Now, won’t you take a look at this incredibly rare Escort RS Cosworth! Painted in Diamond white with black and grey interior, this is your daily dose of road-legal rally beast. Looking in great shape but requiring minor attention, this example has had long-term ownership in Italy and, being a ‘Motorsport’ limited edition, it doesn’t sport all the fancy features that Ford deemed unnecessary, such as power windows, radio and rear seat headrests. Less is more!

When production started in 1992, the Escort RS might have fooled the untrained eye with its looks relatively close to its more pedestrian sister (well... if you forget that "whale tail" spoiler!), but it actually came to life thanks to a Sierra 4x4’s shortened floor pan and its running gear, mounting the engine longitudinally, rather than transversely, unlike the Mark V Escort. Conceived as an homologation special to qualify as a Group A car for the World Rally Championship, it was developed by Ford’s Special Vehicle Engineering’s division; the body was modified (and enlarged) by Ghia and Karmann, in order to host a big front air dam, flared wheel arches and that massive rear spoiler.

Still fitting its original “YBT”, “T35”, 2.0-liter, inline-four, turbo, Ford-Cosworth engine, capable of well over 220 horsepower and 220 lb-ft of torque, the power is sent to all four wheels via a ‘MT75’ five-speed manual transmission.

This Escort RS comes with a set of 16-inch original Ford RS ‘8jx16’ alloy-wheels, wrapped in Ventus K102 225/45ZR16 39W. The only “optionals” this car features are entirely road-focused and include: a functioning (but disconnected) water-powered injection system, plastic glove compartments and a riveted boot hatch, designed as an emergency entrance towards the fuel pump.

As displayed in Diamond White, this Escort still features its original white paintwork, though the seller reports there has been some respraying on the driver’s door and the front bumper. The “Whale-tail” still appears in perfect condition, as it shows no signs of cracks or bending.

The seller reports that the car has recently received an exterior nano-detail to the paintwork, though minor chips and scuffs can be noted to the front and end of the car. On the other hand, no notable imperfections are notable on the alloy wheels.

Moving in, the original Hexagon cloth trim still appears in great condition throughout the cabin, with only some very modest signs of use. The gauges are all reportedly functioning and the mechanical odometer strikes barely 30,000 km. The underside shows no sign of rust, as is notable in the gallery.

Mechanically, the car is sound thanks to a recent engine overhaul, performed by Ford’s specialists as shown in the attached documentation, and now it starts and runs like stock, the seller states. It also received minor upgrades to the airbox, filters and exhaust pipes, though stock parts are already included in the purchase. This Escort is reported as registered for the Italian market in 1993 and it was purchased by its fourth and current owner in 2018. It’s always been parked in a climate-controlled environment ever since.

As a part of WRC and automotive history, and just one of 157 ever produced in Diamond White, the purchase of this Escort RS Cosworth “Motorsport” Edition comprises the original ownership documentation, user and service manual, 2 keys (including the red one), stock pipes, airbox and filters and current ownership title.