When Boreham Motorworks pulled the wraps off the production-ready Ford Escort Mk1 RS at the London Concours, it effectively drew a hard line in the sand against modern automotive over-digitization. Rather than executing a standard restomod on a donor vehicle, the British firm engineered an entirely new machine from a blank sheet on official Ford license. Dubbed a continumod by the manufacturer, this limited run of 150 units resurrects the spirit of the late-1960s and 1970s rally legend with zero reliance on vintage chassis rust or worn-out factory tin.
At the center of the engineering obsession is the flagship powertrain option: the Ten-K engine. Developed alongside the DRVN group, this 2,152 cc naturally aspirated four-cylinder features a 16-valve cylinder head with geometry inspired by Formula 1, individual throttle bodies, and a carbon fiber airbox. The result is a powerplant that revs all the way to a screaming 10,000 RPM redline. Weighing just 85 kg thanks to advanced casting methods and 3D-printed components, the Ten-K pushes out 330 PS (325 bhp) at that stratospheric top end. It pairs exclusively with a five-speed dog-leg manual transmission—where first gear sits down and left in traditional racing fashion—a 5.125 final drive ratio, and a mechanical limited-slip differential. For purists seeking a softer historical echo, a 1.8-litre Twin Cam producing 185 PS with an 8,500 RPM limit and a four-speed manual is also available, though early order books have leaned heavily toward the frantic Ten-K.
Keeping the machine agile requires aggressive diet engineering. The Escort Mk1 RS targets a dry weight of just 895 kg, built upon a digitally recreated steel body shell reinforced by carbon fiber hoods, trunk lids, and interior structural elements, achieving a 50% increase in torsional rigidity over the original car. The overall footprint remains faithful to the compact dimensions of the historical racer—measuring 3,780 mm long, 1,703 mm wide, and 1,335 mm high—though the wheelbase is stretched by 30 mm to improve high-speed stability and weight distribution.
Inside, the cabin remains fiercely analog. There is no automated safety net, no power steering, no ABS, and no traction control. Instrumentation is strictly traditional, complemented by a bare carbon skeleton and bespoke tailoring where buyers can customize seats, steering wheels, and roll-bars. Removable Breitling dashboard chronographs are available as nods to period rally timing gear, while functional touches like discrete audio and electric heating ensure the car remains usable beyond the race track.
Exclusivity of this magnitude comes with an eye-watering financial cost. Base pricing starts at £295,000 (roughly 340,000 to 350,000 euros), before factoring in regional taxes, bespoke interior commissions, and the steep cost of checking the box for the Ten-K engine. For a car whose ancestor began life as an economical family saloon in the late sixties, the transformation into a boutique, hand-built collector's item is complete. Yet for the 150 buyers worldwide who secure an allocation with either left- or right-hand drive, Boreham is offering something increasingly extinct: a lightweight, high-revving manual sports car built with absolute mechanical transparency.
Sources
These sources formed the evidence pack for this article. Links open the original publisher; inclusion does not imply endorsement.
- Daniele Sforza original
- Giorgio Colari original
- www.gazzetta.it original
- Fabio Gemelli original
- Paolo Odinzov original
