Following the All White limited edition and built to celebrate 100,000 Cabs, the All Blue is now a sought after rarity.



Escort Cabriolet, now here's a reason to celebrate. Stylish, sexy in a rock-hard sort of way, fairly nippy and full of fresh air. It always was the working bloke's convertible and it was always brilliant. So brilliant that when Karmann built the 10O,OOOth, Ford commissioned the 'All Blue'



We went mad for it in 1990 and 10 years later the prospect for any committed Fast Forder of getting their mitts on a used 'All Blue' makes life worth living. Let's recap. Ford asked Karmann to do the conversion, but being Karmann they didn't simply hacksaw the tin top off. Special Vehicle Engineering at Dunton told them where to add the reinforcements. Starting with the longer Estate platform, extra ironmongery was added beneath the floorpan, around the rear shock absorber mounts with bracing to all the crossmembers plus a substantial roll hoop.



The double-skinned hood topped it off and featured a useful glass rear window which didn’t make too much of a hump when it was folded down. It was a bit podgy at 106 1b heavier than the standard XR3i but convertibles are not all about speed, and by 1990 the injected CVH was turning in 108 bhp with Ford's EEC-IV injection and management system.



The Cabriolet always lent itself to the special edition syndrome which began with the legendary All White Cabriolet in December 1985, which was, of course, all white, plus driving lights, grey cloth upholstery and radio cassette.



The best came last though. In September 1990 to celebrate production of 100,000 Escort Cabriolets, the All Blue came with Pacifica Blue metallic finish, blue power hood, leather upholstery and RS Turbo alloys.



Just 600 made it to the UK and they're sought after today. Can you believe they cost over 16 grand when they were new?

not sure how many got sold in the European market?