In the United States, the Ford Escort was never much more than a fairly unremarkable compact car. Ford made a few attempts to add some excitement over the years, with models like the Escort GT, the fastback EXP, and in the later years, the ZX2 S/R. Meanwhile, Europe got several spicy versions of the Escort over the decades, like the all-wheel-drive RS Cosworth in the 1990s.
The Welsh company MST has carved out a niche as one of the world’s preeminent builders of Escort-based restomods. Its latest creation is the Mk1 Evo, which the business is aiming at the track car and tarmac rally markets. Technically, the cars are road-legal, but the stripped interior in this one means there aren’t any notable comforts in the cabin.
The MST Mk1 Evo
MST Mk1 EvoMST
The Mk1 Evo has a sporty, purposeful look. In front, the fascia has circular openings and a splitter at the bottom. Heavily bolstered fenders cover the wide wheels. The rear-end styling includes a subtle lip spoiler and a carbon-fiber diffuser.
Under the hood, there’s a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine from the company Millington. It produces 350 horsepower and attaches to a six-speed sequential gearbox. As options, more powerful 2.7- and 2.8-liter powerplants are also available.
A Rally-Inspired Suspension
MST Mk1 EvoMST
MST fits the car with WRC-specification, fully adjustable Reiger dampers and AP Racing brakes. The Mk1 Evo also gains a new independent rear suspension that’s based “on a design originally developed with the late Colin McRae for his Mk2 Escort rally program,” according to MST. Buyers can choose between 18×8-inch wheels with Michelin Tarmac rally tires and a street-focused version with 17-inch wheels and Michelin Pilot rubber.
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Inside, MST’s MK1 Evo show car has a pair of motorsport-spec bucket seats. A digital instrument cluster mounts to the steering wheel column. Buyers can also select a more luxurious setup with premium leather and Alcantara.
While most people associate the Escort with a thrifty price tag, this one is very expensive. The MST Mk1 Evo starts at £195,000 ($261,000 at current exchange rates). For comparison, a Porsche 911 Turbo S in the UK starts at £199,500. Buyers can specify the Escort restomod in left- or right-hand drive configurations. The first of these cars are already in production, and the company reports there’s enough demand that the majority of the build slots for 2027 are already reserved.
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CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
MST Mk1 EvoMST
It’s fascinating that there’s enough of a market to make a business out of turning the relatively modest Euro-spec Ford Escort into a hardcore track car with a six-figure price tag. There are companies turning machines from more exotic brands into restomods, but MST manages to make these old-school Fords into something amazing.
MST also builds restomods of other generations of Escort. For example, it offers a MK2 model with a fully carbon-fiber body. It’s also planning to offer an electric powertrain as an alternative to the classic combustion engine.
Source: MST
