--- title: "Here’s How Brand New Ford Escort-Inspired Rally Classics Are Being Made in Wales" description: "Turnkey MK1 and MK2 models are available with up to 350 horsepower." date: "2021-02-26" modified: "2021-02-26" authors: - name: "Máté Petrány" job_title: "Contributor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/mate-petrany" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/39482/heres-how-brand-new-ford-escort-inspired-rally-classics-are-being-made-in-wales" categories: - "Ford News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "Ford" - "Motorsport Tools" - "The Late Brake Show" --- # Here’s How Brand New Ford Escort-Inspired Rally Classics Are Being Made in Wales ![]() *\www.thedrive.com\* All-wheel drive ultimately took over the World Rally Championship following Lancia's famous victory [with the still rear-drive 037]() in 1983, yet long before all that, rally stages were dominated by Ford U.K.'s Mark I and Mark II Escorts, especially in Great Britain. These wide-arched lightweights packed twin-cam engines thanks to Cosworth, and the few originals that survived the last half a century demand high sums among collectors in both [the early RS1600]() and RS1800 forms, or the later RS2000 tune. Let's not forget about the road-spec Escort Mexicos either. Luckily, those looking for a brand new Mark I or Mark II Escort on the faster side don't have to go through a full restoration and conversion any more. Welsh rally parts company [Motorsport Tools]() came up with a fully configurable offer built around freshly made bodyshells by Magnum Classic Car Panels based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. Available in both left- and right-hand-drive as well as a kit, these MST MK2s (and upcoming MK1s) are classified as new cars under the United Kingdom's Individual Vehicle Approval scheme. MST says they can build up to 12 a year, which is more generous than Cyan Racing's output of [ten Volvo P1800 Cyans per annum](). ![message-editor%2F1614346920237-136158882\_10157547044340653\_5404957768067700408\_o-e1610028191158.jpg]() **Motorsport Tools** These aren't just rally cars. While an empty body shell starts at $21,000 with configurable options such as a roll cage welded in, a more rigid motorsport body, or the turreted rear suspension setup, the cheapest complete Escort is the touring spec at $97,000. These cars come with full upholstery, sound deadening and extras such as a leather-stitched dash top. Built by local mastermind Carwyn Ellis, MST's red development MK2 is the track slash fast road car specification with wide arches and the 200-horsepower 2.5-liter Ford Duratec engine with ATR throttle bodies, totaling $111,000 as tested. A Group 4 rally car with up to 350 horsepower would start at $125,000, while MST's ultimate rally car is yours for around $138,000. Steep for a Ford Escort from the late '60s and early '70s, yet much more reasonable for a brand new fully sorted fast classic, especially considering what other motorsport-inspired analog wonders such as the [Singer-Tuthill 911 ASC]() or Cyan Racing's touring car-engined [Volvo P1800]() will cost you. https://youtube.com/embed/GGko6uK-Fik As driven by *The Late Brake Show* host Jonny Smith, the MST MK2 has the optional six-link Atlas Motorsport rear axle, the 200-hp Ford motor, adjustable 2.25 Bilstein dampers, a new six-speed manual from a Mazda MX-5 with a Gripper Motorsport limited-slip differential, and the optional power steering with a high 2.4-turn ratio, plus AP Racing's four-piston disc brakes all around. The Genuine Minilite alloys are 13s wrapped in Kumho Ecsta V70A tires, with 15- and 17-inch wheels also available. One step up, the engine can be a 2.0-liter BGD twin cam with 250 horsepower, or a 2.5-liter Millington Diamond rated at 350 horses. The base gearbox remains Ford's five-speed Type 9, and needless to say, if you're speccing a rally car, a sequential box is also available. Regardless of which body style you prefer, the suspension can be upgraded to an Öhlins' WRC-style system, or Rieger dampers from America. Well under a ton with rear-drive and at least 200 horsepower, could this be the ultimate analog driving toy? Perhaps even more, given that as a new car, a carefully configured example could even work as your new daily driver. Reproduction shells open new horizons. ![message-editor%2F1614346969440-136142911\_10157547044855653\_3564432136855829904\_o.jpg]() *Motorsport Tools* ![message-editor%2F1614346984397-136096099\_10157547044790653\_2382949112003288169\_o.jpg]() *Motorsport Tools* ![message-editor%2F1614346997963-136055808\_10157547044890653\_6055198047830964448\_o.jpg]() *Motorsport Tools* ![message-editor%2F1614347114715-thebrandnewmstmk2-isthistheultimatefordescort\_exclusivefirstdrive18-33screenshot.png]() *Youtube | The Late Brake Show* *Got a tip? Send us a note: tips@thedrive.com* ## Author As a fan of old cars, new cars, trains, planes, buses, and you-name-it, Máté can sometimes be seen driving an Autobianchi around Budapest, much to the amusement of the children, mostly. When not time-traveling, he continues to report from the future to his American colleagues, often talking about Lotus, Ozzy Osbourne, or both. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [Twitter]()