Ford didn't launch the Escort in North America until 1980, and it arrived in its most bland form. However, in Europe, the Ford Escort went into production in 1967 and became a legit working-class hero. The Mk1 Ford Escort was an affordable family car for most, but its rear-wheel-drive layout lent itself well to sporting endeavors in two-door form, and it became one of the most successful rally cars of all time.Boreham MotorworksNow, here in 2026, Boreham Motorworks in the UK has unveiled its Ford Escort Mk1 RS. It's an engineering masterpiece with a ridiculously high-revving engine, but also developed through an official license agreement with Ford Motor Company. In that sense, it's essentially a "new" Mk1, but it's hard to define. It's not a restomod or continuation model, as it's built from scratch with Ford's blessing, but it's not a Ford. This is its own beast, but however you define it, we're just glad it exists. Let's take a closer look. The First New Road-Going Ford Escort Mk1 In Over 50 years Boreham Motorworks Boreham Motorworks has re-engineered every major system, structure, and component using modern materials, advanced manufacturing techniques, and contemporary engineering analysis. That means a lot of carbon fiber, billet aluminum pieces, and either a modern engine based on the killer motorsport engine of 1968, or the new Boreham Ten-K engine, which, as you may have guessed, revs out to an awesome 10,000 rpm.If you have any dream of the Boreham Motorworks Ford Escort Mk1 RS being affordable, forget it. This is a Singer-level creation in terms of detail, engineering, design, and materials. The entire chassis and subframe are bespoke; the original Escort's MacPherson strut design is retained but uses custom coil springs and dampers.At the back, the Ford Escort Mk1 RS uses a custom floating rear axle system that swaps aluminum casting and titanium tubing for the original iron construction. The claim is a 50 percent reduction in unsprung mass compared with the racing Ford Escorts of the original era.Boreham Motorworks On top of an agile and lightweight chassis, there's incredible attention to detail and quality in everything from the enamel badges to the billet-aluminum door handles and carbon fiber door cards wrapped in supple leather. If you want an idea of the level of wealth Boreham Motorworks expects from its customers, there's an option to add a dashboard-mounted (but removable) stopwatch and pocket watch made by Breitling. Special Bodywork And Engines Boreham Motorworks As we can see from the photos, Boreham Motorworks has lovingly maintained the shape, style, and silhouette of the MK1 Escort while adding bolder wheel arch flares than the racing Escorts or the special-edition Escort Mexico of the day. It's a work of art that echoes the original while making it look like a fresh design.Also echoing the original is the first choice of engine: a twin-cam 1.8-liter engine based on the original Alan Mann Racing unit with around 180 horsepower. That's the engine for the purists, but there's also a 325-hp alternative, complete with lightweight internals and a 10,000-rpm redline.Boreham Motorworks The Ten-K weighs less than 90 pounds and is hooked up with a bespoke, long-throw, five-speed manual transmission with a dog-leg first gear. Boreham hasn't given an exact weight yet, but we know it's looking for under 2,000 pounds, which would give the car with the Ten-K engine installed a wild power-to-weight ratio.If you fancy one, be advised that this Escort is no longer a working-class hero. Only 150 will be made, and prices start at close to $400,000. CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters: Boreham MotorworksThe Boreham Motorworks Ford Escort Mk1 RS is clearly an exquisite piece of design and engineering that will no doubt be treasured and enjoyed by the few that can afford it, but it's a far cry from the original MK1 Escort's RS-badged sporting legacy of an affordable working-class hero. That said, we would sell a limb to drive one.Boreham Motorworks MK1 Ford Escort RS 28