it needed an MOT, hence the low mileage that was all done before it needed an MOT. It's not been on the road since then. Simples.
What he said . These days it would even be that hard to trace the history for the car from a computer point of view for the last 5 years anyway....
Welcome along mate, good to see you over on the dark side at last
I don't know how you found that car but I'll be over next week hopefully for a look. Not many times you get a genuine low mileage car that hasn't seen the light of day for 24 odd years. (And isn't rusted through as many are)
how has the car done 21k and never had an mot? not sure how you can mot the car yet 'keep it off the system'?
The first part of your question has been answered I think, ref the second part - My MOT tester will conduct all the checks of an MOT and write it out by hand on the old paperwork but not register it on the computer system.
Therefore, the car will not possess an MOT, but will have had all of the checks purely to show the next owner the status of the car inline with an MOT - i.e. pass/fail and any advisories, plus emissions.
Looks good, But that seat fitted on the drivers side isn't correct. someone has removed the drivers Recaro and fitted a passenger one in its place.
The header tank has the early red cap fitted, should be a yellow one as per Fords 'easy to find' scheme the dipstick, washer cap, oil filler cap, Header tank cap. Finally the Dizzy heatshield is missing too.
Can you elaborate on that please Mark? Everything on the driver's seat appears to be handed correctly. What are you seeing different to what you think should be there??
I was wondering when you would get on here Andy! How are you keeping?
Regarding your car I have owned an "89" Spec XR3i (if there is such a thing!) and my dad owned a crossover car as well. From what I can tell from the pair of those cars:
The rear decal is correct
Front bumper and rear spoiler are wrong but as you say you can source these parts.
Bar the above details both of XRs in our family matched that car.
Now matter how you look at the car it is very clean. As for the seats, maybe large person owned it? I am not the largest of people and I will struggle to get into my RST. It is a small wonder than the bolsters etc. are shot on most of them.
If the proof is there of it all being a cosher 21k car then I would be tempted to take it back to standard .
I need to come up to see you one of these days and also get mine back out on the road!
Hi Chas - hope to catch up again soon - good to see you at the 944 meet
I hold my head in shame....the car looks a turd and not worth a phone call over £3k
(Ill edit this in the morning
Really no
Dig
But hate to see people ripped off)
I appreciate that everyone is entitled to their opinions and I wont be adding you to my potential buyer list any time soon - but I do take exception to the accusations!
I take pride in what I do, I have not suggested that this car is anything that it is not. I came on here in good faith looking for opinion on the originality of the car and before posting up on here paid for membership as I feel it's only right to put something back in before you take out.
If you feel the car is worthless that's your opinion but please don't accuse me of attempting to rip people off. You know nothing about me and you are judging this car having not seen it and only a few average photos taken on a mobile phone of a car that hasn't yet been cleaned or detailed.
Please feel free to comment on the specification - your feedback on that is valued - but your slurs on my character are not!
Apologies again.... I did edit before it was posted.
There is no way you can pass this as a 21,000 miler without any history...
I could say mine is 13,000 miler without history. Surely a car like what your describing has
SOME history? A single tax disc. A single mot, a single
Receipt for any of the more bought. It all doesn't add up....
Nobody uses an RS T for 2 years, does the mods then park it up after 3 years and fit the current kit, spoilers, trim, bumpers then it doesn't turn a wheel?
Last edited by Cossy Mike; 31-03-2015 at 05:22 AM.
I get what you're saying - and I'm certainly not guaranteeing the mileage as I can't. I was very sceptical about the car but having seen it in the flesh and poking around it I'm comfortable with it. Any potential buyer has to take it for what it is.
The car was last taxed in 1991 and never MOTd - why you'd do that I've no idea so we'll only be guessing, but then why are any cars out there not driven from a few years old.
Hi as per your reply to me(quote) the drivers seat adjuster is located next to the handbrake, as per the passengers one.
Originally Posted by YC2014
So therefore the seat fitted on the drivers side is the passengers seat. These seats wear badly, in higher mileage cars people bin the seats with worn side bolsters, and fit passenger seats instead.
Both of my RS turbos have passengers seat fitted, not a huge problem as its better than an ugly worn Recaro.
Hopefully my link will show you a picture, Its of both seats clearly showing the correct location of the adjusters
28-03-2015, 09:35 AM
21k Mile, 1989 Escort RS Turbo
..wot colour m8
