Once you consider the Ford Escort RS Cosworth, two issues in all probability come to thoughts: the legendary Ford Cossie lineage, which after all included the the long-lasting Sierra RS Cosworth, and Ford’s presence within the WRC throughout the Nineties, with drivers like François Delecour, Carlos Sainz, and others behind the wheel of all-wheel-drive Group A and World Rally Automotive-spec machines. What doubtless doesn’t come to thoughts, nonetheless, is a V8 twin-turbocharged and rear-wheel-drive-converted Escort RS Cosworth constructed for the drag strip.
But, 10 years in the past, that’s precisely what we featured. Loopy? Completely! Epic? Surely! For this week’s throwback put up, we’re revisiting Bryn Musselwhite’s 2014 story on an 8-second Escort that defied all expectations.
2014 Characteristic
I’m not fairly certain how you may contemplate a twin-turbo V8-engined Escort RS Cosworth “the protected choice”, however that’s precisely what this quick Ford is to Matt Smith. In a narrative that twists and turns, there have been superbikes, 500hp Cosworth engines, race circuits and mind-opening discoveries, however whichever approach the trail travelled, the top recreation has all the time been about going quick. Like a sub-10-second quarter mile on the drag strip quick…
Studying the feedback on a number of the tales we publish, I usually decide up on little pockets of curiosity and envy. One specifically is the American admiration for the European-built quick Fords. The RS (Rallye Sport) heritage goes again to the early ’70s, however it’s the identify Cosworth that will get the gas pumping. Possibly that’s why I discover it amusing – and greater than somewhat ironic – that we Europeans will lust over the available V8s of America while many Individuals yearn for our four-cylinder, turbocharged homologation specials. So Matt and his Escort should have the most effective of each worlds, proper?
What he has now’s an entire world away from what Ford meant the Escort Cosworth to be when it was launched in 1992. However as a result of Matt’s a petrolhead – a pure, power-driven pursuer of velocity – the usual was by no means going to be adequate, particularly with a historical past like his.
However he’s managed to stability out a radical listing of modifications with the unique spirit of the Cosworth badge. In fact, Matt by no means imagined it will come this far, however his enthusiasm for what he began with by no means faltered. The full rebuild initially aimed for concours trophies earlier than a pointy flip was taken, and the goal shifted to the deep finish of a quarter-mile drag strip.
So how does all of it change? Pace has performed an enormous half within the Smith household historical past, initially equipped by motorbikes. Matt was impressed by his older brother Martin, after which, with their shut group of buddies, they went by motocross and superbikes on observe earlier than finally turning their collective pursuits to fast observe automobiles and fast highway bikes. However some close to misses and a few injured buddies proved to be a wake-up name for the brothers. As Matt correctly states, “It doesn’t matter what you say, you’re going to exit and go quicker, and also you don’t realise how briskly you’re going till you must cease or you have got a crash.”
Matt remembers an previous good friend, Jamie, having an Escort Cosworth once they had been youthful. The massive-winged three-door is an iconic determine within the European tuning scene (therefore the envy from over the Atlantic), and it’s a mannequin that left its mark on many of us. It’s a kind of ‘someday’ automobiles. The unique 220hp was just the start for a lot of house owners, and this specific automobile had been owned by one other good friend who hadn’t used it for a couple of years. When the alternative for Matt to buy offered itself in 2008, he grabbed it.
After a failed gearbox on the way in which again from Ford Truthful, the following 12 months, a plan was made to construct a fast, streetable Escort Cosworth – one thing there are many on the market. With a 500hp motor from famend engine builder Harvey Gibbs ordered, the shell was stripped down for a full nut and bolt rebuild.
Then got here the turning level, when good good friend Phil Peck (who drag races a late-model Mustang) instructed the brothers that they need to come to the strip one weekend. Matt remembers saying: “Why would we wish to do this? It’s a straight line, boring; we had been into circuit racing. However then I used to be strolling down the pits, and on the left of me I had the observe, and on the proper of me I had the present and shine – it was then that I knew what I wished to do.” The explosive burst of energy on the road and the condensed sensations you must take care of when a lot is squeezed into a couple of seconds sealed the deal.
Now, there are two turbos, twice the variety of cylinders and greater than 5 instances the unique energy of the Escort to entertain Matt. So, did he make the proper choice?
That weekend on the observe, Matt obtained launched to Jon Webster (he’s stood within the background right here within the plain black sweatshirt). There are only a few folks with the form of expertise Jon has, and as Matt defined, he performed a pivotal position within the venture. “It’s about belief once you need any person to do this type of work. What’s important for me is that we don’t must revisit issues – I don’t wish to be constructing an engine each different week or redoing issues after each race.”
Speaking to Jon additionally revealed the way in which to scratch the itch proper the primary time: twin turbos and a V8. Coming house from the drag strip that weekend, Matt went straight on-line and located an Escort on the market that had already been transformed to V8 twin-turbo. It was an indication – and promptly bought. So, together with his present Cosworth already stripped all the way down to a shell within the storage, the engine setup from the brand new automobile was put behind a van, and the pair was delivered to Webster Race Engineering. The Harvey Gibbs engine and the rest not wanted was bought on, and the work started.
The plan from the beginning was to enter into the Road Eliminator Championship. That meant the Escort wanted to stay street-legal, which suited Matt’s plans positive as he nonetheless wished to take pleasure in it on the highway. However a YB-based engine simply wasn’t going to chop it. Sure, they’ll make massive energy, however with that, reliability points would even be there to take care of. The opposite factor that needed to go was the beam rear finish. It’s now changed with a constructed Ford 9-inch again axle, however that required chopping into the freshly detailed shell to suit. “I went as much as John’s, and he took me to at least one aspect and stated he had one thing for me, and there was my rear floorpan. I’d spent nights and nights engaged on it – getting it higher than a showroom – however there it was all minimize out. To be truthful, although, I’ve by no means regarded again and by no means regretted it.”
Together with the cage and suspension, the opposite main fabrication was on the entrance finish, the place there’s now a small block Chevrolet V8. And sure, I did say Chevrolet. There’s not a definitive energy determine, however with a Garrett GT4094 turbo mounted on both aspect of the engine good for as much as 750hp apiece, and bearing in mind the ETs and entice speeds it runs (extra on that shortly), it absolutely have to be someplace between 1,000 to 1,200hp.
Once more, Matt’s ardour for the Escort form that he’s recognized and liked for therefore a few years exhibits by within the execution. The Morette twin headlamp conversion is in style in the Ford scene and comes from the Sierra rally automobiles, which predate the Escort. When a bonnet-mounted lamp pod was fitted, the nook of the usual headlamp was obscured, so these had been developed, permitting the producer to run a single spherical lamp on the surface. Legend has it that the interior opening was used as an extra air consumption that opened at velocity till the authorities caught on. So it’s form of apt that there’s a turbo eyeing you again by that gap now! The mesh grille decrease down is from the legendary Sierra RS500, so it’s greater than a nod to heritage.
The unique engine that the venture started with has been modified – this one having been constructed, ported and movement matched by Mark Moseley with tech help from Richard Coles at Coltec Racing Engines and elements sourced from Rob Loring at Ice Engineering. Which may sound like a sophisticated listing, however it’s all in regards to the staff work with these guys – each Matt and brother Martin telling me the way it made the soar from the circuit to the strip really easy and pleasant. They now all race underneath the identify Group Excessive, with a really spectacular line up of automobiles starting from a Supra to an R32 Skyline and extra.
In fact, with the bonnet open the sport is up. As you possibly can see it’s all been cleverly packaged too, and that exhaust manifold seems to be prefer it might survive a bomb blast. But it surely’s not showy underneath right here – every part serves a function with out being excessive.
The bonnet needed to be modified to clear the engine, however it’s the one non-standard physique panel on the entire automobile now. Additions just like the carbon decrease lip are aftermarket, however it stays true to the traces of the unique Ford moulding.
The normal Cosworth vents could also be hidden from one another by the inside track in the midst of the bonnet, however the manufacturing facility recent crimson paint job simply provides to the phantasm for me. In contrast to many drag automobiles, the Escort is bare and free from any graphics or names too, which I actually like.
Simply how fast are you able to go and nonetheless be highway authorized although?…
Inside it’s the same story to the surface: delicate however modified for function. Keep in mind this needed to stay a pleasant place to be and due to that all of it feels vaguely acquainted with the manufacturing facility traces being saved. However the place there was a gearstick which related Matt to the four-wheel drive system. Now there’s a B&M shifter for the two-speed computerized transmission, which was constructed up by Andy Frost, the person chargeable for the quickest avenue automobile on this planet up till the 2014 Sizzling Rod Drag Week. Fast avenue automobiles are within the UK blood stream…
And the place the unique dials and gauges was, now a SPA digital sprint sits neatly within the carbon fibre cluster.
With reference to carbon fibre, that’s one other of Matt’s weaknesses – one which I personally can’t fault him for! The carbon bucket seats, Eclipse 280mm steering wheel and different elements all got here from UK agency Reverie. I’ve drooled over their worth listing for a few years, so I’m very envious of what you see right here! Observe the usual centre console too…
Little touches, like that and the usual rear parcel shelf make me smile. Often you’d wish to shout in regards to the potential this Escort has, however not right here. The speaker grilles disguise empty house, however these are real pop-out glass rear home windows, identical to the heated rear display screen – no polycarbonate right here.
Possibly the Escort is a little bit of a sleeper even? I do know that will sound loopy, however for those who noticed it on the road would you suppose it’s a 9-second quarter mile succesful automobile? Possibly you’d, but when so that you’d be fallacious, as a result of Matt and the Cosworth turned in ETs as little as 8.4 seconds in 2014. With the intention within the final couple of years for the automobile to ‘run its tag’ of 8 seconds, that’s now nicely inside attain, which implies 7s can’t be discounted both…
In fact, it’s not been with out drama, nor some severe head scratching from all concerned alongside the way in which. However that’s what it’s about, proper? If it was simple everyone could be doing it. Issues hardly ever go to plan in this recreation, and for those who want the proper instance of that simply do not forget that this was meant to be a concours present automobile construct!
But it surely’s not – though it’s immaculately offered. I took this image as we left the drag strip for a 25-mile evening cruise to show that it’s a correct highway automobile. All of the Road Eliminator rivals have to finish this cruise, which features a gas cease, then one other scorching begin additional alongside the way in which – all slap bang in the midst of the weekend’s racing. Our annual automobile checks are additionally so much stricter than within the US, so this in itself isn’t any imply feat.
It makes for a reasonably superior sight when tens of hundreds of horsepower rolls right into a sleepy countryside gas station. Winding our approach by darkish roads the snake of brake lights and headlamps make me smile, as different highway customers move by blissfully unaware of the automotive potential they only encountered.
So contemplating that is the protected choice over spanking superbikes round on the highway and observe, simply how far is Matt going to go together with the Escort, taking into account that it’s nearly a full-bodied automobile with sunroof, glass and steel panels in place. To that Matt says, “I got down to construct an 8.50 avenue automobile, so if I begin going any additional it’s going to get out of hand. Proper now it’s nonetheless an Escort Cosworth with a engine swap and rear axle. The subsequent transfer is a full tube automobile, which might be a waste of this automobile. The eagerness is all the time to go quicker, however the necessary factor is to recollect to have enjoyable while you’re.”
Enjoyable? Feels like a plan to me! The Smith brothers know a factor or 10 about the best way to do issues proper, so no matter occurs it’ll be good.
Going again to the beginning and the purpose I made about how one can by no means predict what lies forward – generally it’s greatest to simply benefit from the trip, as a result of the journey is commonly simply as necessary because the vacation spot. So do you continue to wish to know the place you’re going along with your venture? Or are you content material to see what occurs?…
The Speedhunters
Instagram: thespeedhunters
Bryn Musselwhite
Instagram: shoottheproducer
