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fasttech / BUYING GUIDE / <strong>ESCORT</strong> <strong>XR3</strong> & ’3i / fasttech<br />
“ Almost at once<br />
the XR was a<br />
sales smash.”<br />
arms with longitudinal links, but<br />
the springs and dampers were<br />
vastly uprated.<br />
Bilstein provided the gas-filled<br />
dampers and the rear springs<br />
were of the progressive kind,<br />
matching those on the Escort<br />
Spoiler on the front valence<br />
is unique to the car<br />
estate, but then progressing to<br />
double in stiffness as the load<br />
increased.<br />
Unsurprisingly, the <strong>XR3</strong> handled<br />
superbly on the flat but the ride<br />
was bone-shaking on a B-road. A<br />
Four-dial or ‘cloverleaf’<br />
alloys gave the<br />
<strong>XR3</strong> its distinctive<br />
’80s looks. They’re<br />
still easy to find<br />
second-hand<br />
thicker 22 mm anti-roll bar was<br />
specified on the front but <strong>Ford</strong><br />
reasoned there was no need for<br />
any on the back, pointing out that<br />
60 per cent of the car’s weight<br />
was sat over the front wheels.<br />
FORM <strong>AND</strong> FUNCTION<br />
Generous grip was offered by<br />
the 5.5x14 inch alloys, but their<br />
function was overshadowed<br />
by how they looked. A key<br />
component in the XR’s eyecatching<br />
appearance, the radical<br />
four-dial wheels were the perfect<br />
compliment to the XR’s striking<br />
matt black body extensions.<br />
These consisted of a rubber<br />
spoiler that wrapped around the<br />
wings and front valance, a pair of<br />
rear arch spats and a large spoiler<br />
on the rear tailgate.<br />
They weren’t just for show<br />
either, keeping the aerodynamics<br />
down to a figure of 0.375 Cd and<br />
offsetting the drag from the wider<br />
rims. To top off the exterior, the<br />
window surrounds were finished<br />
in matt black and the door mirrors<br />
plus the metal sections of the<br />
bumpers were colour-coded.<br />
Inside looked cool with stripy<br />
sports seats and nice touches<br />
like the two-spoke steering<br />
wheel, 140 mph speedo and<br />
internal adjustment for the<br />
door mirrors.<br />
SUCCESS STORY<br />
Almost at once the XR was a<br />
sales smash and aside from<br />
a few tweaks it remained<br />
largely unchanged until spring<br />
1982, when <strong>Ford</strong> succumbed<br />
to pressure and added a fifth<br />
gear, instantly improving fuel<br />
consumption and high-speed<br />
cruising ability.<br />
But the five-speed box was<br />
just a taster of what was to<br />
come for the XR enthusiast.<br />
<strong>Ford</strong> decided to continue on<br />
its quest for fuel injection and<br />
introduced the Bosch K-Jetronicequipped<br />
<strong>XR3</strong>i in October 1982,<br />
choosing to delete the <strong>XR3</strong> at<br />
the same time.<br />
Aside from the different badge<br />
there was little to differentiate<br />
between the two models, but<br />
the <strong>XR3</strong>i was so much more<br />
than just an added ‘i’.<br />
INFORMATION<br />
Body condition is<br />
all-important when<br />
looking at a car. You’re<br />
better off buying one<br />
with a clean shell and<br />
knackered engine<br />
rather than the other<br />
way round<br />
HPI<br />
The majority of early <strong>XR3</strong>s will need<br />
some intensive care. So if you’re<br />
going down the major resto route you<br />
don’t want to be ploughing time and<br />
money into an example that’s a<br />
wrong ‘un as well as rotten.<br />
Find out if the XR has been written<br />
off, stolen, or has outstanding finance<br />
on it by running an HPI check. Cost is<br />
£39.99 and the Escort can be checked<br />
out over the phone on 01722 422422<br />
or online at www.hpi.check.com.<br />
There can be as much as £2K<br />
between a tidy XR and a mint one, so<br />
to make sure you’re getting the latter,<br />
consider an independent inspection.<br />
As well as the engine changes,<br />
the new model featured revised<br />
suspension, a plusher interior<br />
with new trim and three-spoke<br />
steering wheel, plus the 4.29:1<br />
final drive and larger rear drum<br />
brakes from the Escort van, the<br />
former strengthened to cope with<br />
the <strong>XR3</strong>i’s higher power output of<br />
105 bhp.<br />
Top speed increased to 116<br />
mph and 0-60 mph acceleration<br />
was slashed to just 8.5 seconds,<br />
finally making the Escort a real<br />
GTi rival. As with the <strong>XR3</strong>, the<br />
<strong>XR3</strong>i proved immensely popular,<br />
selling over 25,000 alone in<br />
The RAC will complete an<br />
Essentials Plus inspection for<br />
£206.95, or £185.95 for members.<br />
There’s also the option of the cheaper<br />
Essentials check, which covers<br />
structural condition and major<br />
mechanicals. Contact the RAC on<br />
0870 5333660 or www.rac.co.uk.<br />
INSURANCE<br />
Mark is 22-year-old panel beater from<br />
Luton. He reckons he’s replaced the<br />
rear arches on every MkII Astra GTE in<br />
the land of the Griffin, so for his own<br />
enjoyment he’s blown £1500 on a very<br />
nice 1985 <strong>XR3</strong>i. He keeps the Cat 2alarmed<br />
XR garaged and he has four<br />
<strong>XR3</strong>s came blessed<br />
with Bilstein dampers,<br />
though it’s unlikely<br />
they’ll still be on<br />
the car<br />
1983. All things considered, it’s<br />
surprising then that survivors of<br />
both models are so thin on the<br />
ground. But, they are still out<br />
there if you’re prepared to look<br />
and now’s your chance to save a<br />
national icon and bag a bargain<br />
bit of fast <strong>Ford</strong> history.<br />
Just £1000 will secure a tidy<br />
example of either XR and you<br />
can rest assured that you’ll<br />
be enjoying a pure hot hatch<br />
experience — one where traction<br />
control and air con are for wimps<br />
and real men get by with just a<br />
digital roof clock and a flip-out<br />
cassette holder.<br />
years NCB. Mark pays £1289.07 to<br />
insure his <strong>XR3</strong>i fully comprehensive or<br />
£428.47 for third party, fire and theft<br />
cover. Insurance quote provided by<br />
www.quotelinedirect.com.<br />
CLUB<br />
XR Owners’ Club<br />
XROC HQ, Cope Place<br />
Earls Court Road<br />
Kensington<br />
London<br />
W8 6AA<br />
www.xroc.co.uk<br />
<strong>Ford</strong> Escort Owners’ Club<br />
www.feoc-uk.com<br />
TECH SPEC<br />
<strong>MKIII</strong> <strong>ESCORT</strong> <strong>XR3</strong><br />
ENGINE<br />
Type: CVH<br />
Capacity: 1596cc<br />
Bore/stroke: 79.96 mm x 79.52 mm<br />
Compression ratio: 9.5:1<br />
Max power: 96 bhp @ 6000 rpm<br />
Max torque: 98 Ibf.ft @ 4000 rpm<br />
Cylinders: four, in-line<br />
Cylinder head: cast aluminium<br />
Block: cast iron<br />
Installation: frontmounted<br />
transverse<br />
Valve gear: two valves per cylinder,<br />
single overhead camshaft, rockers,<br />
hydraulic tappets<br />
Fuelling: single downdraught dual<br />
choke Weber DFT carburettor<br />
Induction: single Weber twin-choke<br />
downdraught carburettor<br />
TRANSMISSION<br />
Type: fwd<br />
Gearbox: four-speed manual<br />
Internal ratios: 1st, 3.15; 2nd,<br />
1.91; 3rd, 1.27; 4th, 0.95; reverse,<br />
3.61; final drive, 3.84:1<br />
Clutch: 200 mm single-plate clutch<br />
SUSPENSION<br />
Front: independent by coil springs,<br />
MacPherson struts, 22 mm anti-roll<br />
bar and Bilstein telescopic dampers<br />
Rear: independent via transverse<br />
arms with longitudinal location links,<br />
separately mounted coil springs,<br />
Bilstein telescopic dampers<br />
STEERING<br />
Type: rack-and-pinion<br />
Lock-to-lock: 3.7 turns<br />
BRAKES<br />
System: diagonally-split<br />
twin-circuits with vacuum<br />
servo assistance<br />
Front: 9.4 inch (239.5 mm)<br />
ventilated discs<br />
Rear: 7.0 x1.5 inch<br />
(178x38 mm) drums<br />
WHEELS & TYRES<br />
Wheels: four-perforation cast alloys,<br />
5.5x14 inch<br />
Tyres: 185/60 HR<br />
BODY<br />
Type: pressed-steel monocoque,<br />
based on conventional three-door<br />
Escort hatch<br />
PERFORMANCE<br />
Max speed: 113 mph<br />
0-60 mph: 9.7 seconds<br />
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