Every car enthusiast knows the thrill of a great story, complete with a captivating beginning, a meaty middle, and a satisfying end. When it comes to feature cars, especially unique builds, the narrative often unfolds quickly: discovery, photoshoot, interview, and story published. But this story, about this exceptional Ford Escort Cosworth, is different. It’s personal. The Ford Escort Cosworth you’re about to explore belongs to someone more than just a friend; he’s been a mentor.
Cosworth Escort V6 Engine Swap and Custom Build
Rewinding to my high school days, while classmates wrestled with textbooks, I was engrossed in the pages of Redline and Max Power, dreaming of a career in the automotive world. The path, however, remained unclear. Close to school, tucked away in a courtyard, was a garage named Autograph. This wasn’t just any garage; Autograph specialized in vehicle graphics, a hub for motorsport livery in Ireland. During lunch breaks, while friends pursued other interests, I’d find myself drawn to Autograph, eager for a glimpse of the latest rally car being prepped, adorned with fresh, vibrant graphics.
Ford Escort Cosworth Iconic Design and Motorsport Heritage
Jamie Kent, the driving force behind Autograph, became an unintentional mentor, steering me towards motorsport media. He welcomed me into his workshop, sharing his design ideas and patiently teaching me the foundational skills of his craft. Jamie instilled in me an appreciation for automotive aesthetics and a keen eye for detail.
Autograph Workshop and Motorsport Livery Design for Rally Cars
Beyond the business, Jamie was, and still is, the ultimate Ford enthusiast. Our friendly banter often revolves around my playful jabs at his Ford obsession, met with equally fervent, often unprintable, retorts. His passion extends far beyond spectating; Jamie actively participates in motorsport whenever possible. For years, his prized possession was a black Escort Cosworth. Even today, seeing one is a rarity, imagine the impact back in the ’90s and early 2000s.
Jamie Kent, Automotive Enthusiast and Ford Cosworth Owner
The Escort Cosworth wasn’t just a car for Jamie; it was a dream, a goal he set for himself to achieve before turning 25. He vividly recalls gazing longingly at a brand-new Escort Cosworth in the local Ford dealership showroom. That car was the first Cosworth in our town, and just weeks before his 25th birthday, Jamie acquired the second.
Black Ford Escort Cosworth Dream Car and 90s Automotive Icon
After 18 months of ownership, Jamie made the tough decision to sell his dream car to concentrate on his burgeoning business. It couldn’t have been easy to let go, but it was a necessary step. Yet, he vowed to own another Escort Cosworth one day.
Ford Escort Cosworth Showroom and Automotive Dreams
Years later, tragedy struck.
Wrecked Rally Car and Motorsport Accident Aftermath
More than a decade has passed, but the memory of learning about Jamie’s serious accident while navigating at a national rally event remains vivid. The specifics are not important here, but suffice to say, many feared the worst. Our close-knit motorsport community, even those not typically religious, united in hope for his recovery.
Damaged Ford Escort Cosworth Rally Car Side View
Jamie, thankfully, recovered. His journey was arduous, but he emerged stronger, a testament to his resilience. This recovery was a relief and inspiration to everyone who knows him. However, the accident left him unable to drive manual cars. But, as you’ll soon discover, this limitation did little to deter Jamie from pursuing his dream car once more.
Ford Escort Cosworth Interior and Driver Focused Cockpit
A Unique Cosworth Bloodline
Having already achieved the dream of owning a Cosworth Escort once, surely doing it again would be simpler? Not quite. This time, Jamie faced new challenges. With a limited budget, he needed to figure out how to acquire another Escort Cosworth and, crucially, adapt it for automatic transmission while staying true to its heritage. Jamie’s Ford devotion is profound, and the thought of removing the original YB engine must have caused sleepless nights.
Ford Escort Cosworth Front View and Aggressive Stance
The Escort Cosworth was exclusively manufactured with a manual gearbox, a turbocharged 2.0-liter YB Cosworth engine, and a four-wheel-drive system. Necessity breeds innovation, and Jamie needed a plan for an automatic conversion that respected the Escort Cosworth’s lineage.
Ford Escort Cosworth Engine Bay and Cosworth YB Engine
Then came a pivotal discovery: in the mid-90s, Ford had developed a one-off, rear-wheel-drive Escort Cosworth prototype. This prototype featured a 2.9-liter 24V Cosworth V6 engine from a Ford Scorpio, paired with the Scorpio’s automatic gearbox. It was designed to compete with Volkswagen’s VR6 models of the era, but the project was shelved. However, the prototype car occasionally surfaced at Ford events in the UK.
Ford Scorpio Cosworth V6 Engine – The Heart Transplant
This prototype was the inspiration Jamie and his friends needed. It provided a legitimate link to Ford history, allowing them to proceed with building an Escort Cosworth that was both unique and respectful to the Ford legacy. Crucially, it provided a Ford-純正 solution for an automatic Cosworth.
Ford Escort Cosworth Rear View and Iconic Whale Tail Spoiler
The brilliance of this engine swap was its seamless integration. No chassis cutting was required to accommodate the larger naturally aspirated V6 and its gearbox. The original gearbox tunnel, designed for a four-wheel-drive transmission, provided ample space for the electronically controlled automatic gearbox. The only necessary modification was lowering the front subframe – a Ford Sierra component – by about an inch to ensure bonnet clearance for the Cosworth V6.
Ford Escort Cosworth Engine Bay V6 Conversion Detail
The gearbox, equipped with its own external oil cooler, has its line pressure managed by the engine management system. In sport mode, it intelligently selects gear ratios and reduces torque during upshifts for smoother transitions.
Ford Escort Cosworth Gear Selector and Automatic Transmission Conversion
While the 2.9L V6 produces approximately 15 horsepower less than the original turbocharged inline-four, drivetrain losses considered, the horsepower delivered to the road is comparable. Although the four-wheel-drive system offers quicker launches, the rear-wheel-drive setup – using a complete Escort Cosworth rear end – brings its own dynamic advantages to the driving experience, offering a more engaging and classic sports car feel.
Ford Escort Cosworth Wheel and Tire Detail Compomotive TH
Internally, apart from the gear selector, the car remains remarkably stock-looking. Jamie prioritized maintaining Ford components wherever possible, preserving the original Cosworth feel.
Ford Escort Cosworth Interior Original Recaro Seats
The most noticeable interior deviation is the digital instrument cluster, replacing the standard Escort Cosworth gauges. This change was necessitated because the original Cosworth speedometer is mechanically driven, while the V6 and automatic gearbox rely on electronic sensors. It’s arguably the only non-Ford component in the entire build.
Ford Escort Cosworth Digital Instrument Cluster Upgrade
The original cloth Recaro seats remain, remarkably preserved in excellent condition, a testament to the car’s cared-for history.
Ford Escort Cosworth Recaro Seat Original Cloth and Condition
The exterior has undergone the most significant visual transformation, yet it remains an exclusively Ford affair. A WRC-style wing replaces the iconic “whale tail,” complementing other WRC panels, including the front wings and bumper, creating a cohesive and aggressive aesthetic.
A New Chapter for a Cosworth Legend
Ford Escort Cosworth WRC Wing and Exterior Modifications
The photographs clearly illustrate Jamie’s pursuit of a specific aesthetic for his Escort.
Ford Escort Cosworth Aggressive Stance and Nose Down Look
He aimed for a nose-down, aggressive stance reminiscent of 1990s World Rally Championship tarmac events. The Compomotive TH wheels, adorned with O.Z. Racing and Ford Motorsport decals, serve as a readily available alternative to the ultra-rare and prohibitively expensive Group A O.Z. wheels.
Ford Escort Cosworth Compomotive TH Wheels and OZ Racing Decals
What Jamie and his friends have accomplished is not the culmination, but rather the genesis of this car’s journey. He now possesses a solid foundation upon which to build the next chapter of his automotive passion.
Ford Escort Cosworth Project Car and Automotive Passion Reborn
The Cosworth V6 engine is also remarkably tunable, capable of producing 300 horsepower with relative ease, hinting at future performance enhancements for this unique Escort Cosworth.
Ford Escort Cosworth Tunable V6 Engine and Performance Potential
This Cosworth Escort, with its V6 heart and automatic gearbox, might attract criticism from purists unaware of Jamie’s story and the car’s unique origins. However, it’s a car built from passion and resilience. Where many might have abandoned their automotive dreams after facing adversity, Jamie returned with renewed vigor, creating an Escort Cosworth that transcends the ordinary.
He has built a car that sparks conversation, a car that deserves recognition. And that is something truly worth celebrating.
Paddy McGrath Instagram / Twitter: @pmcgphotos [email protected]
