1983 RS1600i

This is a very rare opportunity to purchase an absolutely fantastic Ford Escort RS1600i….

• Graphite Grey RS1600i
• Full service history from new
• Fantastic paintwork
• 51,000 miles from new (warranted)
• Local Norfolk vehicle
• Excellent interior
• Quite possibly the best available
• All original panels
• Never been welded

Purchased new, by Mr C Finch, from Spruce Howlett & Co Ltd, ford dealer of Norwich.

The car was kept by Mr C Finch until the 13th of July 1984, when it was purchased by Mr G Brown of Great Yarmouth, who had the car for just one year before Mr G Stolworthy (also of Great Yarmouth) purchased the car on the 15th of May 1985.

The car stayed with Mr G Stolworthy until Mr M Jarvis purchased the vehicle on the 6th of January 1990, and the vehicle stayed with him until 2014.
During ownership of the vehicle, Mr M Jarvis registered the vehicle in his business name, (a professional Paintshop business) and set about fully stripping the RS1600i, and giving it a full repaint in the original colour to really ensure the car was ‘perfect’. (This work was carried out between 1998 and 2003). When the car was finished, the car was stored and barely used at all until very recently.

This took some 4 years work, and the end product shows the time and effort that has gone into this car!

A large file of receipts are present with the car, along with all the original handbooks, service book, and some old mot’s.

The Service records are detailed as below:

05/11/83 – 1559 miles
11/07/84 – 7519 miles
27/02/85 – 11,556 miles
29/11/85 – 16,257 miles
15/06/86 – 18,606 miles
01/10/87 – 23,820 miles
11/12/88 – 30,840 miles
06/03/91 – 36,972 miles
08/04/98 – 50,406 miles
28/03/03 – 51,495 miles

The exterior of this RS1600i is finished in very rare Ford Graphite Grey, only 250 RS1600i’s produced in this colour!

Having had a full, interior and windows out repaint (in the original Graphite Grey) over the course of 5 years, from 1998 to 2003, it has been mainly in storage since the work was completed.
You could without doubt, describe the paintwork as perfect!
The paintwork has a great shine and smooth finish, with all the correct RS1600i decals in place. The original rear spoiler is perfectly straight, as is the original front splitter.
All the glass, lights and badges, are in fantastic condition, as you would expect from an example with such low mileage.
The fog lamps have some very minor damage, but these do not detract from the overall, stunning condition of this example!

All original panels, with very good panel gaps, and a fantastic overall appearance, it would certainly be very hard to find better!

The interior of this RS1600i is in great condition.

Finished in Shark Grey Crushed Velour, the seats and bolsters have retained all structural integrity and are still extremely hard, and hold you perfectly in place.
Usually these seats suffer badly, becoming very ‘baggy’… but these seats are still surprisingly tight.
One small wear mark to the drivers bolster is the only real sign of any wear on these fantastic seats, and this is being very picky indeed.

The matching door cards and perforated headlining are in perfect condition.
The deep grey carpets are protected by genuine Ford rubber over mats.

The Dash does have some cracking to the top of the tacho surround, which is very common and does not detract from the excellent condition of the interior.

Everything operates just as it should do, other than the above head clock, which appears to be non operational.
The original Ford push button radio cassette is also still present.

The RS1600i was often the pick of the ‘modifiers’, and many have had the original engine removed, and the RS Turbo engine fitted in place.
This example retains its original 1600cc CVH engine, which runs very nicely, as you would of course come to expect from a car which has only covered 51,000miles.

The only modification, being a stainless steel exhaust, which gives a great noise, without being overpowering.

A total pleasure to drive, a real back to basics, front wheel drive….. drivers vehicle.
Producing 115 BHP when new, with a 0-60mph time of 8.7 seconds, and a top speed of 119mph, these cars performed as well as they looked.

The original 15 X 6 inch RS1600i seven spoke alloy wheels have been repainted at the same time as the body, and are free from even a single mark.
Also note, that these are the original RS1600i wheels fitted on the car from new, and not the RS Turbo alloy wheels which, although look the same, in fact have different stampings.
All premium tyres are matching, and look to be almost new.

The gearbox is a pleasure to use, and the suspension/brakes are without fault.

This car drives very ‘tight’ and is great fun to drive!