If you consider the Ford Escort RS Cosworth, two issues in all probability come to thoughts: the legendary Ford Cossie lineage, which in fact included the the enduring Sierra RS Cosworth, and Ford’s presence within the WRC throughout the Nineteen 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 seemingly doesn’t come to thoughts, nevertheless, 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? No doubt! For this week’s throwback submit, we’re revisiting Bryn Musselwhite’s 2014 story on an 8-second Escort that defied all expectations.
2014 Function
I’m not fairly positive how you could possibly contemplate a twin-turbo V8-engined Escort RS Cosworth “the secure possibility”, 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 tip sport 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 few of the tales we publish, I typically 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, but it surely’s the title Cosworth that will get the gas pumping. Perhaps that’s why I discover it amusing – and greater than a little bit 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 will need to have one of the best of each worlds, proper?
What he has now’s an entire world away from what Ford supposed 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 pace – the usual was by no means going to be ok, 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? Velocity 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 pals, they went via motocross and superbikes on monitor earlier than ultimately turning their collective pursuits to fast monitor vehicles and fast highway bikes. However some close to misses and a few injured pals proved to be a wake-up name for the brothers. As Matt properly 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 it’s important to cease or you’ve gotten a crash.”
Matt remembers an outdated buddy, Jamie, having an Escort Cosworth after 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 ‘in the future’ vehicles. The unique 220hp was just the start for a lot of house owners, and this explicit automotive had been owned by one other buddy who hadn’t used it for a number of years. When the alternative for Matt to buy offered itself in 2008, he grabbed it.
After a failed gearbox on the best way again from Ford Honest, the following yr, 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 buddy Phil Peck (who drag races a late-model Mustang) instructed the brothers that they need to come to the strip one weekend. Matt recollects saying: “Why would we need 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 monitor, and on the best 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 it’s important to take care of when a lot is squeezed into a number of seconds sealed the deal.
Now, there are two turbos, twice the variety of cylinders and greater than 5 occasions the unique energy of the Escort to entertain Matt. So, did he make the best determination?
That weekend on the monitor, Matt bought launched to Jon Webster (he’s stood within the background right here within the plain black sweatshirt). There are only a few individuals with the type of expertise Jon has, and as Matt defined, he performed a pivotal position within the mission. “It’s about belief whenever you need anyone to do this sort of work. What’s important for me is that we don’t should revisit issues – I don’t need to be constructing an engine each different week or redoing issues after each race.”
Speaking to Jon additionally revealed the best way to scratch the itch proper the primary time: twin turbos and a V8. Coming residence 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 current Cosworth already stripped all the way down to a shell within the storage, the engine setup from the brand new automotive was put behind a van, and the pair was delivered to Webster Race Engineering. The Harvey Gibbs engine and anything not wanted was offered on, and the work started.
The plan from the beginning was to enter into the Avenue Eliminator Championship. That meant the Escort wanted to stay street-legal, which suited Matt’s plans wonderful as he nonetheless wished to get pleasure from it on the highway. However a YB-based engine simply wasn’t going to chop it. Sure, they’ll make large 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 slicing into the freshly detailed shell to suit. “I went as much as John’s, and he took me to 1 facet and mentioned 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 lower out. To be truthful, although, I’ve by no means seemed 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 facet of the engine good for as much as 750hp apiece, and considering the ETs and entice speeds it runs (extra on that shortly), it certainly have to be someplace between 1,000 to 1,200hp.
Once more, Matt’s ardour for the Escort form that he’s identified and beloved for thus a few years exhibits via within the execution. The Morette twin headlamp conversion is well-liked in the Ford scene and comes from the Sierra rally vehicles, 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 skin. Legend has it that the interior opening was used as an extra air consumption that opened at pace till the authorities caught on. So it’s type of apt that there’s a turbo eyeing you again via 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 mission started with has been modified – this one having been constructed, ported and circulation matched by Mark Moseley with tech assist from Richard Coles at Coltec Racing Engines and elements sourced from Rob Loring at Ice Engineering. Which may sound like a sophisticated listing, but it surely’s all concerning the staff work with these guys – each Matt and brother Martin telling me the way it made the leap from the circuit to the strip really easy and pleasurable. They now all race below the title Group Excessive, with a really spectacular line up of vehicles 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 appears prefer it might survive a bomb blast. But it surely’s not showy below right here – every little thing serves a objective with out being excessive.
The bonnet needed to be modified to clear the engine, but it surely’s the one non-standard physique panel on the entire automotive now. Additions just like the carbon decrease lip are aftermarket, but it surely stays true to the strains of the unique Ford moulding.
The normal Cosworth vents could also be hidden from one another by the inside track in the course of the bonnet, however the manufacturing facility recent pink paint job simply provides to the phantasm for me. In contrast to many drag vehicles, 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 an identical story to the skin: refined however modified for objective. Bear 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 strains being saved. However the place there was a gearstick which linked 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 accountable for the quickest avenue automotive on the planet up till the 2014 Scorching Rod Drag Week. Fast avenue vehicles 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 regards 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 value 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 need to shout concerning the potential this Escort has, however not right here. The speaker grilles conceal empty house, however these are real pop-out glass rear home windows, identical to the heated rear display screen – no polycarbonate right here.
Perhaps the Escort is a little bit of a sleeper even? I do know which will sound loopy, however in case you noticed it on the road would you assume it’s a 9-second quarter mile succesful automotive? Perhaps you’d, but when so that you’d be incorrect, 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 automotive to ‘run its tag’ of 8 seconds, that’s now properly inside attain, which implies 7s can’t be discounted both…
In fact, it’s not been with out drama, nor some critical head scratching from all concerned alongside the best way. However that’s what it’s about, proper? If it was straightforward all people can be doing it. Issues not often go to plan in this sport, and in case you want the proper instance of that simply keep in mind that this was meant to be a concours present automotive 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 automotive. All of the Avenue Eliminator opponents have to finish this cruise, which features a gas cease, then one other scorching begin additional alongside the best way – all slap bang in the course of the weekend’s racing. Our annual car assessments are additionally so much stricter than within the US, so this in itself isn’t any imply feat.
It makes for a fairly superior sight when tens of hundreds of horsepower rolls right into a sleepy countryside gas station. Winding our approach via darkish roads the snake of brake lights and headlamps make me smile, as different highway customers cross by blissfully unaware of the automotive potential they simply encountered.
So contemplating that is the secure possibility over spanking superbikes round on the highway and monitor, simply how far is Matt going to go together with the Escort, allowing for that it’s nearly a full-bodied automotive with sunroof, glass and metallic panels in place. To that Matt says, “I got down to construct an 8.50 avenue automotive, 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 following transfer is a full tube automotive, which might be a waste of this automotive. The fervour is all the time to go quicker, however the necessary factor is to recollect to have enjoyable if you are.”
Enjoyable? Appears 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 finest to simply benefit from the experience, as a result of the journey is commonly simply as necessary because the vacation spot. So do you continue to need to know the place you’re going along with your mission? Or are you content material to see what occurs?…
The Speedhunters
Instagram: thespeedhunters
Bryn Musselwhite
Instagram: shoottheproducer
