Yes, it’s another MST build that very closely resembles an old Ford Escort. Nothing the company has announced about this new Mk1 Sports will likely come as a surprise. But you know what? That sounds absolutely brilliant. In a world where names are changed and then changed back again, where press releases are as long as a Hanya Yanagihara novel and Sierra RS500s are hundreds of thousands pounds, something that looks like (and is) a smart contemporary twist on a classic fast Ford seems like the perfect palette cleanser. Especially with a price to rival a BMW M3.
This is the Mk1 Sports, a car described by MST as a project ‘going back to basics’ for them, with inspiration from the original narrow-bodied AVO and RS models. Think Mexico, RS1600, that sort of thing. In a modern context, it’ll mean everything you’d want from a classic Escort experience without going so full-on as the recent MST builds. ‘A pure analogue driving experience at a cost-effective price’, they reckon. Which sounds pretty damn good.
Like all previous Mk1s and Mk2s, the Sports will use a brand new bodyshell and be brand new, UK-registered cars; right- and left-hand drive will be available. Power comes from a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder (MST hasn’t said exactly which one yet), with Jenvey throttle bodies and 180hp. A little less spicy than the 200hp 2.5 Duratecs, 230hp 2.0-litre BDGs and the Millington madness, then, if plenty enough to move such a tiny old car. A five-speed manual, Atlas axle and ATB diff are included.
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The rest of the chassis overhaul is as might be expected from a slightly tamer take on the MST formula: it’s all good stuff, just not quite as extreme as the top-tier models. So the Mk1 Sports gets what’s being called ‘Group 1 suspension’, with adjustable sport dampers and a Twin Cam ARB, plus four-pot calipers clamping vented discs.
Which is all well and good. But probably the most exciting part of the Mk1 Sports package will be the look, with the stripes, ‘period correct body colours’, Cibies up front and four-spoke wheels with the front flared arches. You can have Minilites if you really must, but the renders are so perfectly peak Escort that it’s hard to imagine changing a thing. The interior will be two-seat, with storage behind them.
MST is planning to make 25 of these Mk1 Sports, which feels like a very achievable number, ahead of building the same number of Mk2 versions. The cost will be from £74,500 plus VAT – so let’s call it £90k. A serious sum of money, for sure, though on planet restomod (or whatever the MST cars should really be called) it’s seldom that anything is available for less than six figures. Orders are being accepted now with a £6k deposit, with production kicking off next year.
