THE KNOWLEDGE

TIMELINE

1980 Oct: XR3 launched; striped Laser trim

1982 Feb: XR3 gets five-speed gearbox; RS 1600i launched (8659 built)

1982 Sep: XR3I arrives – 105bhp, 101lb ft, revised gearing/suspension, velour replaces cloth, lower ride height, bigger rear brakes

1983 Oct: Cabriolet launched – conversion by Karmann, badged as 1.6i not XR3I

1984 Oct: RS Turbo launched (8604 Mk3s)

1986 Mk4 Escort facelift: plusher, quieter interior, new engine mounts, suspension tweaks, body-colour bumpers, optional ABS, Cabriolet now badged as XR3I

1988 Power hood option added for Cabrio

1989 Autumn: facelift, Ford EFI, 108bhp

1990 Sept: Mk5 Escort, XR3I dropped (reborn with 1.8 Zetec power in 1992)

FACTFILE

Sold/number built 1980-’90/c150,000

Construction steel monocoque

Engine iron-block, alloy-head, sohc 1596cc ‘four,’ with twin-choke Weber carb, Bosch K-jetronic or Ford EEC-IV injection

Max power 96bhp @ 6000rpm to 108bhp @ 6000rpm Max torque 97.6lb ft @ 4000rpm to 102lb ft @ 4800rpm

Transmission four/five-speed manual, FWD Suspension independent, at front by Macpherson struts, anti-roll bar rear coil springs, telescopic dampers, transverse arms, longitudinal tie bars

Steering rack and pinion

Brakes 91/2 in (239mm) vented discs front, 7-8in (178-203mm) drums rear, with servo; optional ABS on Mk4

Length 13ft 1/4in (3970mm) Width 5ft 21/2 in (1590mm) Height 4ft 41/2 in (1335mm)

Wheelbase 7ft 101/4in (2400mm)

Weight 1982-2156lb (901-980kg)

0-60mph 9.9-8.6 secs

Top speed 111-116mph Mpg 27-37

Price new £8438/10,546 (hatch/cabrio, ’87)

CLUBS

XR Owners’ Club xroc.co.uk

Escort Cabrio Club escortcabrioletclub.co.uk

SPECIALISTS

GS Escorts gsescorts.co.uk Magnum Classic Ford Panels magnumclassicfordpanels.co.uk Burton Power burtonpower.com Retro Ford International retrofordinternational.com

Newford Parts Centre newpartsonline.co.uk

NOS Ford Parts nos4rdparts.co.uk

GS Motorsport gsmotorsportuk.co.uk Speed Shack speedshack.co.uk Specialised Engines specialisedengines.co.uk

Classic-trim (Essex) classictrim.co.uk

WHAT TO PAY*

Mk3 XR3 Mk3 XR3I Mk4 XR3I

Resto/average/show £3000/11,000/22,000 £2500/6000/17,500 £2000/5000/16,000