Tissues at the ready
With the autoworld arguably now obsessed with digital nannies and autonomous driving, Boreham Motorworks has done something genuinely audacious, created a brand-new Ford Escort Mk1 RS that strips away the noise and delivers pure, unadulterated driving engagement. This isn’t a tribute act or a nostalgic restomod, it’s a fully engineered machine, officially licensed by Ford Motor Company, and limited to just 150 commissions worldwide.
For petrolheads (us included)who’ve watched modern performance cars become increasingly sanitised, this is a breath of fresh air.
The Philosophy – Honesty Over Algorithms
What makes the Mk1 RS truly special isn’t just what it does, it’s how it communicates. There are no driving modes, no traction control algorithms, and no digital interpretation of your intentions. What you feel is what the car is actually doing. Inputs are answered instantly, without filters or delay.
On flowing B-roads, this translates to an almost intuitive rhythm, a machine that encourages you to drive rather than manage. The chassis is engineered around clarity, balance, and mechanical grip, delivering a handling package tuned for analogue precision that’s stable under load, responsive on turn-in, and communicative through every corner. In short, this is engineering for the road, not for nostalgia.
Two Hearts, One Spirit: The Engine Options
Boreham offers two powerplant configurations, each with distinct personality:
The TEN-K: 330PS of Pure Adrenaline
This is the headline-grabber. Architecture derived from Formula 1, belt-driven camshafts, individual throttle bodies, and a carbon-fibre air box form the foundation of the TEN-K. Weighing just 85kg, this engine is built around lightweight construction and ultra-low rotational inertia.
Billet components, forged connecting rods, a low-inertia single-mass flywheel, and a twin-plate clutch assembly create an engine defined by immediacy and character that screams to 10,000RPM. It’s the option for those who want their Escort to sing.
The TWIN-CAM: 185PS of Refined Control
For those who value precision over outright power, the TWIN-CAM delivers 185PS at 8,500RPM. Don’t mistake this for a compromise, it’s a refined alternative that keeps the Mk1 RS taut and responsive without demanding championship-level throttle management.
The Hardware: Engineering That Demands Respect
The specifications reveal an obsessive attention to detail:
- Bespoke front subframe optimized for geometry, precision, and control
- 30mm wheelbase increase aligned to Alan Mann Racing’s legendary 1968 race car
- 50% rear unsprung mass reduction compared to period-correct competition Escorts
- Fully floating aluminum/titanium rear axle with automatic torque biasing differential
- Advanced dampers and springs co-developed with R53 Suspension
- 6-link axle location with radius arms and watts-linkage bars for mechanical controlThis isn’t just vintage styling with modern internals. This is engineering that honors the past while refusing to be held hostage by it.
The Ownership Journey – Commissioning an Experience
Commissioning an Escort Mk1 RS is an experience-led journey. Each client works directly with a dedicated liaison and the DRVN Design Team, led by renowned designer Wayne Burgess, ensuring continuity from the first conversation through final handover.
What Boreham calls a “Continumod” a continuation of automotive lineage, becomes deeply personal before you ever take delivery.
Why This Matters
The Ford Escort Mk1 RS represents something increasingly rare in the performance car world: a machine engineered with restraint, respect, and absolute clarity of purpose. It’s officially licensed by Ford, limited to 150 commissions worldwide, and built by a manufacturer committed to advancing RS heritage with precision and purpose.
For drivers who’ve grown weary of complexity, electronic nannies, and digital interpretation of intent, this is the antidote. The Escort Mk1 RS doesn’t just take you back to what made driving great, it proves those principles have never actually gone out of style.
Ready to own a piece of motoring authenticity? The question isn’t whether you can afford one (you probably can’t). It’s whether you’re ready to experience what happens when engineering, heritage, and obsession align perfectly.
