Mk1 Escort RS1600

The MK1 RS1600 had the following external features, which make a good starting point for identification of a genuine car:

Location: The chassis number is located in two positions on an Escort MK1 RS1600. Firstly, it is stamped into the aluminium Ford chassis plate (under the heading "Vehicle No."), which is pop riveted to the front bonnet slam panel. Secondly, the number is stamped into the body panel on the top of the right hand side suspension tower. The numbers in both locations should of course match, and in a fully original car, will also be stamped on the engine block or head. Given that the years of manufacture overlap between the RS1600 and RS2000, chassis numbers may often appear to be very similar.

Format: A Ford Escort RS1600 should have a chassis number in the following format, subject to the decoding guide below:

MK1 RS1600 (example only) Chassis Number: BFATKP54456

1st digit: (Vehicle Source):

• B = Ford Britain / C = Ford Britain affiliate company / G =Ford Germany

2nd digit (Assembly Plant):

• B = Halewood / F = Aveley / C = Saarlouis / K = Sydney

3rd digit (Model):

• A = Escort.

4th digit (Body Type):

• T = 2 door saloon

5th digit (Year of Manufacture):

• 1970 = K / 1971 = L / 1972 = M / 1973 = N / 1974 = P

6th digit (Month of Manufacture):

• 1970: (Jan = L, Feb = Y, Mar = S, Apr = T, May = J, Jun = U Jul = M Aug = P, Sep = B, Oct = R, Nov = A, Dec = G)
• 1971: (Jan = C, Feb = K, Mar = D, Apr = E, May = L, Jun = Y Jul = S Aug = T, Sep = J, Oct = U, Nov = M, Dec = P)
• 1972: (Jan = B, Feb = R, Mar = A, Apr = G, May = C, Jun = K Jul = D Aug = E, Sep = L, Oct = Y, Nov = S, Dec = T)
• 1973: (Jan = J, Feb = U, Mar = M, Apr = P, May = B, Jun = R Jul = A,Aug = G, Sep = C, Oct = K, Nov = D, Dec = E)
• 1974: (Jan = L, Feb = Y, Mar = S, Apr = T, May = I, Jun = U, Jul = M, Aug= P, Sep = B, Oct = R, Nov = A, Dec = G)

7th – 11th digit (Serial Number):

• Individual vehicle serial number for that particular month (between 00001 – 99999)
• MK1 coupe body shell (Type 49), being a strengthened version of the standard Escort shell. These shells were standard on all escort coupes in export markets such as Australia, but were unique to the RS cars in the UK, who used a non strengthened shell for base model escort coupes. To confirm the shell is correct, check for reinforced suspension legs under the front mudguards and additional strengthening plates on the inner front mudguards, around the strut tops.
• Flared wheel arches (although optional wider arches were also available).
• 5.5” X 13” safety ledge rim wheels with chrome hubcaps, originally with radial ply tubeless tyres. A common aftermarket option were the four-spoke RS alloy wheels (fitted to most RS1600’s now, as seen in the images).
• Safety glass all round, with laminated windscreen.
• Anti-burst door locks.
• Air extraction vents behind / below rear window.
• Aluminium grille with black painted centre. (Notem, RS MK1 cars always had circular headlights in the UK, but square / rectangular lights in Australia and perhaps some other export markets).
• Chrome rear bumper and front corner bumpers.
• RS1600 badges on front quarter panels and bootlid. Note that there are different badge styles that were applied on the bootlid, including the circular "RS" badge. Sometimes, there is no "RS1600" badge on the boot (see difference in images). We believe the type of badges will depend on the year of the car and where it was manufactured, but please contact us if you have further details on the badging and whether there is any link.
• Optional Webasto sunroof common on many cars of the era (often aftermarket installed / dealer installed).

The RS1600 is very similar to the RS2000 in appearance, however, the RS1600 were not given side stripes / bonnet stripes in the factory. Many people have applied these aftermarket, but they were not an original item, and along with the badging, sets them apart from the RS2000 aesthetically.

The Ford Escort RS1600 was originally available in the following paint colours listed below, and demonstrated in the images. Early RS1600's were reportedly available only in Diamond White, so this colour will be more prevelant on 1970/71 model cars. The paint code is listed on the cars chassis plate under "Colour", where the Ford code will be listed. It is also listed on the Vehicle AVO plate, located on the front slam panel (Note - AVO plate and Chassis plate pictured are not necessarily from an RS1600). Below, we have also given the Ford, Ditzlet and DuPont codes for each colour where possible.

• Diamond White (Ford paint code: B / Du Pont: 42590LH)
• Sebring Red (Ford paint code: DN or N / Ditzler: 72076, Du Pont:42588LM)
• Sunset Red (TBC - Contact us is you know this code)
• Maize Yellow (Ford paint code: 6N or 14229 / Ditzler 80274)
• Daytona Yellow (Ford paint code: T / Ditzler: 81944)
• Monza Blue/Electric Blue (Ford paint code: U)

Note, if a car was a special order colour, the code "Y" would appear on the chassis plate, and an individual colour applied, which would hopefully be described in the vehicles order records. These codes above are thanks to paintref.com. At Paintref.com you can check these and colour chips yourself by searching their database.

There may be additional colours that were available, and we would really appreciate you contacting us if you have further knowledge in this area, so we can update this section. Alternatively, login and comment below so everyone is informed!

The RS1600 had the following interior features. Note, many of these features were also standard in other Escort MK1 models, and are not necessarily unique to the RS1600:

Instruments:

• Instrument cluster known as the "two-plus-four", containing large RPM and speedometer, with small guages for temperature, battery, fuel and oil.

Steering wheel:

• The RS1600 had two steering wheel designs available. Firstly, the flat three spoke RS wheel which is the same as fitted to the RS2000. Secondly, there is a deeper dish three spoke RS wheel (known by some as the "Springalex" wheel), with drilled spokes, containing either a "Ford", "RS", or "Springalex" centre boss badge. Both are immitation leather wrapped, and shown in the images.

Materials / Fabrics:

• Washable black headlining, fitted interior carpets, padded vinyl dash top, luggage compartment mat, aluminium door scuff plates, padded sun visors. The RS1600 came with a choice of dark grey cloth bucket seats or immitation black leather (vinyl) bucket seats. See images for the different materials / styles.

Other features:

• Heated rear window
• Fully reclining individual front bucket seats with anti-tip device.
• Remote floor mounted gearshift.
• Safety styled door handles and window winders.
• Dipping rear view mirror.
• Ashtray in fascia and rear ashtrays in side panels and front Cigar lighter.
• Heater and demister.
• Face level air vents, combined with demister nozzles.
• Rear grab handles with coat hangers and one front without hanger.

RS1600's have completely different stampings to the RS2000's, as the RS1600 used a Cosworth based alloy block design with a twin OHC head. Information regarding engine number castings and their locations have been hard to come by, and very inconsistent, but here is what we have been able to find so far from our research:

The engine block will be a "BDA" type block, (belt driven early series engine). Either the head or engine block should have a number cast into it sarting with "WE" or "HE" , followed by a build number (being the vehicles chassis number). RS1600's may also have an engine number ending in "BA". The information is a bit inconsistent between sources, as we understand the engines were not all built at the same location / time, so stampings / castings differed.

Many people replace engines in Escorts with more common "20", "205" or "202" Ford Pinto blocks, so look out for those blocks which have a completely different look (long thin rocker tappet/cover as opposed to the wide ford badged twin OHC cover on the RS1600.)

If anyone is able to provide more clarity on the engine block / head castings for the RS1600, please contact us or login and comment below so we can update this section.