Buyer’s guide: Ford RS classics

What they do all have in common though is that they are the cars which created the RS legend. Owning one today lets you bask in the reflected glory of being part of that… as well of course as putting you behind the wheel of a car whose performance made it a performance hero of its time.

Sapphire RS Cosworth (1988-1992)

Rally-bed and proud of it, the Sapphire used the turbocharged 2.0-litre engine from the later Escort Cosworth and had a stiffer chassis than the original Sierra Cosworth it replaced. Unlike that vehicle, it’s a tempting buy – fifteen grand gets you a really good one, and that’s a quarter of what you can pay for an average RS500. Early models were hoon-worthily rear-driven, but from 1990 onwards four-wheel drive became standard.

Focus RS Mk1 (2002-2003)

The original Focus RS was a beast of a car – with 212bhp sent straight to its front tyres, a standard LSD couldn’t stop the torque steer. It would roast its way to 60mph in 5.9 seconds, though, and with straight-from-the-WRC styling it wasn’t short of buyers. It still isn’t now – if you want a nice one, budget at least ten grand.

RS200 (1984-1986)

Not so much a car as an accident of history, the RS200 made its rallying debut just a season before the fearsome speeds such vehicles were achieving led to the feted Group B being abolished.

Thus it’s a rarity of the highest order, as well as being the perfect classic – and, no small matter, still a phenomenal performance car. That’ll be why they change hands for £250,000 and more these days, then.

Fiesta RS1800 (1992-1997)

Fast, lithe, in-your-face and cheap, the Fiesta RS was perfect for the Max Power generation. Not surprisingly, then, most ended up being either customised or crashed (or both), so not many have made it this far. The good news is that those that have don’t cost silly money, so find a good one and it could make a nifty little bargain.

Escort RS1600 (1970-1974)

Now you’re talking. The first British-built Ford to wear the RS badge was a rally-bred special whose twin-cam Cosworth engine was tuned for anything up to 200bhp or more. As you’d expect, the RS that started it all is highly sought-after in classic circles – and the prices you’ll see people paying for them reflect that.