Boreham Motorworks Ford Escort Mk1 RS Revealed with 10K-RPM Redline

Forget your Polos and your Golfs – a new Escort is being built, and it'll cost you more than a house in Sandton. Yes, you read that right. Boreham Motorworks is resurrecting an icon, but this isn’t some dusty old classic lovingly restored. This is a ground-up reimagining of the Ford Escort Mk1 RS, and the price tag? A cool US$400,000 to start. Jislaaik. That’s enough to buy a seriously lekker beachfront property in Durban, or, you know, a small island. ## So, What *Is* This Thing, Exactly? Okay, let's unpack this. It's not *exactly* a Ford, even though the Blue Oval has given Boreham their official blessing. It’s also not a simple “restomod” – slapping new bits onto an old chassis. And it’s not a “continuation model” either, where they just rebuild the original design. Boreham calls it a “Continumod”. Frankly, I'm calling it a seriously ambitious project. They’ve basically built a new car *inspired* by the Escort RS2000, but with everything turned up to eleven. This isn't some garage project either. Boreham officially licensed the rights to the Escort from Ford, and they're only building 150 of these things worldwide. Right-hand and left-hand drive options are available, which is thoughtful, considering some of us prefer to be on the “correct” side of the road. ## Under the Bonnet: 325 Horses and a 10K Redline – Seriously? Let's talk power. Forget the base model 1.8-litre twin-cam with “around 180 horsepower” – that’s for the guys who just want a bit of a smile. The real magic happens with the “Ten-K” engine. This 2.1-litre inline-four is putting out 325 horsepower and, brace yourself, revs to a screaming 10,000 rpm. Ten. Thousand. RPM. That’s the kind of number you usually see on a Formula 1 car, bru. They’ve gone to town on this engine. Lightweight internals, individual throttle bodies, and gas flow technology derived from studying actual F1 engines. The whole contraption weighs under 190 pounds. That's lighter than my cousin’s gym bag. It's paired with a unique five-speed manual transmission with a dog-leg first gear – because why not make it even more engaging? ## Bespoke Everything: This Isn't Just a Bolt-On Job This isn’t just about a fancy engine. Boreham has ripped up the rulebook and started again. The entire chassis is bespoke, pushing the front wheels forward by 1.2 inches, mirroring the race-winning Alan Mann Racing Escorts from the '60s. They’ve retained the Escort’s MacPherson strut design, but with custom coil springs and dampers developed in partnership with R53. The rear end is equally impressive. A custom floating rear axle system swaps the original's iron construction for aluminum casting and titanium tubing, resulting in a 50 percent reduction in unsprung mass compared to the racing Escorts of the era. It uses a six-link layout with four radius arms to keep everything centered while you're chucking it into corners. This isn’t a car built for a Sunday drive to Checkers for biltong; it’s a machine designed to be pushed to its limits. ## R4.7 Million… Is Anyone Actually Buying This? Okay, let's address the elephant in the room. US$400,000. That’s a serious chunk of change. To put that into perspective, you could buy a very nice house in a decent part of Johannesburg, or a fleet of Nando’s for the next decade. But, Boreham is betting there’s a market for this. With only 150 units being made, exclusivity is a major factor. It's not about getting from A to B; it's about owning something incredibly rare and special. They're targeting the enthusiast who wants a classic feel with modern performance and luxury. ## Inside the Cockpit: Leather, Carbon Fibre, and Breitling Clocks – No Joke Don’t think they skimped on the interior. While the door cards and dashboard are made from carbon fibre (to save weight, naturally), they’re wrapped in supple leather and fitted with metal accents. And then there’s the optional Breitling clocks. Yes, you read that correctly. A removable stopwatch and a pocket watch that slot into the dashboard. It's a bit… extra, but it adds to the overall feeling of bespoke luxury. This isn’t your granddad’s Escort. ## The Big Question: Is This a Befok Investment or Just Mad Money? Here's where it gets interesting. Is this a sensible purchase? Absolutely not. Is it a potentially shrewd investment? Maybe. With only 150 being made, and the historical significance of the Escort name, these could become highly collectible. It's a head *and* a heart purchase. You’re buying a piece of automotive history, meticulously recreated with modern engineering. But, let's be real, you’re paying a premium for the name, the exclusivity, and the craftsmanship. It’s not a guaranteed money-maker, but it’s certainly more likely to appreciate than, say, a new Polo. ## Load Shedding & Luxury Cars: What Does This Say About the SA Market? Now, let's be honest. In South Africa, with load shedding being a daily reality and economic pressures mounting, a car like this feels… removed. It’s a luxury for the 1%, a symbol of wealth in a country grappling with significant challenges. Can a car like this even *exist* here? Yes, because there’s always a market for exclusivity and passion projects. But it highlights the stark contrast between the haves and have-nots in our society. **Verdict:** The Boreham Motorworks Escort Mk1 RS is a breathtaking piece of engineering, a testament to what happens when passion and money collide. It’s ridiculously expensive, undeniably luxurious, and probably not a practical purchase for 99.9% of us. But, it’s also a stunning reimagining of a classic, and a potential collector’s item. It’s a “befok” project, executed with incredible skill and attention to detail. But here's the real question: with this kind of money, would you rather have a bespoke Escort, or a seriously upgraded bakkie and a generator to survive load shedding in style? Click here to find out what other insane vehicles are turning heads in the automotive world.