Ford Escort RS Cosworth
Ford Escort RS Cosworth
Photo: Kieran White, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Vehicles · Rally Homologation

Ford Escort RS Cosworth · 1992–1996

The Escort RS Cosworth is a Group A homologation special: the Sierra Cosworth's turbocharged 2.0-litre Cosworth YBT engine and four-wheel-drive running gear mounted longitudinally under a Karmann-built Escort Mk5 body crowned by a biplane 'whale-tail' rear wing. Collectors prize the earliest big-turbo cars for their motorsport pedigree and distinctive looks, as unmodified low-mileage survivors have become increasingly scarce.

The one to have: An early (1992–1994) 'Big Turbo' car — Garrett T3/T04B hybrid, blue cam cover — in Lux trim with the biplane 'whale-tail' wing, low warranted mileage, unmodified boost and a matching-numbers Cosworth YBT. The stripped, no-frills Motorsport cars are rarer still and equally coveted.

Specification
Engine
2.0L turbo I4
Cosworth YBT, 1,993 cc DOHC 16v; Garrett T3/T04B 'Big Turbo' (early), Garrett T25 (from 1994)
Output
227 PS (224 bhp)
167 kW at 6,250 rpm; 304 Nm (224 lb-ft) at 3,500 rpm
0-62 mph
5.7 sec
Top speed ~150 mph; permanent four-wheel drive via Ferguson MT-75 transaxle
Built
7,145
Feb 1992 – Jan 1996; bodies assembled by Karmann on the Sierra Cosworth 4x4 floorpan
The market
Verified sales on file
5
Nov 2024 – Aug 2025
Median sale
$83k
all tracked results
★ Early Big Turbo Lux, low miles
$199k
median of 2 target-spec sales
Top result
$257k
Iconic Auctioneers · Nov 2024
Benchmarks: driver ~$40k – clean Big Turbo $80k–120k – exceptional low-mile $180k+ · Trend: firming; low-mile original Big Turbo cars lead (record ~$257k in Nov 2024)

Know the real one

Not a warmed-over Escort: it uses the Sierra Cosworth 4x4 floorpan and longitudinal turbo drivetrain under an Escort Mk5 shell, hand-assembled by Karmann in Osnabruck specifically to homologate the Group A rally car.
Big Turbo vs small turbo is the key value split. The first roughly 2,500 cars (1992 to early 1994) carry the large Garrett T3/T04B hybrid turbo for Group A homologation and are the most sought after; from 1994 Ford fitted the smaller, more responsive Garrett T25 with revised management, identifiable by a black-and-silver cam cover (early cars are blue) and softer low-end lag.
The biplane whale-tail rear wing is the signature; a factory no-wing delete existed but was rarely optioned. 'Lux' cars add Recaro seats, leather and full electrics, while the stripped 'Motorsport' cars delete radio, central locking, electric windows and fog lights to save weight.
Values reward originality: a matching-numbers Cosworth YBT, factory boost (many were tuned hard), correct wheels and documented low miles. Rally replicas, re-shelled cars and heavily modified examples trade well below a genuine low-owner Big Turbo Lux.

Verified sales · ★ = target spec · foreign results converted to USD as noted

DateVenueYearSpecMilesPriceLocNote
Aug 2025Iconic Auctioneers1993Lux, Big Turbo, Imperial Blue—$82,900—Silverstone Festival; GBP 61,875 incl. premium (converted ~1.34 GBP/USD). One of the first ~2,500 homologation Big Turbo cars; driver-grade result.
May 2025Iconic Auctioneers1993Big Turbo, red, single owner ★12,354$140,690—Sywell; totally original one-owner car supplied new Nov 1993, 12,354 warranted miles. USD-converted from ~GBP 105k. Early Big Turbo.
May 2025Bring a Trailer1996Zinc Yellow (~10 so painted), later T25 small-turbo77,000$75,023—Rare Zinc Yellow paint; imported to the US via Finland and Canada. Later small-turbo car; native USD sale.
Dec 2024Bring a Trailer1995T25 small-turbo; Recaro cloth, sunroof41,000$50,500—23-year single ownership; US-federalized, Idaho history. Fitted aftermarket Turbosmart boost controller (not fully original), which capped the price.
Nov 2024Iconic Auctioneers1992Lux, Big Turbo (Garrett T3/T04B), Diamond White ★2,221$257,000—NEC Classic Motor Show; live-auction world record at GBP 202,500 incl. premium (converted ~1.27 GBP/USD). Two owners, 2,221 miles, doubled the estimate. Early homologation Big Turbo with whale-tail.

Where to hunt

Bring a Trailer — Escort RS Cosworth resultsUS auction history and live listings Classic.com — Escort RS Cosworth marketAggregated sold prices and trend Glenmarch — Escort RS Cosworth resultsGlobal auction result database
Research file — market data verified through July 18, 2026. Sources: individually observed results via Classic.com feeds, BaT, Cars & Bids, Mecum, RM Sotheby's, Broad Arrow, Gooding, Collecting Cars, PCARMARKET and venue coverage, plus marque registries and factory press material.