Makes › Ford › Escort › Escort RS1600i · Factory competition · 1981–1983 Limited Production
Ford
Escort RS1600i
Group A homologation Escort Mk3, built in Germany.
Photo: Kieran White from Manchester, England · CC BY 2.0
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- 8,659 Built
- Years
- 1981–1983
- Engine
- Transverse inline-four, single overhead camshaft, two valves per cylinder (CVH) · 1,597 cc / 1.6 LFactory: 1,597 cc
- Power
- 85.8 kW / 117 PSFactory: 115 hp · converted
- Top speed
- 192 km/hFactory: 119 mph · converted
- Body
- Not yet verified
- Designer
- Not yet verified
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- Not yet verified
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
The Escort RS1600i was a Group A homologation special based on the front-wheel-drive Mk3 Escort, created mainly so racing teams could make performance modifications. It proved popular enough that Ford sold over 50 percent more than were needed for acceptance in Group A.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
Photos
Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.
Ford Escort RS1600i (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Kieran White from Manchester, England · CC BY 2.0
Ford Escort RS1600i (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Kieran White from Manchester, England · CC BY 2.0
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02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
| What is counted | Figure | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total model productionRS1600i built, 2600 for the UK | 8,6591,2 | Factory production | Factory reported |
Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.
History
Production of the RS1600i began in September 1981, a year after the Mk3 Escort was launched. It had uprated suspension, a tuned engine and a revised aero pack. In sporting terms it achieved relatively little, apart from the cars Richard Longman prepared for the British Touring Car Championship, and Ford quickly developed the turbocharged RS Turbo to replace it.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard Escort RS1600i.
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Ford CVH1 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| Engine code | LUAE1 Independently researched |
| Layout | Transverse inline-four, single overhead camshaft, two valves per cylinder (CVH)1 Independently researchedSource describes the Mk3 CVH engine in general; the RS1600i used a tuned version. |
| Displacement | 1,597 cc / 1.6 LFactory: 1,597 cc3 Registry reported |
| Bore | 79.9 mmFactory: 79.9 mm1 Independently researched |
| Stroke | 79.5 mmFactory: 79.5 mm1 Independently researched |
| Compression ratio | 9.9:11 Independently researched |
| Valvetrain | SOHC, two valves per cylinder1 Independently researched |
| Fuel system | Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection1 Independently researched |
| Power | 85.8 kW / 117 PSFactory: 115 hp · converted1,3 Independently researchedSource states bhp. |
| Power at | 6,000 rpm1 Independently researched |
| Torque | 145 NmFactory: 107 lb-ft · converted1 Independently researched |
| Torque at | 5,250 rpm1 Independently researched |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Gears | 51 Independently researched |
| Final drive | fifth gear 0.83:11 Independently researchedOnly the fifth-gear ratio is stated, not the final drive. |
| Driven wheels | Front1 Independently researched |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | MacPherson struts, thicker anti-roll bar, TCA tie rods, aluminium crossmember (adjustable castor)1 Independently researched |
| Rear suspension | Not yet verified |
| Brakes | 240 mm ventilated front discs; 180 mm rear drums1 Independently researched |
| Steering | Not yet verified |
| Body construction | Not yet verified |
| Wheelbase | 2,393 mmFactory: 2,393 mm1 Independently researched |
| Length | Not yet verified |
| Width | Not yet verified |
| Height | Not yet verified |
| Front track | Not yet verified |
| Rear track | Not yet verified |
| Kerb weight | 975 kgFactory: 975 kg1 Independently researched |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | 192 km/hFactory: 119 mph · converted3 Registry reported |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| 0–60 mph | 8.7 s3 Registry reported |
| Fuel tank | 40 LFactory: 40 L1 Independently researched |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
Compared with the XR3/XR3i, the RS1600i has lower spring platforms and Koni adjustable dampers all round, lowering ride height by nearly an inch. It uses 15 x 6-inch seven-spoke light-alloy wheels, 240 mm ventilated front discs and 180 mm rear drums.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
Guide: Ford Escort RS1600i Level A Supercar Nostalgia
- By this time, 8659 examples had been built, 2600 of which were sold in the UK
- The Ford CVH engine
- special LUAE type motor
- CVH engine used in the Mk3 Escort ... single overhead camshaft and two valves per cylinder
- bore and stroke of 79.9mm and 79.5mm
- compression for the normally aspirated RS1600i had been 9.9:1
- a single overhead camshaft and two valves per cylinder
- came with Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel-injection
- RS1600i produced 115bhp at 6000rpm and 107lb-ft at 5250rpm
- 115bhp at 6000rpm
- 107lb-ft at 5250rpm
- the RS1600i came with a five-speed unit
- A special 0.83:1 fifth gear ratio
- the Mk3 was front-wheel drive
- MacPherson struts, a thicker anti-roll bar, TCA tie rods and a special aluminium crossmember
- Both RS models shared the same 240mm ventilated front disc brakes ... 180mm
- standard Mk3 pressed steel bodyshell which featured a 2393mm wheelbase
- kerb weight of 975kg
- A 40-litre fuel tank from the standard Escort
-
2
Supercar Nostalgia – Ford Escort RS1600i Level C
- 8659 RS1600i built, 2600 for the UK
-
3
Ford RS Owners Club, RS models overview Level B The Ford RS Owners Club
- Escort RS1600i Engine cc: 1597 (RS models overview)
- Escort RS1600i Engine bhp: 115 (RS models overview)
- Escort RS1600i Top Speed: 119mph (RS models overview)
- Escort RS1600i 0-60mph: 8.7 (RS models overview)
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