Project ST - History Lessons: #11 - 1975 Escort RS1800 Mk2

As some of you know, I'm working with fifteen52, Ken Block, and Ford on their Project ST campaign. The project is all about pumping up the new Focus ST in North America, but we're also out to elevate and educate people on some of the serious small performance cars Ford has been offering overseas and some lesser known domestic ones for years and linking that pedigree back to the new 2013 Ford Focus ST. And that's where I come in.

Today - the start of Ford's World Rally Domination - the Mk2 Escort RS1800 Read More

chapel wrote: As some of you know, I'm working with fifteen52, Ken Block, and Ford on their Project ST campaign. The project is all about pumping up the new Focus ST in North America, but we're also out to elevate and educate people on some of the serious small performance cars Ford has been offering overseas and some lesser known domestic ones for years and linking that pedigree back to the new 2013 Ford Focus ST. And that's where I come in. Today - the start of Ford's World Rally Domination - the Mk2 Escort RS1800 Read More

I'm sorry... Ford crapped out on us, the USA market, back then selling us pigs... what I would have given to have a mark 1, or 2 Escort available to me...

As for Ken Block... at least Shelby had won a number of races before he went all marketing on us...

Now as far as the new Focus ST... better late then never

while we didn't get some awesome euro Fords, our cars have their own... character.

chapel wrote: while we didn't get some awesome euro Fords, our cars have their own... character.

Character and retardation are not to be confused.

The rest of the world got Mk2 Escorts while we got Pintos.

I test drove a Mk2 Capri when I was in university and loved it, but then Ford stopped importing that before I could save enough to buy one, so I bought a Datsun 510. Now, 40 years later they're getting closer to getting it right. Give us a 2 door, ST level Fiesta and Focus.

I did see those Rothmans Escorts compete on the WRC round in Quebec in the late 70s......AWESOME.

Fueled by Caffeine wrote:

chapel wrote: while we didn't get some awesome euro Fords, our cars have their own... character.

Character and retardation are not to be confused.

my wife thinks it adds character to me!

Not to mention never giving us the RS Focus. I wanted that car so badly.

Edsel Ford II imported his own RS Capri, so apparently a single person in the entire organization knew what to do...

oldeskewltoy wrote: I'm sorry... Ford crapped out on us, the USA market, back then selling us pigs...

Um...

When the Mk2 Escort was coming around, Ford was in its last year of importing the Pantera to the USA. So, no, they still had something interesting around dealer lots.

fast_eddie_72 wrote:

oldeskewltoy wrote: I'm sorry... Ford crapped out on us, the USA market, back then selling us pigs...

Um...

I've owned and loved 3 mark 1's (hated front suspension)...

BUT... having just the Capri here(1600/2000/2600/2800)... as opposed to Europe with all the Capri models(similar engine sizes, but much more "performance" options), the Cortina models, the Escort(rwd) models, the Taunus models....

here we got Pintos... Mustang II, and Granada

I talked with someone who is right at the tipping point of buying a Fiesta ST for rallycross. I'm excited.