Ford : Escort Mk3
1980–1986
Model Introduction
The Ford Escort Mk3 was launched in 1980 and marked a radical departure from its rear-wheel-drive predecessors, introducing front-wheel drive, a new platform, and bold, modern styling. Codenamed “Erika” during development, it was one of Ford of Europe’s most ambitious undertakings. The Mk3 adopted a sharply creased hatchback silhouette with a high, squared-off “bustle-back” tail - an uncommon design feature at the time to aid aerodynamic efficiency and increase boot capacity. Another standout detail was the ribbed rear light lenses, a nod to Mercedes-Benz’s pioneering use of the feature to help disperse dirt and water, an unusual touch for a volume car in this segment. Under the skin, the Escort introduced a transverse-engine, front-wheel-drive layout paired with Ford’s new CVH engine range (1.1 to 1.6 litres), and set itself apart in the class with fully independent rear suspension, combining packaging efficiency with improved handling sophistication.
Magazine articles (21)
Magazine Articles
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Scoop! An Escort called Erika!
Out of the Ford armoury comes the dramatic front-wheel-drive Escort replacement for the '80s
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'81 Escort : a hemi's welcome
The all-new front-wheel-drive Escort will arrive to a loud beating of (Ford) drums this autumn. In the meantime - as an appetiser - come details of the car's hemispherical-headed transversely-mounted engine
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Super Ford!
Scoop! This story is a world exclusive. It is the first driving report on Ford's all-new front-wheel-drive Escort. It comes from one of the judges of the international Car Of The Year award who drove the Escort at a special COTY appraisal in Sardinia ahead of the normal press introduction. The Escort goes on sale on September 22
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Escort the Alfa beater!
Mel Nichols, equipped with an Alfasud, on a confrontation with Ford's best car yet
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Giant Test
Ford Escort 1.3GL v Opel Kadett 1.3 S v VW Golf 1.3LS
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Windcheaters
Ford Escort meets Mazda 323 in the wind tunnel for a drag coefficient showdown - and an answer to a lot of the hot air talked about aerodynamics
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Giant Test
VW Golf GTI v Ford Escort XR3 v Alfasud 1.5Ti
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MotorWeek
North Yorkshire Ford dealer Peter Clarke Autos, of Skipton, has introduced a limited edition Escort 1.6 Estate called the 'Dolphin'. Based on the current GL model, Peter Clarke's car has uprated suspension and ventilated front disc brakes as well as 6in Ford 'Sport' ally wheels shod with Pirelli P6 low profile tyres. Also fitted is a glass sunroof, a radio/cassette player and integral roof rack. The car is finished in black paintwork with gold coloured coach lines, and costs £6,940
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Newcomers : Escort XR3: Cured yet?
Ford claim the XR3 at last has the ride quality it deserves - a year after its launch. But can they be believed?
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Arch Kit
Latest performance pack for the XR3 from Ford Rallye Sport is a complete arch, spoiler, running board kit, designed to accept larger wheels/tyres and further improve aerodynamics
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Hatch-22
Ford Escort XR3 v VW Golf GTi v Fiat Strada 105TC
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The X Factor
Ford Escort XR3 v Fiat X1/9
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TB or not TB?
T&B Motors and Gartrac G3 RWD Mk3 Escorts
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T's made
A radically revised pair of RS1700T's appeared recently in southern Europe for what turned out to be an encouraging session on regular Rally of Portugal special stages using full pace notes read by Ford contracted co-driver Phil Short. The essential differences between the two cars, as our pictures show, is that one version used a turbocharged 1700cc BDA-type motor, while the other is a Brian Hart built 2.3 litre conventionally aspirated injection engine
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Newcomers : One better than XR3
At last, there's a fast Escort - the RSi - good enough to beat the Golf GTi at its own game. But it costs
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Double test
Ford Escort 1.6GL v Renault 9 TSE
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The Duellists
VW Golf GTi 1.8 v Ford Escort XR3i
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Newcomers : Escort for the races
Ford's 5000-build Escort RS1600i might look like the ideal road car, but at heart it's a racer
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Giant Test
Renault 11GTL v Austin Maestro 1.3L v Ford Escort 1.3GL
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Birth of a KAT
Kat styling Ford Escort
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Test Match: Nissan Cherry Turbo v Ford Escort XR3 v Vauxhall Astra GTE
THE BEST ideas are usually the simplest ones, runs that old saying. But could anyone really have believed that such a simple idea as Volkswagen’s scheme to make the family Golf into the sporty GTi would turn out to be such a humdinger? Could those boring little front-drive family boxes pouring onto the roads in ever-increasing numbers during the late seventies possibly ever be made desirable in the eyes of the enthusiast? They most certainly could! Volkswagen showed everyone else how to do it and, of course, led the way into a whole new market, capturing all those sports-minded buyers who hadn’t had anywhere to plant their snakeskin driving gloves since the emergence of front-wheel drive and the family hatchback began to spell the end for the traditional sports saloons and coupés. Now everybody is doing it and the hot hatchback market is the hottest there is, with newcomers arriving on the scene almost all the time. But, like Hamlet without the Prince, the car that started it all is temporarily absent from the stage. The Golf has just metamorphosed into the uncannily similar Golf II but the GTi version (with a promised 16-valve engine option) has yet to make an appearance. In the meantime, its rivals make hay - including the newest and unlikeliest of them all, the Nissan Cherry Turbo.
