Dan Williamson

All Escort variants from around the world, including the Orion, 1980 to 2000. Can any other car match the Ford Escort's credentials? Not only is it one of the world's best-selling vehicles - around one million were produced - but it also achieved that figure in a shorter time than all of its rivals. None of those cars come close to the Escort's outstanding success in motorsport, and few approach the Ford's everlasting appeal. The Ford Escort began as a small car in 1967, with conventional three-box saloon and rear-wheel-drive layout; those now-legendary machines were reviewed in The Complete Catalogue of the Ford Escort Mk1 & Mk2. But it was with the all-new front-wheel-drive hatchback of 1980 that the Escort took over the world, dominating markets in many European countries, the USA and South America. There were Escort vans, Escort estates and, before long, a four-door Ford Orion saloon. And, of course, there were the sporty specials that make the Escort such an everyday hero: the XR3, RS1600i, Cabriolet, RS Turbo and RS1700T. Another new Escort arrived in 1990 but it was panned by the press. Yet the public was undeterred, and the now medium-sized Ford's sales continued, buoyed by faster Ford superstars such as the RS2000, RS Cosworth and Escort WRC.

Ford’s Focus Mk1 was a game-changing family hatchback, setting new standards for ride, handling and driver enjoyment. The sporty ST170 was noted for being a top-notch all-rounder, while the rapid RS broke the mould for front-wheel-drive hot hatchbacks, offering outstanding ability on road or track. Today, the ST170 and Mk1 RS are highly-regarded driver’s machines, while gradually gaining cult status – and increasing value – among classic collectors. But both machines suffer the potential for rust, neglect, abuse and accident damage – which makes buying one a task that’s fraught with risk. To help the would-be RS or ST driver, this quick-reference guide acts as a handy pocket-sized companion during the purchasing process. It aims to help buyers select the best car, pay the right price and avoid any pitfalls. Written by a motoring journalist, long-term fast Ford enthusiast and Focus ST owner, this one-stop package of great advice includes at-a-glance tips, illustrated in-depth inspection guidance, specifications, real-world cost considerations and even notes on which modifications to avoid.

Escorts Mk1 and Mk2 were built in huge numbers around the world, in Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. During the life of the models no less than 130 different variants were produced, ranging from the 2-door base model saloon through four-doors, vans and estates, campers and plush Ghia models to the highly desirable sporting versions like the Twin-Cam and RS models. In addition there were special editions by companies such as Allard, Crayford, Broadspeed, Lawrencetune, Uren and Willment. For every variant the author provides specifications and a description, and all of them are illustrated

The launch of the Sierra RS Cosworth in 1985 was a giant step forward for Ford. Initially developed for competition homologation, it was soon one of the most desirable fast cars that the public could buy. Its performance, at the time, was truly astonishing and remains impressive today. It was also the first of a family of turbocharged sporting Ford Cosworth models, ranging through the Sierra 500 RS Cosworth, the Sapphire RS Cosworth, the Rouse Sport RS Cosworth, the Escort RS Cosworth and the Escort RS Cosworth Monte Carlo. All these cars are doubly desirable today, and owners and potential owners anxious to establish the cars' correct original factory specifications and equipment will find all the information they need here in this book, backed up by hundreds of specially commissioned colour photographs of outstanding examples. As in the other titles in our authoritative and successful Factory-Original series, all aspects are covered: body panels, external trim and badging, paint colours, interior trim, dashboard, instruments and switches, under-bonnet components, engine and transmission, lamps and all other features right down to the tool kit. Of particular interest is the detailed information provided on components developed for and unique to the RS Cosworths as against the standard Ford models, and on the parts borrowed or adapted from a variety of Ford models to create the perfect recipe for the Cosworths.

Ford’s rear-wheel-drive Escorts achieved legendary status through their amazing success – on roads, rally stages, and racetracks. Millions were sold worldwide, and they proved to be winners in the hands of the car-buying public and motorsport champions alike. Today, Mk1s and Mk2s (1967 to 1980) have become collectable classics, and values continue to rise, often equalling traditionally more desirable marques. This book is a handy, quick-reference guide for anyone considering buying, owning, or restoring an early Escort. It aims to aid the purchasing process and help to avoid the potential pitfalls of a car that’s not only simple to work on, but also easy to bodge for an overpriced sale. Written by a motoring journalist and long-term Escort enthusiast, this one-stop package of great advice is the ideal accompaniment to sampling and assessing a Mk1 or Mk2 on sale privately, at a dealer, or an online auction. It includes at-a-glance tips, illustrated in-depth inspection guidance, valuation data, specifications, notes on modifications to avoid, real-world cost considerations, and even checks on how to spot an Escort claiming to be something it’s not.

Ford’s legendary Sierra and Escort RS Cosworths conquered worldwide motorsport, while changing the face of high-performance road cars forever. With turbocharged two-litre engines producing over 200bhp, these four-seater everyday saloons could keep pace with supercars – and their 500bhp-plus circuit-racing counterparts overwhelmed everything in sight. Even now, Sierra and Escort RS Cosworths are in touch with modern machinery, making them as desirable to keen drivers as they are to classic collectors. The RS500 in particular is a rare beast, commanding prices normally befitting upmarket brands. Sadly, many Cosworths were stolen, abused, crashed, copied, neglected, and modified, which makes buying one today a task that’s fraught with risk. To help the would-be RS Cosworth owner, this quick-reference guide acts as a handy pocket-sized companion during the purchasing process. It aims to help buyers select the best car, pay the right price, and avoid the potential pitfalls. Written by a motoring journalist and long-term Cosworth enthusiast, this one-stop package of great advice includes at-a-glance tips, illustrated in-depth inspection guidance, specifications, notes on modifications, real-world cost considerations, and even checks to help spot a fake.

In hundreds of pictures, the book gives you all the detail of correct factory specifications and equipment, including body panels, external trim and badging, paint colours, interior trim and colours, dashboard, instruments & switches, under-bonnet components, engine and transmission, lamps and all other features right down to the tool kit, from the beginning of production to the end. All of this information is vital to any buyer, owner and restorer. Each section opens with a brief text introduction followed by specially commissioned colour photographs with extended captions. For quick reference to accurate information, this formula is hard to beat.

The originality guide to the sporting versions of Ford Europe's Mk1 Escorts, including the GT, Sport, Mexico and RS versions. In hundreds of pictures, the book gives you all the detail of correct factory specifications and equipment, including body panels, external trim and badging, paint colours, interior trim and colours, dashboard, instruments and switches, under-bonnet components, engine and transmission, lamps and all other features right down to the tool kit, from the beginning of production to the end. All of this information is vital to any buyer, owner and restorer. Each section opens with a brief text introduction followed by specially commissioned colour photographs with extended captions. For quick reference to accurate and comprehensive information, this formula is hard to beat.

This humorous account of human evolution, from the beginnings of bipedalism through the Upper Paleolithic, is set in the context of a cookbook, with recipes and cartoons to match the unfolding stories. Each chapter discusses a particular milestone or event in human development, and a dash of prehistory, a sprinkling of recipes, and a generous helping of humor painlessly lighten the professorial instruction. From leading us to understand the first tool makers to showing us how to prepare a Neanderthal dinner party at the site of the authors' most recent excavations in Pech de l'Aze in France's Dordogne Valley near the town of Sarlat, this book presents archaeology as never before.