10,000rpm, £354k Ford Escort is a car ‘nobody else could build’
The Escort’s defining elements have been retained, though. While the six-dial instrument panel is “not the easiest thing to see through a steering wheel”, according to Burgess, it had to remain in place as a signature element. “We fixed the crooked [offset] steering column but we kept the instruments,” he said.
Likewise, there are Breitling rally timers and a five-speed dog-leg gearbox, stirred by a rally-style high-set lever, which was developed specifically by motorsport transmission specialist Holinger to give a precise, ‘kerchunk’ shift feel.
Of all the new elements on the Mk1 RS, Burgess highlighted the bonnet and boot hinges as among his favourites.
Having “never designed hinges in my life”, he drew inspiration from the Spitfire model aircraft kits he made in his youth.
“The design content in this car – the design density – is way beyond a normal volume-production car,” he added.
Under the skin
Chief technical officer Simon Goodliff said Boreham’s ambition was to build a car with a “traditional approach but very modern technologies, materials and [methods]”.
For example, there’s electric power steering to assist with low-speed manoeuvring, but this is disengaged at higher speeds to allow greater feel.
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