Forgotten Ford
I was over the moon to see the Ford Escort RS 1600i get its moment in the sun (December). When I came to Ford in 1980, this model was in the planning stages, including not only its specification but also the means to take it off the assembly line for its features to be installed.
Ford Motor Sport was asked to convert the CVT engine to fuel injection in ’79, with a target of 115bhp. This was right up the street of engine man Otto Stulle, and our system went mainstream in the XR3I. Our unique, precise and efficient ignition did not make prime time, however: Bosch was extremely exercised that we dared to depart from its equipment.
Another important tweak was a cast-aluminium bar joining parts of the front suspension together to add rigidity. This contributed to the responsive handling – so much so that reports came back from the Continent that the car was too lively at speed. Happily, we managed to talk the executives round.
The RS 1600i had new wheels that I had a lot to do with. We were after a new shape that wouldn’t show brake dust and was easy to clean, yet fresh and striking. We had to fight hard to keep it exclusive to Motor Sport because the main parts team wanted to sell them.
The striping across the nose was needed as an Überholmerkmal, an overtaking indicator to show fastlane hogs that this was no ordinary Escort and to give way. I was proud that our group made a car that was demonstrably best in class; it wasn’t often Ford could claim that.
Karl Ludvigsen
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk